Hormone therapy use should be limited to the treatment of menopausal symptoms at the lowest effective dosage over the shortest duration possible, and continued use should be reevaluated on a periodic basis. Risks factors include increased incident of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots.
Risks factors include increased incident of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots. Benefits associated with estrogen and progesterone use in the WHI trial included a 37% reduction in colorectal carcinoma rates and reduced incidence of hip and vertebral fractures.
Compounded hormones are plant-derived hormones that are prepared, mixed, assembled, packaged, or labeled as a drug by a pharmacist and can be custom made for a patient according to a physician's specifications.
Risk versus benefits have to be considered when starting hormones and can be discussed on an individual bases depending on symptoms and medical history.