Secondary benefits

There are a number of benefits to women who are taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, which are usually not used as the primary reason to prescribe hormones.

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is one situation where hormone therapy may be the best option, as women on menopausal hormone therapy have a reduced risk of osteoporosis and of fractures in the spine or hip. Hormone therapy may be used for this purpose.

Heart disease and mortality. Women who started hormone therapy within ten years of menopause have been shown to have a 40% lower risk of heart disease and death than women who were not taking hormones. Hormones are not prescribed for this purpose, and it is still important to take all the preventive steps to keep your heart healthy. For more information, see the section on heart health.

Cancer. For women who take hormone therapy that includes progestogen plus estrogen, there is a reduced risk of endometrial cancers.

Body weight, body fat and diabetes. The Women’s Health Initiative study showed that HT reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Estrogen can positively impact glucose and insulin metabolism, and in some postmenopausal Type II diabetic women it has improved the glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in their bodies. Women using hormones do not gain any more weight than women who do not, and may in fact gain less. Women on hormones are less prone to accumulate belly fat. For more information, visit HerNutrition.ca.