HORMONE THERAPY RESEARCH
- Information around replacement estrogen and dementia is mixed; some studies suggest a protective effect on brain function, whereas others show the opposite. PLos One. 2014 Mar 12;9(3):e89095. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089095.eCollection 2014
- Large epidemiological studies show “protection by hormone therapy (HT) and by estrogen replacement (ET) alone against cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia.” Further, estrogen is shown to have effects that preserve the health of blood vessels before vascular damage occurs. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2005 Jun;1052:43-56
- HRT significantly reduces coronary heart disease (CHD) and total mortality when initiated in women younger than 60 years of age and/or within 10 years since menopause. J Am Geriatr Soc. Jun 2013; 61(6):1005-10
- After 10 years of randomized treatment, The Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study found a significant reduction in risk of mortality, heart failure or myocardial infarction (heart attack) without any apparent increase in risk of cancer, venous thromboembolism, or stroke after the initiation of hormone replacement therapy in women younger than 60 years of age and/or within 10 years since menopause. BMJ. 2012 Oct 9;345:e6409. doi 10.1136/bmj.e6409
- “Women in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial who were randomly allocated to receive estrogen alone had lower incidence of invasive breast cancer than did those who received placebo.” Lancet Oncol. 2012 May; 13(5):476-86. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)7007-X. Epub 2012 Mar 7.
- “Fear of breast cancer is the strongest factor limiting postmenopausal hormone use. The most powerful study to date definitively demonstrated that estrogen does not cause an increase risk for cancer. The increased risk was associated only with taking the progestin (Provera®) and not estrogen.” JAMA 2004;291(24): 2947-2958.
- “Loss of hormones at menopause results in significant genital atrophy, vaginal dryness, introital stenosis, and painful intercourse.” Family Practice News 2005 March;58-59
- “Estrogen deficiency greatly increases mortality from cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Over 90% of women will die from cardiovascular disease which estrogen can prevent”. Over 40 years of study have well documented the cardiovascular protective effects of estrogen”. Obstet Gynecol 1996 Jan;87(1):6-12
-“The potential lethal consequences of osteoporosis are overwhelming. Estrogen is protective but only when certain serum levels are maintained.” Female Patient Oct. 2004;Vol. 29:40-46.
- “Multiple medical studies have demonstrated estrogen’s protective effects against Alzheimer’s, memory loss and loss of cognition. Estrogen decreases colorectal cancer .Estrogen decreases cataracts and macular degeneration. Estrogen prevents tooth loss and gingivitis. Estrogen prevents urogenital atrophy, painful intercourse and stress incontinence.”Biomedica Jan. 2000; Vol. 3(1):6-9
- “We must not forget the dangers of menopause and the deleterious consequences of estrogen deficiency. Estrogen protects bone, heart, brain, blood vessels, urogenital tissue, teeth and eyes. Observational data from around the world show estrogen has beneficial effects on mortality from all causes”. Consultant 2001July;Vol. 71:1085-1086
- ”The largest study to date, the Nurses’ Health Study, demonstrated a 100% decrease in heart disease and cancer for estrogen users. It is never too late to initiate estrogen therapy to arrest the progression of osteoporosis and hip fractures.” Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29: 35-41.
-”In the final analysis of the estrogen only arm of the WHI; there was no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. There was a 35% decrease in hip fractures, 35% decrease in diabetes and a 60% decrease in urinary sepsis. This leads to a significant decrease in all causes of mortality. J Gen Internal Medicine 2004;19(7): 791-804
- “New findings in 4 recent studies counter the results of WHI and HERS. Estrogen replacement results in a dramatic decrease in cardiovascular disease. There was no coronary artery disease deaths were reported in 6,000 women taking estrogen. The results of the WHI do not apply to younger women.” Family Practice News 2003 June;Vol 33(11):1-2.
- “Estrogen reduces the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease by 50%. JAMA 2002; 288:2123-2129.
- “Estradiol and progesterone demonstrated no increased risk of breast cancer. Synthetic estrogen (Premarin® ) and synthetic progestins (medroxyprogesterone and noresterone) all dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer. This was a ten year study of over 100,000 women, the largest and longest study to date comparing natural hormones to synthetic hormones”. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2007;101:125-134
- “The WHI trial had major design flaws that led to adverse conclusions about the positive effects of hormone therapy. The study included mostly older women that already had cardiovascular disease. The study utilized only medroxyprogesterone (Provera®) which we know negates any beneficial effect of estrogen, rather than the bio identical hormone, progesterone.” Multiple other studies with estrogen started early in menopause demonstrate beneficial effects.” Fertility Sterility 2005 Dec;84(6):1589-601
- “Because of the design flaws, the WHI trial should be discredited as it used only 2 synthetic hormones that were already known to be harmful. The positive effects of many different hormone methods studied over the last 50 years should not be discounted due to one poorly designed and flawed study (WHI) trial.” Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29:40-46.
- “North American Menopausal Society (NAMS) position statement: The WHI results do not apply to the majority of women. The WHI trial does not negate 40 years of study demonstrating HRT benefit. Five recent studies demonstrate overwhelming evidence that HRT prevents atherosclerosis.” Family Practice News 2003 Oct;1-2.
- “Estrogen lowers cortisol which in turn reduces abdominal fat.” Female Patient, 2001April; 26:18-24.
- “Estrogen therapy alters the biology of the inner vessels (of the heart). HRT protects through vasodilation, anti inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. HRT provides significant coronary artery benefits.” N England J Medicine 2000;343(8):572-574.
- “Estrogen protects against neuron-degeneration, changes in mood, cognition and behavior.” Clinical Genetics 1998 May;6(5):15-19.