Women who have undergone menopause, had a hysterectomy, and have used estrogen therapy for 15 years or more are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a recent study.
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Estrogen Hormone |
In postmenopausal women, the rapid decline in estrogen hormone levels can lead to difficulties in sexual relations as well as decreased libido and sexual desire. As a result, many women have turned to estrogen therapy to mitigate these age-related challenges. However, there have been several warnings regarding the use of this therapy.
Previous studies have indicated that the use of estrogen in conjunction with progestin hormone increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Nonetheless, recent findings published by the U.S. Women’s Health Institute discovered that there is no significant correlation between estrogen therapy—which is an option for women who have had a hysterectomy—and breast cancer in women who used this hormone for 7 years.
“It only poses a high risk of breast cancer after prolonged use,” stated Dr. Wendy Y. Chen, the lead researcher.
“We found a 42% increased risk of breast cancer in women who only used estrogen for 29 years or more,” she added. This conclusion is based on a study involving 28,835 women.
“Current guidelines for estrogen use are correct: it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration,” said Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
TUONG VY
