When hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT, first hit the scene many doctors and women alike thought that they have found a cure-all for the unpleasant symptoms that are associated with menopause.

However, after further research, alarm bells began to sound. The results of some research studies into the effectiveness and safety of HRT seemed to suggest that HRT actually increased the risk of some of the conditions it was meant to keep at bay, including heart disease.

The news media picked up on this story and ran with it, sending many nervous women to their doctors to find out if their health was at risk thanks to their HRT. However, just how great is the risk associated with HRT, especially as it related to heart disease? Are women back to the drawing board when it comes to managing all of those menopausal symptoms, or is HRT not as scary as it has been made out to be? (more…)