I feel quite sorry for any 'lurkers' who are genuinely looking for info and advice on this thread- which, as always, has become a bit contentious. No surprises there!
There is a LOT of misinformation on this thread from some posters.
The most recent is on dementia.
The reason for misinformation is this:
Some websites are out of date. New research supersedes old, and not all research is equal.
The research which I think was quoted by @JaniieJones has been updated (and not all charities like Alzheimers get their websites up to date quickly.)
This is a recent report on dementia .www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/29/hrt-not-linked-to-increased-risk-of-dementia-says-study
QUOTE from the above link
To try to end years of uncertainty, researchers at the University of Oxford, Southampton and Nottingham set out to investigate the risks of developing dementia for women using any of the forms of HRT commonly prescribed within the NHS.
Their study, involving more than 600,000 women over three decades, concluded that HRT is not linked to an increased risk of dementia. The findings were published in the BMJ
This large observational study found no overall association between use of menopausal hormone therapy and risk of developing dementia,” the authors wrote. “This finding was consistent across different types of hormones, doses, applications, and time of hormone therapy initiation
The researchers added that the study “brings clarity to previously inconsistent findings and should reassure women in need of menopausal hormonal therapy
Likewise I saw a statement (which was an opinion, presented as a fact) that 'it's not advisable to take HRT forever.' This is not fact.
There are women in their 80s and 90s still using HRT (consultants are on record in interviews stating this. I can link if anyone wants!)
This is the BMS statement on HRT thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bms-whcs-2020-recommendations-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-menopausal-women/
To counteract the misinformation, maybe it's best to copy and paste the entire key points. (Apologies it's such a long extract!)
-All women should be able to access advice on how they can optimise their menopause transition and the years beyond.
-There should be a holistic and individualised approach in assessing menopausal women, with particular reference to lifestyle advice, diet modification as well as discussion of the role of HRT.
-The decision whether to take HRT, the dose of HRT used and the duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. This should be considered in the context of the overall benefits obtained from using HRT including symptom control and improving quality of life as well as considering the bone and cardiovascular benefits associated with HRT use.
-The HRT dosage, regimen and duration should be individualised, with annual evaluation of advantages and disadvantages.
-Transdermal administration of estradiol is unlikely to increase the risk of venous thrombosis or stroke above that in non-users and is associated with a lower risk compared with oral administration of estradiol. The transdermal route should therefore be considered as the first choice route of estradiol administration in women with risk factors.
-Evidence from large observational studies and case-controlled studies suggests that micronised progesterone and dydrogesterone are unlikely to increase the risk of venous thrombosis and are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer compared to that noted with oral progestogens.
-The potential benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy can be achieved using conventionally licensed products, without having to resort to unregulated compounded varieties from specialist pharmacies.
-Arbitrary limits should not be placed on the duration of usage of HRT; if symptoms persist, the benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks. [This means you can take it for as long as it's working for you which may mean forever.]
-HRT prescribed before the age of 60 has a favourable benefit/risk profile.
-HRT initiated before the age of 60 or within 10 years of the menopause is likely to be associated with a reduction in coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality.
-If HRT is to be used in women over 60 years of age, lower doses should be started, preferably with a transdermal route of estradiol administration. Evidence from the Cochrane data-analysis as well as that from the long-term follow-up data of the WHI showed no increase in cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality or all-cause mortality in women who initiated HRT more than 10 years after the menopause.
-Women with POI and early menopause should be encouraged to use HRT at least until the average age of the menopause.
-HRT and the combined contraceptive pill would both be suitable options for hormone replacement in women with POI. However, HRT may result in a more favourable improvement in bone density and cardiovascular markers compared with the combined contraceptive pill.
Another poster also said that the links were very 'basic'.
These consensus statements by the BMS come after they have researched hundreds of research trials. The statements are a summary. On the BMS, you can find links to many research papers.
If you are going to provide links, please make sure they are the most recent.
Also make sure you know
-the difference between observational research trials
-retrospective and prospective
-between meta analyses and Cochrane trials
-between random controlled trials /double blind trials
-who did the research and who paid for it.
Most importantly that a LOT of the research that is behind the big, bold statements that hit the press is OLD data that has been disproved.
The Lancet report that came out in 2019 and supposedly showed higher risks, was based on the WHI and Million Women research from decades ago (both now shown to be flawed) and it also used research that was not even peer reviewed so highly unreliable. Neither did it include women using micronised progesterone, so the stats are not relevant for those women.
I hope this thread has provided the right facts for women who may be reading (and not posting.)