Hi Sue.. thank you for the comment. When someone has a history of a blood clot or pulmonary embolism, the chances of having another one can increase if taking exogenous hormones. For someone like you, a careful risk/benefit analysis is crucial - circumstances around your blood clot, other medical history, any genetic predispositions/family history of blood clot, your symptoms and severity, other non-hormonal therapies you have tried all need to be addressed with an experienced menopausal HT provider to do your case justice. An inexperienced individual may just close the book with your PE history... I would suggest connecting with an experienced provider willing to look at your whole case.
Thank you, Lori, for the comment. I agree with you... it seems that more recently studies have suggested a difference in breast cancer risk between progestins and micronized progesterone. More study is needed as not all studies are concordant, but despite this, my practice is to use micronized progesterone for all my MHT prescriptions.
Can you discuss what the risks of HRT are related to blood clots? I am a 57-year old avid outdoor athlete, and (among other menopause symptoms) I am so frustrated with joint pain and strength losses associated with menopause. My primary care providers, and the local menopause center, said I cannot try HRT because I had a SSPE (subsegmental pulmonary embolism) in my early 50s when I was still taking birth control pills. I probably stayed on birth control too long. It is my understanding that HRT is lower dosage than birth control pills, and that transdermal is less risk. I would appreciate thoughts and advice.
As long as these studies continue to assume that progestins and progesterone are the same thing, and don’t take into account decades of prior BCP use, they are essentially worthless
Hi Sue.. thank you for the comment. When someone has a history of a blood clot or pulmonary embolism, the chances of having another one can increase if taking exogenous hormones. For someone like you, a careful risk/benefit analysis is crucial - circumstances around your blood clot, other medical history, any genetic predispositions/family history of blood clot, your symptoms and severity, other non-hormonal therapies you have tried all need to be addressed with an experienced menopausal HT provider to do your case justice. An inexperienced individual may just close the book with your PE history... I would suggest connecting with an experienced provider willing to look at your whole case.
Thank you, Lori, for the comment. I agree with you... it seems that more recently studies have suggested a difference in breast cancer risk between progestins and micronized progesterone. More study is needed as not all studies are concordant, but despite this, my practice is to use micronized progesterone for all my MHT prescriptions.
Can you discuss what the risks of HRT are related to blood clots? I am a 57-year old avid outdoor athlete, and (among other menopause symptoms) I am so frustrated with joint pain and strength losses associated with menopause. My primary care providers, and the local menopause center, said I cannot try HRT because I had a SSPE (subsegmental pulmonary embolism) in my early 50s when I was still taking birth control pills. I probably stayed on birth control too long. It is my understanding that HRT is lower dosage than birth control pills, and that transdermal is less risk. I would appreciate thoughts and advice.
As long as these studies continue to assume that progestins and progesterone are the same thing, and don’t take into account decades of prior BCP use, they are essentially worthless