Does hormone replacement therapy worsen fibrocystic breast disease?
Yes. Hormone replacement (HRT) worsens fibrocystic breast conditions, especially if the HRT includes a progestin. It is interesting that some HRT is worse than others depending upon which progestin is used; cyproterone acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate seem to produce higher incidences of fibrocystic change on x-ray (1). This goes along with the concept that both estrogen and progesterone (progestin) are needed to stimulate breast fibrocystic growth. It is also noteworthy that oral contraceptives earlier in life seem to lessen all benign breast conditions including fibrocystic changes (2, 3). This implies to me that certain progestins are worse than others because medroxyprogesterone acetate is not used in oral contraceptives. Remember that it is the combination of estrogen and progestin that gives the problem because medroxyprogesterone acetate alone does not seem to worsen the incidence of fibrocystic changes (4). My first suggestion would be that if you have a problem with fib
Yes. Hormone replacement (HRT) worsens fibrocystic breast conditions, especially if the HRT includes a progestin. It is interesting that some HRT is worse than others depending upon which progestin is used; cyproterone acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate seem to produce higher incidences of fibrocystic change on x-ray (1). This goes along with the concept that both estrogen and progesterone (progestin) are needed to stimulate breast fibrocystic growth. It is also noteworthy that oral contraceptives earlier in life seem to lessen all benign breast conditions including fibrocystic changes (2, 3). This implies to me that certain progestins are worse than others because medroxyprogesterone acetate is not used in oral contraceptives. Remember that it is the combination of estrogen and progestin that gives the problem because medroxyprogesterone acetate alone does not seem to worsen the incidence of fibrocystic changes (4). My first suggestion would be that if you have a problem with fib
