Many women have fears about starting HRT because they believe it will put them at risk for stroke, heart disease, blood clots, or cancer. This fear is often based on inaccurate and outdated information that was released from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in the 1990s.

The researchers of the WHI have tried to correct the misinformation about the study, but, sadly, it's still in circulation on the internet. To be clear, the WHI study began 30 years ago, and the results from the study were found to be flawed and subsequently redacted.

It's also important to note that the study used synthetic hormones that were derived from pregnant horse urine, known as Premarin. While Premarin is still in circulation today, Winona does not prescribe it. Winona prescribes only bioidentical HRT that is derived from plants and identical in chemical and molecular structure to the hormones that are produced naturally in the body. These hormones are then compounded and prescribed by a licensed physician.

One of the biggest fears women have about using HRT is related to developing cancer, and most specifically breast cancer.

However, studies have shown that women receiving bioidentical HRT can actually have decreased risk of some cancers, stroke, heart disease, bone loss, and diabetes.

Some studies suggest there is a small risk of developing breast cancer for women who use combined HRT therapy, such as estrogen and progesterone, but other studies refute this.

As with any medical intervention, there may be some calculated risk, but your Winona physician will be sure to review your medical history for any potential contraindications or concerns. That being said, only about 1 in 10,000 women are at risk of developing a serious ailment on HRT.

A family history of cancer is not an immediate contraindication to HRT, although an established personal diagnosis is.

If a close relative, such as your grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, etc., has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's prudent to disclose this and discuss your predisposition with your doctor. Genetic testing may be recommended to see if you are a carrier for the breast cancer gene.