No Benefits for Hormone Therapy ~ HGH Academy

While ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) has been practiced since the mid 1960s, it took 25 years before the public was advised of its full health effect. It was in 1992 that the health risks of unopposed estrogen therapy were made known to the public. This was further confirmed in reports by researchers at the Harvard Medical School that hormone replacement therapy also increased risks of breast cancer in 1995.

After this is known , a massive and elaborate study was conducted. Based on 2763 postmenopausal women with documented coronary heart disease, the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) lasted for 4 years. During the study, half of these women received 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens plus 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate daily. The other half received a placebo.

The researchers then kept track of the progress of these women over 4 years. The results revealed that HRT did not have any preventive effects on heart attacks, whether fatal or not. It was also interesting to note that those who were on HRT had more cardiac events than the placebo users in the first year. However, the figures decreased over the next three to five years.

After 4 years, the HERS study continued for another 2.7 years in a slightly modified form called HERS II. These are the conclusions about HRT at the end of the second study, after a total of 6.8 years:

1. HRT has no preventive properties against cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women with heart disease.
2. HRT doubled the risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism).
3. HRT increased the risk of gallstones and subsequent gallbladder (biliary tract) surgery by 50%.
4. Breast cancer rates were 27% higher in the HRT group and lung cancer incidence was 39% higher.
5. HRT does not prevent osteoporosis, in fact, women who were on HRT tended to have more hip fractures.

These conclusions were later verified in a separate study involving 27,348 healthy women on HRT. The same statistics increased risks of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks were also prevalent among those who women who were on HRT compared to non-users. Furthermore, it was also highlighted that HRT might increase the risk of breast cancer as well. In June 2002, this was also confirmed in a well conducted study that has to be terminated early and subjects told to stop HRT and see their doctor as soon as possible.

Key references if you wish to study more:

• Grady, Deborah, et al. Cardiovascular disease outcomes during 6.8 years of hormone therapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 288, July 3, 2002, pp. 49-57.
• Hulley, Stephen, et al. Noncardiovascular disease outcomes during 6.8 years of hormone therapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 288, July 3, 2002, pp. 58-66.
• Petitti, Diana B. Hormone replacement therapy. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 288, July 3, 2002, pp. 99-101.
• Tanne, Janice Hopkins. Hormone trial for disease prevention stopped early. British Medical Journal, Vol. 325, July 13, 2002, p. 61.