Vaginal Estrogen OK!! but maybe not for Artemis readers

Jelson

http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis/201711/... I was just reading the November issue of Johns Hopkins' publication Artemis which is breast cancer focused - and found at the bottom of the page a link to the summary of a study recently presented at the The North American Menopause Society's Annual Meeting - the title of the Artemis article is ..Women Can Breath A Sigh of Relief When Using Vaginal Estrogen to Treat Menopause Symptoms. Here is the article. I am furious. No where does it address whether VAGINAL ESTROGEN IS SAFE FOR WOMEN WHO ALREADY HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER. One would think that the publishers at Artemis would have noted that the study did not specifically address US, presumably their audience! Sorry for the rant, I don't even know why this makes me so furious.

Hot flashes aren't the only bothersome symptom of the menopause transition. Many postmenopausal women also experience sexual dysfunction and urinary problems that don't require estrogen pills but, rather, can be alleviated by vaginally administered estrogen. A new study shows that, despite previous misperceptions, this treatment option is not only effective but also safe. The study results were presented during The North American Menopause Society annual meeting in Philadelphia.

Vaginal estrogen in the form of a cream or suppository is highly effective in managing an array of sexual and urinary problems collectively referred to as the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Despite its proven effectiveness, the use of vaginal estrogen has been restricted by concerns of women and their healthcare providers regarding its potential link to such serious health issues as coronary heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and others.

However, examination of the data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study of more than 45,000 participants showed that the use of vaginal estrogen does not significantly increase the risk of heart disease or cancer, including breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancer. Nor is it related to an elevated risk of such other concerns as stroke, pulmonary embolism, hip fracture, or death.

"These results should help reassure women regarding the safety of vaginal estrogen," says Dr. Carolyn Crandall, lead author of the study from the University of California in Los Angeles.

"Studies like these are so valuable to help dispel misperceptions that keep women from getting the relief they seek," adds Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. "Women and their healthcare providers need to be armed with the latest facts so they can make informed decisions regarding their treatment options."

SOURCES:
The North American Menopause Society annual meeting, October 11-14, 2017, Philadelphia, PA
The North American Menopause Society (http://www.menopause.or