Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) provides women with, or replaces, hormones that their ovaries stop making. The ovaries make estrogen and progesterone as part of the menstrual cycle. Hormone levels usually start to change during perimenopause, the years just before menopause. In perimenopause, many women begin to have symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, and insomnia. The reason for the symptoms is usually fluctuating and declining hormone levels. After menopause, there is much less estrogen and testosterone in the body than before menopause, and very little progesterone. This drop in hormone levels can have various effects, including the familiar symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido. HRT is most often prescribed to help with the symptoms of menopause. Examples of HRT include Provera, Premphase, Prempro, and Premarin.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 1991 to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. The WHI addressed cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. The WHI was a 15 year multi-million dollar endeavor, and one of the largest U.S. prevention studies of its kind. The three major components of the WHI were:

• a randomized controlled clinical trial of promising but unproven approaches to prevention;
• an observational study to identify predictors of disease;
• a study of community approaches to developing healthful behaviors.

When it reviewed study data in May 2002, the WHI Data and Safety Monitoring Board saw an increased risk of breast cancer in women taking estrogen plus progestin, as well as an increased risk for heart attacks, strokes and blood clots to the lungs and legs. Therefore, in the judgment of the Board, the overall risks outweighed the benefits of taking estrogen plus progestin.

The main findings showed that compared to women taking placebo pills, the number of women who developed breast cancer was higher in women taking estrogen plus progestin. Further, the numbers of women who developed heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots in the lungs and legs were higher in women taking estrogen plus progestin.

HRT risks and possible side effects include:

• Increased risk of endometrial cancer in women with a uterus if estrogen is taken without progesterone or a progestin
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Increased breast density, making mammograms more difficult to interpret thus increasing breast cancer detection/risk.
• Increased risk of ovarian cancer
• Increased risk of blood clots
• Increased risk of gallbladder disease
• Increased risk of heart attack or stroke, both in women with cardiovascular disease and in healthy women

HRT is usually not recommended for women who have:

• Vaginal bleeding for no known reason
• A history of breast cancer
• A history of cancer of the uterus
• Liver disease
• Blood clots in the veins or legs, or in the lungs. This includes women who have had blood clots during pregnancy or when taking birth control pills.
• Cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and blood vessels)

If you or someone you love were injured after using hormone replacement therapy, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  Please fill out our online form, or call us toll free at 1-888-839-3775 to discuss your rights with one of the experienced HRT attorneys at our firm.