Failed Badlans and all the controversy behind HRT

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Posted by Aga

Hi Friend, 

Slightly later than usual, but I’m back with another bite of peri-knowledge.

I was supposed to still be out at Badlands, but my own health journey ended the event prematurely (note: it’s unlikely perimenopause-related; it seems I’ve been dealt an unlucky hand with the genes…).

This week, I wanted to touch on the topic of the controversy behind hormonal replacement therapy. Some people swear by it, claiming it’s the solution to all perimenopausal symptoms. Some genuinely believe it's poison that gives you cancer.

The truth is: it's neither of those things. 

It’s a tool that, if used well and in conjunction with other lifestyle changes, can vastly improve your life and protect you in the long run (your brain, bones and heart)

However, you often hear references to the study from 14 years ago, which started the belief that HRT increases the risk of getting cancer. Like many findings from that time, the conclusion was drawn from very flawed numbers and exaggerated for a dramatic effect. 

And while I’m not saying that you must take HRT, I want to make sure that you make the decision based on accurate information. 

Here are the facts:

• The actual ‘increase’ was 0.008% per year (spending time in a car or a busy city can increase that risk by far more)

• Transdermal and bio-identical hormones prescribed today do not carry risks of blood clots or cardiovascular complications (pills are usually described only as an exception these days)

• We now know more about various combinations of dosage across all 3 hormones rather than providing estrogen-only treatments (though testosterone is still something you need to ask extra for and it’s often not covered under the public healthcare system)

• The consensus of medical organisations is that for healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of bio-identical HRT (symptom relief, bone protection, and cardiovascular support) heavily outweigh the risks

I am deeply passionate about this topic (and therefore spent way too much time reading about it), and I’d happily point you in the direction of all resources you can use to inform yourselves on these. 

But ultimately - I’d like you to take the matter of hormonal replacement therapy with an open mind and treat it as of equal value as lifestyle or nutrition adjustments - they all work best when implemented together.

Thank you for being here,

Aga

P.S. Next week I’ll be talking about the individuality of the perimenopause experience. If you’d like to share the summary of your journey and don’t mind it being shared anonymously with other readers, drop me a line.