Hormone Replacement Therapy Risks

2.25 million women, menopause concerns in Belgium and in France 10.2 million.
The hormone replacement therapy has been a great leap in medical care for women and the sign of a change of mentality. Finally, medicine is no longer regarded as disorders of self, including the women complained that he was no longer a simple matter of convenience. Today, 25% to 30% of postmenopausal women are using HRT. But should it all women provided? What acting hormones in hormone replacement therapy?

Cardiovascular Risks

The causes of death among women over age 50 are:
- Cardiovascular disease: 53%
- Breast cancer: 4%
- Other cancers: 18%
- Accidents and suicide: 2%
Women who are more educated have a level of good cholesterol - HDL - high. The stress associated with a lack of integration and social contact with friends in the lower social classes is an important factor in coronary disease.

The vascular system

Hormones may have a beneficial effect on the endothelium of the vessel wall. Indeed, menopause usually occurs a decrease in strength and plasticity of the uterine arteries and vasodilation, thus widening of the aorta and coronary arteries.

Hormones (progesterone in particular) also act on lipoproteins, and thus atheroma (fatty degeneration of the artery). They have an effect on hemodynamic factors: during a hot flash are released large amounts of adrenaline and nor adrenaline, neurotransmitters as well as stress and arousal, with increases of adrenalin and the decrease in norepinephrine, which leads to peripheral vasodilation and vasoconstriction Central. Therefore, an explosion of heat accompanied by redness (vasodilation). Finally, estrogen prevent too much calcium can flow into the vessel wall.

Hormones and Osteoporosis

Hormone replacement therapy acts primarily by the hormones estrogen on bone-forming cells (osteoblasts). It is effective in preventing calcium loss (without filling the backlog). However, the hormone needed is similar to those of young women during the menstrual period, which is not without running the risk of abnormal processing. But it is true that, against all odds, there is a very small percentage (1.2%) patients who were postmenopausal when they take hormones, lose more than 1% of bone mass per year.

There is a major risk for hormone replacement therapy associated with a low socio-professional category. The level of education has a role to play as her, women who have not been studies that have poorer health compared to those of graduates.