Hormone replacement in women over 65 is safe, study says

The gynecologist André Vinícius explains that the therapy must persist long term and the patient must follow the doctor’s advice

That hormone replacement therapy, properly prescribed, is one of the best treatments for menopause is nothing new, or at least it shouldn’t be. Especially now, when a recent study published in the journal Menopauseconcluded that it is safe to continue hormone replacement therapy (HRT) even after age 65.

The gynecologist specialized in women’s health during the Climateric period, André Viniciusstates that many women still believe they need to stop HRT after a few years of use, but this is not true.

To carry out the study, researchers analyzed the medical records of 10 million older women in the US public health system from 2007 to 2020. They concluded that hormone replacement therapy benefits the health of women over the age of 65 and that the treatment continues the effects depend on the type of therapy, the dose and how it is administered.

André Vinícius says that if the woman maintains the conditions that prompted the doctor to recommend the treatment, this should persist in the long term, even after the age of 65.

«It must be said that hormone replacement therapy is for all women, but there are three cases that require greater attention: when the patient has already had breast cancer; when the patient has already had endometrial cancer, even if the uterus has already been removed; or if the patient has already had a stroke, heart attack or thrombosis,” says the doctor.

Why take hormone replacement?

Hormone replacement has the role of replacing sexual hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) whose production decreases during menopause, due to the lack of production by the ovaries, alleviating symptoms and preventing complications associated with hormone deficiency.

A survey conducted by the Brazilian Climate Society (Sobrac), interviewing around 1,500 women between the ages of 45 and 65, found that only 22.3% of them received a medical recommendation to undergo treatment hormonal and decided to do it. One of the main reasons for poor adherence is the lack of knowledge of the real benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.

“There are still many myths about hormone treatment. Many patients are afraid of gaining weight or developing cancer. But there are several scientific studies that demonstrate that the risks of those who correctly take hormone replacement therapy are practically the same as those who don’t”, underlines the gynecologist. According to him, in addition to relieving symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia, hormone replacement therapy during menopause can also prevent osteoporosis and improve cardiovascular health.

Does hormone replacement cause breast cancer?

The gynecologist explains that the matter is not so simple, since it is necessary to analyze the treatment that the woman is receiving. For him, the hormone combination, the types of hormones used and the way they are administered are key factors in whether hormone replacement during menopause is successful or not.

“Many women have concerns about the increased risk of breast cancer linked to hormone replacement therapy. There are studies linking hormone replacement therapy using ethinyl estradiol combined with progestin, two synthetic hormones, with an increased risk of invasive breast cancer. However, the same did not happen with replacement based exclusively on estrogen,” she says.

Furthermore, hormone replacement therapy carried out without medical assessment, aimed at contraindicating the use of estrogens, can trigger possible vascular problems and is completely contraindicated, according to André.

It is important to highlight that the risks listed above arise when hormone replacement therapy is carried out without additional indications, that is, when the doctor ends up neglecting the woman’s lifestyle and its evolution throughout her fertile life. These elements are important to obtain a beneficial and effective treatment.

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.