The Menstrual Cycle

The ovaries produce estrogen throughout the menstrual cycle. Estrogen causes the lining of your uterus (endometrium) to build up during the first half of your menstrual cycle.

It peaks during the second and third weeks of the menstrual cycle. It declines during the last week of the cycle. The ovaries produce progesterone during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle, called the luteal or secretory phase.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a method of medical treatment prescribed to menopause women, perimenopausal women and in some cases, to postmenopausal women. It is founded on the idea that the reason for the discomforts of women at their menopausal age is due to the decline in the production of estrogen hormones in their body. HRT is a medication that addresses these issues. By replenishing the estrogen needed by the body, through different HRT methodologies, the woman is able to find relief from hot flashes, discomforts due to irregular menstruation, fat redistribution and many more.

Hormone replacement therapy was designed to increase levels of the female hormone estrogen, which drop as women go through the menopause. This treatment, however, is not the safest procedure. HRT has been proven to have many side effects that may cause serious damage to a woman’s health. In a recent study conducted by Million Women’s study, out of the number of women who had been prescribed with HRT for the past 5 years, about 1,300 of them already had endometrial cancer and more than 10,000 had developed breast cancer. These are huge numbers compared to the result of studies made in the past years. Obviously, the effects of HRT are aggressively manifesting as more and more women are continuously being prescribed of this treatment.

Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

There are two types of HRT prescribed, one being the estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), and the other being the combined HRT. Estrogen replacement therapy is applied by giving low dosages of estrogen to patients. When the estrogen supply is compounded with synthetic progesterone (progestin), this is what is known as the combined HRT.

Estrogen replacement therapy is used to raise estrogen levels in the body. In this case, no progesterone is added to the treatment and the medication is completely estrogen only. According to a Journal of American Medicine report released February 19, 1997, the use of estrogen from the early menopausal period and continued late into life is an effective means of maintaining bone density.

Combined HRT is prescribed in two forms: sequentially combined HRT and continuous combined HRT. Sequentially combined HRT is a procedure where patients are required to daily doses of estrogens for the entire month and daily doses of progesterone for 2 weeks every month. Continuous combine HRT, on the other hand, requires that both progesterone and estrogen be taken on a continuous dosage all throughout the month.

Risks Associated with HRT

Endometrial Cancer: According to the Million Women Study, women who prescribe to HRT are at risk of developing endometrial cancer. This is condition is particular to those who are undergoing estrogen replacement therapy. Studies reveal that there is an increased danger of acquiring the disease for women taking estrogen-only hormone therapy compared to women who have never taken HRT. Women; however on combination HRT may also develop the same medical condition but the risks are slightly lower.

Breast Cancer: Combined HRT increases the risk of breast cancer. Three of 100 women who were on combined HRT developed breast cancer over the past year, in comparison to those of the previous years where only one or two women were reported to have had the same condition.

Heart Attack or Stroke: HRT increases the risk of heart attack or stroke for both in women with cardiovascular diseases and in healthy women. This is associated primarily with HRT using continuous combined HRT, particularly Prempro and Provera (when combined with estrogen)

Ovarian Cancer: Studies have shown that taking HRT can increase the risk of ovarian cancer if they are taken for longer than 5 years. The longer a woman is on HRT, the more the risk increases. When women stop taking HRT the risk is reduced by a few years to the same level as when HRT was not taken.

Gallbladder Disease: Several important studies on gallbladder dysfunctions have shown that the use of HRT doubles or triples the risk for gallstones, gallbladder disease, and gallbladder surgery. Estrogen raises the levels of triglycerides, a fatty acid that increases the risk for cholesterol stones.

Fluid Retention (Bloating): Fluid retention, which is usually related to weight gain, can be aggravated by HRT. For HRT patients, bloating occurs on the ankles and face. This symptom is most often accompanied by headaches, leg discomfort and breast tenderness.

Bleeding: 85% of women who are treated with sequentially combined HRT experience bleeding. Heavy or irregular bleeding in the first few months of treatment is quite common and will usually settle after 6 months. If however, after 6 months, bleeding still persists, patients are required to consult with their doctors for re-testing, as this could already be a symptom of cancer.

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