Researchers at Uppsala University have analyzed the effects of seven different hormone treatments for menopausal symptoms on the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. The study, which involved around one million women aged between 50 and 58, shows that the risks differ depending on the active substance and how the medicine is taken. Published in the scientific journal BMJ, this is the largest and most comprehensive study of currently prescribed hormonal substances in the world.
There is concern among women that menopausal hormone therapy increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This concern is based on older studies conducted more than 20 years ago that only looked at one type of treatment. Since then, many new preparations have been introduced and our study shows that the previous conclusions do not apply to all types of treatments.”
Therese Johansson, Postdoctoral Researcher and Study Lead Author, Uppsala University
Most women go through menopause between the ages of 50 and 60. Levels of the hormone estrogen fall sharply, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. The low levels can also contribute to health problems such as hot flushes, mood swings and difficulty sleeping. To counteract these health effects, women may be prescribed hormone replacement therapy involving medicines containing hormones or hormone-like substances.
In Sweden alone, hundreds of thousands of women currently use hormone replacement therapy and this type of treatment has been available since the 1970s. At that time, there was only one type of hormone replacement therapy and when a major