91: Does Estrogen Cause Breast Cancer?

Confessions of a Male Gynecologist

How are we at a point where women are terrified of a hormone they've had in their bodies most of their lives?

Many of us have heard horrible things about estrogen and its connection to breast cancer. A lot of this public aversion stems from a study that came out in the early 2000s called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

The WHI was a landmark study designed to define the risks and benefits of interventions, notably hormonal therapy. Unfortunately, when journals and the media reported on the findings, they didn’t put them into the appropriate clinical context and did not mention the study’s limitations. Ultimately, this led to women ditching their hormones en masse, suffering in silence without an alternative.

Today I’m sharing what you need to know about the WHI, what the data shows about the connection between hormone therapy and the risk of disease, why we need to shift our perspective on hormone therapy, and alternatives for women who can’t benefit from estrogen therapy.

Let’s try not to be afraid of estrogen - it’s not a bad thing.

Episode Highlights

• Telling women across the board not to go on hormones is a misogynistic statement
• What you need to know about the Women’s Health Initiative study
• The problem with how the media reported the results of the WHI study
• Positive outcomes of hormone therapy identified in the study
• Limitations of the WHI
• Considerations for women with a history of breast cancer
• What the studies showed about the benefits for osteoporosis prevention
• The relationship between estrogen therapy and increased risk of dementia and stroke
• Detoxifying estrogen in your body
• My confession for estrogen replacement
• Alternatives to estradiol for menopause symptoms

Resources

Dr. Tassone's Practice | Tassone Advanced Gynecology

Dr. Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible

Hormone Archetype Quiz | Hormonal Mapping System

Medical Disclaimer This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.