HRT? THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH ANY RISKS

MILLIONS of women credit hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, with reigniting their fire in the bedroom.

The treatment, used by 200,000 British women, replaces the hormones that they lose during and after the menopause – oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

HRT comes in coils placed in the womb, tablets, creams and patches. And when it comes to improving your sex life, they all work.

Not only do they inject moisture into dry, sore vaginal tissues, they alleviate insomnia, mood swings, sweats and hot flushes.

But patients are often nervous about using HRT because of widely reported links to breast and womb cancer.

The type of HRT taken by most women – oestrogen and progesterone – is linked to a tiny increased risk of breast cancer, smaller than the risk associated with obesity and smoking. The risks do not apply to HRT taken in the form of vaginal cream or vaginal tablet, or if you’re taking any form under the age of 51. Oestrogenonly HRT has been seen to increase the risk of womb cancer, which is why it is given only to women who have had a hysterectomy and why women with a womb are given progesterone and oestrogen, to counter the effects of excess oestrogen on the womb tissue. And after you stop taking HRT, the risks gradually decrease.

In my opinion, for most women starting HRT between the ages of 50 and 60, the benefits far outweigh the risks.