Osteoporosis and hrt treatment ??

I took HRT for 10 years and was then taken off age 60. Now 67 I have severe osteoporosis and have lost over 2" in height. I have also developed breast cancer, the tumour being oestrogen fed. I would think carefully about your next decision as I don't believe HRT helps to strengthen bones as much as the medical profession first thought and now most GPs take women off it at 60 so you would only have 3 years on it. There are other ways of protecting your bones without AA. You already know of the Calcium/Vit D3, magnesium (which sort?) and I also take Vit K2/MK7, as I believe this combination helps to direct the calcium to your bones and not your heart. A diet rich in fish oils, leafy greens etc is also advisable. Do as much research as you can before deciding. I can only tell you that I was on AA for only 8 months and it caused dreadful gastro/intestinal problems for me. Most GPs will always start you on AA, knowing the side effects it has on a lot of women. Perhaps it is the cheaper of all treatments, I'm not sure. I do know others on this forum who have a wealth of advice and good research on this subject and hope they will post back to you more fully than I am able to. Very best wishes

Hi Jane

I am 75, with osteoporosis , too. My hematologist had given me a DXA test for other reasons and this is how he discovered that I have this condition.

He has referred me to a bone metabolism specialist whom I haven’t seen yet. In the meantime, he has given me a series of blood tests to check for other possible causes or anomalies related to O.P.

Since low testosterone can be one of the contributing factors of O.P. in men, especially elderly men, he has prescribed another blood test for T.T, which indicates that, if the case warrants, he may suggest HRT.

I have done a fair amount of reading on this and I am not a “ Dr Google” adept, believe me!   

From what I see, it seems that HRT is more under fire for women than for men. For men, prostate cancer risks have been evoked  as a consequence of  HRT , but many doctors argue that this danger exists only  if there already is  a pre-existing  prostate-cancer condition, otherwise one cannot explain ( they  argue) why  prostate cancer is virtually absent in young men with a high level of TT.

If prostate cancer already exists in an elderly man, HRT can indeed accelerate the spread of cancerous cells .

In women, on the other hand, it seems that HRT may cause breast cancer even where there was none before, which is more alarming. .

A few years ago my wife underwent a hysterectomy, as a consequence of which, as is well known, the woman’s body no longer produces estrogen.

In the past, doctors prescribed HRT ( estrogen)  to women  to restore the hormonal balance after menopause or other pathological conditions,  until a number of clinical  studies indicated a strong correlation with breast cancer and now the majority of doctors are averse to it.

In fact, my wife’s doctor wouldn’t prescribe it to her, even if the lack of estrogen ( much as low testosterone in men) causes bone loss , which has to be countered by strong calcium supplementation, with the looming possibility , in the end, of osteoporosis. But the latter is the lesser of the two evils, compared to cancer..

I know that there still are doctors who are “ trigger happy” when it comes to HRT, but you shouldn’t overlook 2nd opinions and your own research.

While the “Dr Google” syndrome is rampant and can be confusing ,  if not dangerous, research can be done intelligently by  adequately  screening  the so called  ” medical” sources of the Web . Only clinical studies and medical documentation sponsored by universities or scientific institutions should be trusted.

You should be able to access the clinical studies yourself ( and read them, at least the conclusions) , rather than relying on dubious( if not inexistent!)  studies cited  by title and only  2nd hand by snake-oil  sellers and quack of all sorts having more interest in your money than in your health, even less the truth.

Hope this helps

Good luck

Ittiandro

I have been on HRT and the male hormone Testosterone since 2011 as have osteoporosis too. Its helped, except my specialist wanted me to increase my HRT squirts, fairly recently to help the bones more, but as I still have a uterus etc, I needed to have a mirena coil fitted, as I am not progesterone tolerant. The procedure was fine, however I have had on and off spotting, which is not very exciting when you turn 60.

I never really had a menaupause as after my 2nd born was born I had excessive bleeding, and had 3 Mirena coils then for 15 years, when it was removed that was it no more periods, but as said I have osteoporosis, like mum.

The GP's were shocked I was given it in 2011, as was the time when NICE didn't approve of HRT, but my mum and her mates of her era were all given HRT for the menaupause and have often said never felt so good when on HRT, and are still on this planet.

I won't take AA either as I have always problems with my teeth, the AA also can give cancer of the oesophagus and osteocronosis of the jaw, so HRT although can give you this and that, it makes sense to replace even though it's a mimic of something produced naturally. I do take Vit D too and the male hormone testosterone, a tiny squirt a day.

I think along rhuematology lines for osteoporosis they are giving people now 2 injections a year something called Prolia (denosumab) I've looked it up think it's under the same bracket as AA, but haven't really looked into it  a lot.

I was told HRT for my osteo is a life time thing.

So I feel fine on it, not happy about the spotting but you may not need a coil, I was taking progesterone tablets, I refused a hysterectomy. I prefer the coil to progesterone. I am 60 now an old gal. Good luck