Q.I am a healthy and very active woman, age 54, in mid-menopause. My doctor has suggested HRT to reduce my risk of heart disease. I prefer natural remedies for menopause (my symptoms are manageable). I eat a healthy diet (though I need to reduce my calorie intake) and walk three times a week. Do I really need to take estrogen?
Ann
A.For many women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Many physicians also prescribe estrogen in hopes that it may reduce your risk of heart disease.
On top of that, estrogen increases your risk of breast cancer, apparently because estrogen stimulates cell growth and proliferation. For many women, that trade-off sounds like a Faustian bargain.