Many women use replacement estrogen hormones in the treatment of menopausal and postmenopausal symptoms, which can make a woman's life uncomfortable and stressful. Although estrogen hormones have been found to help treat menopause symptoms the side effects of such treatments are become clearer and more women undertake this type of treatment. Although an increased risk of breast cancer is known to be apparent in women taking replacement estrogen hormones the link between estrogen hormones and ovarian cancer has until recently been little researched.
The study undertaken in Denmark at the end of the 20th century looks to change the way many women understand about the links between replacement estrogen hormones and ovarian cancer in the treatment of menopause symptoms. From 1995 to 1999, a group of 1486 menopausal women were medically assessed. Out of this group 375 patients were given replacement estrogen hormones as a treatment for menopausal symptoms, while the other 1111 women were used as controls for the trail. All of the women involved were between the ages of 35 and 79 and none of them had undergone hysterectomies.
Throughout the trail researchers found that cases of ovarian cancer were more common in those women taking the replacement estrogen hormones. However they also discovered that those patients that took larger doses of replacement estrogen hormones in the treatment of more severe menopause symptoms were at a higher risk than those that took a smaller dosage. The medical professionals involved in this research concluded that the lower the dosage of estrogen hormones which a woman takes, the lower her risk of contracting ovarian cancer was. Results also showed that the risk of ovarian cancer reduced the longer the period of time from which women had stopped taking replacement estrogen hormones for menopause symptoms.
Although this research is clear in its conclusions and the associated risk replacement estrogen hormones have with ovarian cancer, it is important for women to consult their doctor or a medical professional in order to receive the best advice upon alternative treatments and ways to use replacement estrogen hormones with minimal risk. Women may find that natural alternatives to man-made replacement estrogen hormones may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and help to relieve menopause symptoms at the same time.
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Estrogen hormones. What are their function? How should you deal with low estrogen production? and much more.
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