40% Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer With HRT
HRT use has been linked to breast cancer and heart disease, but new studies indicate that there could also be an additional risk for ovarian cancer at menopause.
Many women are reconsidering HRT due to the health risks and doctors no longer want women on HRT for extended periods with 5 years being suggested as the maximum. Bioidentical hormones do not carry the health risks of conventional HRT and progesterone in particular is protective of various cancers including breast and endometrial.
One million women in the UK are on HRT and generally take it for between two and five years and currently there are 7,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year. Women have a one in 50 chance of developing ovarian cancer in their lifetime and taking HRT for five years is now linked to the incidence of ovarian cancer.
New study confirms association of HRT and ovarian cancer
The research was carried out by the University of Oxford and published in the Lancet. Lead researcher Sir Richard Peto said claims there was no risk for short courses of HRT “simply isn’t true”. He told the BBC News website:
“It’s a risk, about a million women in this country have HRT and 1,000 will get ovarian cancer from it.”
The latest study, which looked at data from 52 separate studies including 21,500 women with ovarian cancer, and scientists say it proves there is a link.
The findings from the study indicated that women who use HRT for just a few years after menopause are about 40 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have never been on HRT. The result was the same whether the HRT was oestrogen only or a combined form of oestrogen and synthetic progestin.
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Learn MoreHow Bioidentical Progesterone Differs
It is crucial to understand the difference between the synthetic progestogens used in conventional HRT and bioidentical natural progesterone. The HRT preparations studied in these cancer research trials contain synthetic hormones that are chemically different from what your body naturally produces. Bioidentical progesterone, on the other hand, is molecularly identical to the progesterone made by your ovaries.
Research has consistently shown that natural progesterone does not carry the same risks as synthetic progestogens. In fact, progesterone appears to have a protective role — it helps regulate cell growth and may actually reduce the risk of ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers by counteracting the effects of unopposed oestrogen.
The Protective Role of Progesterone
Oestrogen dominance — where oestrogen is not adequately balanced by progesterone — is increasingly recognised as a factor in hormone-related cancers. When oestrogen acts without the moderating influence of progesterone, it can stimulate excessive cell growth in sensitive tissues including the ovaries, breast, and uterus.
Many women reach menopause in a state of relative oestrogen dominance because progesterone levels decline more rapidly than oestrogen. This is why supplementing with bioidentical progesterone can be so important — not just for symptom relief, but for longer-term health protection.
What You Can Do
If you are concerned about the cancer risks associated with HRT, there are steps you can take. Maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce excess oestrogen produced by fat tissue. Regular exercise, a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables, and limiting alcohol can all support healthier hormone balance. Many women find that bioidentical natural progesterone cream, such as Serenity, helps address oestrogen dominance safely and effectively. If you are currently taking HRT and have concerns, speak to your doctor about your options before making any changes.
