HRT Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk

By Rachel Stockton

The Journal of the American Medical Association is reporting that a Danish study has confirmed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer.

For the study, women who were on HRT were compared to women who had never used hormone replacement therapy at all; researchers determined that those on HRT had a 38% greater risk of contracting ovarian cancer over those who’ve never used it.

Although the risk is there, it remains fairly low. For every 8300 women who get ovarian cancer, 1 extra case is added because of HRT. After HRT is stopped, the risk goes back down to normal after two years.

However, because ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all gynecological cancers, an increased risk factor, even if miniscule, should give women pause as they consider the pros and cons of the treatment.

HRT is prescribed to help ease women through some of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, bone thinning, mood swings and vaginal dryness. On its website, the FDA encourages women to try and get by with the lowest dosage of hormone for a short period of time, such as 3-6 months.

The FDA also reminds women that the increased cancer risk is not the only potential health problem that could arise when undergoing HRT. The risk of blood clots, strokes, heart attack, and gall bladder disease all increase for women undergoing HRT.