10 years of HRT may lower risk of breast cancer

WOMEN on hormone replacement therapy for at least 10 years before the menopause may have a lower risk of breast cancer, heart attacks or strokes.

- By Storm Newton

A team of researchers say more studies are needed, but hope their findings can start a larger conversation about prevention in women's health.

HRT, which replaces lost hormones, can contain ones such as oestrogen, progestogen or both, and be given via tablets, gels, patches or sprays.

A US team analysed more than 120 million patient records to see if oestrogen therapy could do more for women than just relieving their perimenopause symptoms.

They compared oestrogen therapy started during perimenopause with therapies given after the menopause, or no treatments.

Findings suggested perimenopausal women on oestrogen therapy for at least a decade before the menopause had about 60% less risk of breast cancer, a heart attack or a stroke than the other two groups.