Busting 5 Myths About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Two decades ago, The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was designed to examine the effects of estrogen and progestin treatment, and estrogen treatment alone, on post-menopausal women. That now controversial study claimed that estrogen plus progestin treatment increased the risk of several illnesses.

However, in the intervening 20 years, the results of that study have been reevaluated. Based on more recent analysis of newly available data, it has been determined that post-menopausal women who are treated with estrogen and progestin do NOT have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, invasive breast cancer, stroke, or blood clots.

Unfortunately, many of the myths about Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) that came from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study of still persist.

Now that doctors better understand the risks and benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy, the vast majority agree that MHT is the best way to control menopausal symptoms and offer certain health protection benefits as women age.

In this article the Menopausal Hormone Therapy experts at SottoPelle dispel 8 of the most common myths and misunderstandings about MHT.

  1. Menopausal Hormone Therapy Does NOT Make Women Put on Weight

Research has shown that women who use Menopausal Hormone Therapy do not gain any more weight than women who do not use MHT.

It is actually the hormonal decline of menopause that causes fat to move from the hips to the abdomen and accumulate on the belly. In many cases, MHT can help reduce fat gain and improve muscle mass.

  1. Menopausal Hormone Therapy does NOT Increase Breast Cancer Risk

An unfounded fear of developing breast cancer is the reason why many women do not take MHT. However, new information combined with better understanding of the data suggests that combined estrogen plus progestogen, or estrogen therapy alone, causes no significant increase in breast cancer in women aged 50 to 59 or in women who start treatment within 10 years of menopause.

  1. Menopausal Hormone Therapy does NOT Increase Heart Disease Risk

More recent analysis of all MHT studies (40,410 women) revealed that Menopausal Hormone Therapy did not increase the number of deaths from heart and blood vessel disease or heart attacks.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy also did not increase the number of cases of angina (pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart) in healthy women or in women with pre-existing heart and blood vessel disease.

  1. Alternative & OTC Menopause remedies are NOT as effective/safer than MHT

Women’s health care providers almost universally agree – and research supports – that Menopausal Hormone Therapy is the most effective way to control menopausal symptoms.

Additionally, there is no way to know if alternative therapies are safe because they are not FDA regulated. And DIY or online menopause remedies do not come in exact dosages and may even be contaminated.

While some complementary menopause therapies might have benefits for your situation, they are typically not an effective substitute for MHT – and should always be discussed with your physician.

  1. All Progestogens do NOT have the Same Risks for Menopausal Women

Combined progestogen and estrogen therapy is used to reduce the risk of uterine cancer in menopausal women who still have a uterus.  But progestogen is a term that covers both progesterone (naturally occurring in humans) and progestins (synthetic progestogens).

Bioidentical (plant derived) progesterone has the same molecular structure as the hormones made in the body. However, synthetic (man-made) progestin is created in a laboratory and its chemical structure is not identical to the hormones produced by the body.

While synthetic progestin has been associated with an increase in risk of breast cancer, bioidentical progesterone offers a number of health protections. Progesterone thins the uterine lining, helping prevent the development of endometrial cancer. And, when paired with estrogen, bioidentical progesterone has been shown to provide protection against breast cancer, as well as cognitive decline.

Read More About Progesterone vs. Progestins HERE

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

SottoPelle Method® Menopausal Hormone Therapy utilizes bioidentical hormone replacement pellets. A certified SottoPelle Method® doctor can explain the benefits of bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy discuss your MHT options available and work with you to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, protect your health, and reduce your risk of side-effects.

Discuss SottoPelle Method® bioidentical hormone pellet therapy with your doctor – or find a certified SottoPelle Method® Menopausal Hormone Therapy provider HERE.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy: (323) 986-5100

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a “cure” for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.