The study were participated by 16,608 women who either get HRT or placebos. Researchers found that 1 out of 10 HRT users had an abnormal mammogram while 1 out of 25 had avoidable breast biopsy.
Ten percent of HRT users had to have based on their mammograms compared with 6 percent of those on placebos.
Study lead author, Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, a medical oncologist with the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center said that the findings would not be an issue for those women with severe symptoms of menopause but could influence those women considering hormone therapy.
More breast cancers were diagnosed in the HRT users even though mammograms likely miss tumors in this group.
Dr. Kristin Byrne, chief of breast imaging at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City explained that the breasts became denser with HRT and mammography is not as sensitive for the detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts.
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a system of medical treatment for menopausal women, based on the theory that it may prevent discomfort and health problems caused by diminished circulating estrogen and progesterone hormones. HRT is used to combat the discomforts of menopause such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, night sweats and mood swings.
