Hormonal imbalance can result in a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms in men and women, including weight gain, fatigue, decreased sex drive, and mood swings. Yet, not everyone decides to do anything about it, even hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can restore balance. For many people, inaction stems from fear. There are many misconceptions about HRT, including the following:
Myth: It Causes Breast Cancer
If you read story headlines by sensationalist media outlets, you’ll read that hormone replacement therapy causes breast cancer. That’s enough to make you not want to restore balance in your body.
However, it’s not quite that simple, nor is it that dangerous. In the Million Woman Study, the women on HRT had 19 additional image-detected breast cancer cases per 1,000 women over a decade period. Women taking HRT also have more abnormal mammograms because their breast density increases due to HRT. As a result, they receive an increased evaluation of the presence of breast cancer, resulting in earlier detection.
Researchers believe that HRT use is associated with a younger age of diagnosis, with an earlier stage of detection. As a result, they suspect that HRT enhances our ability to image-detect early breast cancer, rather than being a cause of the cancer.
Myth: It Causes Weight Gain
You might decide not to proceed with HRT if you’re already struggling with weight gain, and you learn that hormone replacement therapy further exacerbates the issue. However, there is no evidence to suggest that’s the case.
Weight gain is already the greatest in the perimenopausal years, because menopause is associated with a lower resting metabolic rate. This reduces the number of calories we burn, resulting in increased body weight. Despite it being a common belief that HRT causes weight gain, some HRT regimens may actually help prevent increased body fat mass and fat redistribution.
Myth: HRT Is Only for Women
While it’s true that hormone replacement therapy is more commonly prescribed and recommended for men than women, it’s suitable for both. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women make up the majority of patients, but bioidentical HRT is also appropriate for men experiencing low testosterone. It’s also suitable for people with cognitive or mood changes, including unexplained irritability, depression, anxiety, and brain fog that don’t shift with lifestyle changes.
Myth: It’s Dangerous for the Heart
It’s only natural to steer away from anything that has the potential to be damaging to your heart. However, that’s not the case with hormone replacement therapy. Despite the rumors, research actually shows that when you start HRT before age 60 or within a decade of menopause, it can actually protect against heart disease.
The common belief that it’s dangerous for the heart comes from a 2002 WHI study, which was later found to have used an older, high-risk population with an average age of 63, along with older forms of HRT.
Myth: HRT IS Only for Hot Flushes
Many women do turn to HRT to manage their hot flushes, which are an uncomfortable side effect of menopause. However, if you’re using HRT for its management, you may also find that it effectively treats night sweats, joint and muscle pain, mood swings, and anxiety. Many women even discover that it alleviates menopause-related vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse. It does this by replacing the falling levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Myth: You Can’t Stop HRT Once You Start
If you continue to feel healthy and reap the rewards of HRT, there’s no reason to stop it once you start. However, that’s not to say that you can’t stop it if you wish to. This is a common myth that stems from the fact that you shouldn’t stop suddenly. Instead, you should slowly reduce your dose.
There is no fixed time limit for taking HRT, as it’s a personal decision based on the benefits you’re experiencing and any risks. Most people discuss its use with their doctor yearly. Those who do decide to stop taking HRT are generally advised to decrease their dose over three to six months to prevent a sudden return of symptoms, such as hot flushes and depression.
You might have preconceived ideas about HRT, but that doesn’t make them facts. If you’ve been considering this treatment option, awareness of common misconceptions and mistruths may help you make your decision with confidence.
