Progestin

SAN ANTONIO — Two common hormone therapy regimens had opposite long-term effects on breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women, according to results from two large randomized controlled Women’s Health Initiative trials presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

A coalition of 11 leading medical societies worldwide released a global position statement outlining best practices for the use of testosterone for women, stating the therapy is appropriate for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder/dysfunction but noting that evidence does not support such treatment for any other symptoms or medical conditions.

Women who initiated systemic hormone therapy around the time of menopause were at greater risk for invasive breast cancer than similar never-users, according to an analysis of nearly 60 epidemiologic studies published in The Lancet.

Up to 68% of women, most of them younger than 50 years, may have fibroid tumors, which impact the physical, social and professional lives of many of these women, researchers wrote in the Journal of Women’s Health.