MHT Research Findings

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Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Findings 2002 – Fast Forward 20 Years to 2024

  • In 2002 The Women’s Health Initiative trials came to a halt which inaccurately reported risks of invasive breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease, and stroke that exceeded the benefits for prevention of bone fractures and colon cancer.
  • In May 2024, WHI researchers published their 20 year follow-up data that showed no increase in deaths from breast cancer or cardiovascular disease in the women in the trials.
  • Re-evaluation of Risks and Benefits: The 2024 analysis re-examined the risks and benefits of HRT, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
  • Long-term follow-up showed no increased deaths from breast cancer or cardiovascular disease in the women who participated in the trials.
  • The follow-up report indicated a decrease in all-cause mortality when HRT was started under age 60 or within 10 years after the final menstrual period, suggesting potential benefits for many women.
  • The findings underscore the importance of moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach to medical decisions in postmenopausal women.  Women and providers should include shared decision making and individualized decisions based on a woman’s medical history, age, lifestyle, disease risks, symptoms, and health needs and preferences, among other factors.
  • Regarding breast cancer risk specifically, in the WHI trial, there were only eight cases of breast cancer per 10,000 women per year in the combined group and a decrease in breast cancer rates in women on estrogen-alone therapy. Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol use pose much greater risks for breast cancer than hormone therapy.
  • The WHI trial administered synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone. The hormones we use now are bioidentical, meaning they are the same forms that were circulating in your body in your reproductive years, which are much less inflammatory than the chemical forms that were studied in the WHI.

**Women outside these ranges may still benefit from hormone replacement therapy, talk to your provider about your individual concerns. If your provider declines to at least listen, find someone that will. At Balanced Body Solutions every woman has a voice and deserves to be heard.