Family Physician: A Friend to Depend On

Posted on: 3 July 2015

Hormone replacement therapy can help you avoid hot flashes and other undesirable signs of menopause, but it can have pros and cons for your gastrointestinal health. Here's the latest on what research is finding about hormones and your GI tract.

The Good News

Researchers are finding links between reduced levels of colon cancer and use of hormone replacement therapy. Colorectal adenomatous polyps -- the growths that doctors look for in a colonoscopy that can lead to cancer -- are greatly reduced in women who take hormones during and after menopause.

Estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones most likely to be part of any prescribed therapy for post-menopausal women, can be prescribed separately or together as part of hormone replacement therapy. According to the National Cancer Institute, the combination of the two is most likely to prevent cancerous polyps.

You'll still need to have regular colonoscopies to look for signs of cancer, but the odds are a little better that you won't need to worry about anything showing up during the procedure.

The Bad News

In a recent study involving nearly 74,000 women, serious gastrointestinal bleeding was found to be caused by taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Estrogen and progesterone can increase blood clotting -- one of the reasons why a thorough medical history and check up should be part of the process of starting hormone replacement. The new study shows up to a 50 percent increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding as well.

These bleeding issues are most likely to impact the lower intestine because there are fewer blood vessels there, so a clot can have a more substantial impact on blood supply.

Doctors can also use colonoscopies, as well as other screening tests, to look for evidence of GI bleeding. If you begin to show signs of problems, you can discuss whether to stop hormone replacement therapy to reduce the risk of continued bleeding issues.

There are other factors besides hormone therapy that can cause GI bleeding. To minimize your risk, talk to your doctor about the following lifestyle changes:

• If you're overweight, reduce your body mass index through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.
• Stop smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products.
• Minimize use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, as well as other medications that can irritate the GI tract.

Talk to your doctor about ways to maintain good colon health while taking replacement hormones, and be sure to schedule regular checkups and colonoscopies as recommended by your physician.

To learn more, contact a clinic like Lincoln Surgical Group PC.