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Hormone Replacement Therapy: Pros and Cons
What Are the Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Pros:
- Prevents bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.
- Relieves symptoms of menopause.
- Lowers risk of colon cancer.
- Lowers risk of macular degeneration, vision loss that occurs when the macula, the part of the retina at the back of the eye that provides sharp, central vision, deteriorates with age.
Cons:
While HT may help many women get through menopause, the treatment is not risk free. Known health risks include:
- An increased risk of endometrial cancer (if a woman still has her uterus and is not taking progesterone along with estrogen).
- Increased risk of blood clots.
- Increased risk of stroke.
- Increased risk of gallbladder disease.
- Increase in blood pressure in some women.
- Increased risk of larger, more invasive breast cancers (combination HRT only).
The decision to use hormone therapy after menopause should be made by a woman and her healthcare provider after weighing all of the potential risks (including breast cancer, stroke and blood clots) and benefits (relief of menopause symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis). Scientists are continuing to study the effects of HT and new findings are developing. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic
Menopause Guide
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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