Not too long ago, it was declared that there was a war on women. One reason for this is because some long-standing programs that were set up for women were axed in the new budget recommendations submitted by certain members of government. And on a personal level, some women are feeling confused by their doctors giving conflicting advice as compared to what they had been told in the past.
Take the case of hormones, or more specifically, hormone replacement therapy. In the 1990’s, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was a federally funded evaluation of the health of women, particularly in regards to hormones. However, in 2002, this initiative came to an abrupt halt when the WHI announced that this trial would be discontinued due to startling revelations in their findings. Women in this study were experiencing more risks for strokes, blood clots and breast cancer. Needless to say, a lot of women were scared off hormones all together. But is this the complete story?
In my research for this article, I wanted to find out what women actually thought of hormones and what decisions they made in this regard. I found many articles and videos on this very website that discuss this topic. In one, a lady described one of her symptoms of menopause in a way many of us do--as extreme irritability that was almost unbearable. She went from doctor to doctor and from medicine to medicine. She finally decided on a combination of treatments and seemed rather happy and relieved to say the least.
Next, I was directed to an article in The New York Times. This lady also had extreme emotional peaks and chasms – all due to menopause. She struck out on a one-woman crusade to find out about menopause and hormones. It was very enlightening, especially since most of the scientific professionals she met along the way were also women going through “the change” as well. These very ladies, intelligent as they were, often fell victim to doctors prescribing unnecessary additional medicines to in order to treat what hormones could do or regulate all along.
Ultimately, this New York Times article revealed the whole story in regards to the WHI as mentioned at the outset. S. Mitchell Harman, an endocrinologist and coordinator of one of the national trials being done on younger women, was quoted as saying, “I mean, if you’re a 70-year-old, and your question is, 'should I start taking estrogen?' the WHI answered that for you beautifully. No. Unfortunately, it wasn’t designed to answer that question for a 50-year-old. So now we’re trying to fill in the blanks.”
So this famous clinical trial that struck fear in many women nationwide did not actually apply to all women. If you were not of the same criteria as the tested women – older, postmenopausal and on hormone pills that contained equine estrogen and MPA – then you may not even be presented with the same risks at all. This leads to the question though, how can you know what is for you? Keep in mind no one has a conclusive answer to that question. But then, that’s where a good, informed medical doctor comes in. It is very important that your medical history should be considered. Do you have a history – family or personal – of breast cancer? Then hormone replacement therapy is definitely not for you. Your age, other medical conditions and even your lifestyle have to be taken in account.
The two women mention before found their answer. Both choose hormones – the ones that fit their particular needs. But what if you choose not to use hormones at all even if you do not have medical limitations? That’s fine too. The Hormone Foundation offers plenty alternatives that may help you cope with menopausal symptoms. Our responsibility as women is to stay informed no matter what decision we make.
Best in Health!
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18estrogen-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1
https://www.empowher.com/breast-cancer/content/miriam-shares-her-experience-stopping-hormone-use-video
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118624.htm
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer that writes poetry in her spare time. Please view her poetry at:
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