Hormone replacement therapy – yes or no?
It is well established that hormone replacement can help keep vaginal tissue in good health. HRT also protects against osteoporosis and heart disease significantly. However, it also increases the risk of breast cancer, especially for women who have been on the standard estrogen/progestin therapy for many years. Based on results of the latest and largest US government sponsored study, it is now clear that this widely used combination hormone therapy substantially increases the risk of breast cancer, actually by 8% every year past the five year mark. If you have been on hormone therapy for a number of years, we suggest you discuss these findings with your doctor and keep up your yearly gynecological checkups. What are symptoms of vaginal problems? Symptoms resulting from inflammation or infection may include itching, swelling, redness of the vulva, unpleasant odor or excessive discharge (a small amount of clear, odorless discharge is normal, yet whitish, greenish or yellowish discharge w
