CBS News reported that researchers estimate approximately 50,000 deaths could have been prevented if women who had hysterectomies took part in estrogen hormonal therapy.
Dr. Philip Sarrel, emeritus professor in the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, and Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine has stated that, "estrogen avoidance has resulted in a real cost to women's lives every year for the last 10 years -- and the deaths continue."
After the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, patients and doctors became hesitant of using estrogen therapy, because the study found an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and blood clots with women who took an estrogen-progestin combination therapy compared to a placebo.
However, the researchers behind the new study point out that most of the negative health outcomes in the earlier trials were seen in women who still had their uterus and took a combination estrogen-progestin pill to lower the risk of uterine cancer.
The researchers believe that many of the negative results were not applicable to women who had a hysterectomy, had their uterus removed, and could benefit from estrogen alone.
Data from 2011 and 2012 also showed that women without a uterus who took estrogen were less likely to develop breast cancer and heart disease.
Dr. Philip Sarrel explains why you should consider estrogen hormonal therapy post-hysterectomy.
Philip M. Sarrel, MD, completed his medical education at New York University School of Medicine, his internship at the Mount Sinai Hospital, and his residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. In addition to his many years on the faculty of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.