Media Centre

SOGC Comment on Lancet study linking Ovarian Cancer and Hormone Replacement Therapy

April 20, 2007

On April 18, 2007, a new study examining the links between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and ovarian cancer was released in the British medical journal The Lancet. The UK-based study, entitled “Ovarian Cancer and Hormone Replacement Therapy in the Million Women Study”, examined data from the Million Women Study and identified an increased risk of ovarian cancer associated with HRT use.

In 2006, the SOGC released its Menopause Consensus Report, which provides recommendations for Canadian healthcare professionals on the use of hormone therapy (also called hormone replacement therapy) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The comprehensive report was produced by a multidisciplinary panel of health experts who analyzed all pertinent scientific and clinical evidence regarding menopause management. 

Questions continue to arise about the overall risks and benefits of hormone therapy. A recent study appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no increased risk of heart disease for women who started taking hormone therapy in their 50s. This week, The Lancet study raises concerns about the association of hormone therapy and ovarian cancer. Significant is The Lancet study's finding that there was no increased risk for women who were using hormone therapy for less than five years.

Notwithstanding this new study, the SOGC re-affirms that hormone therapy continues to be a safe option for women who experience a reduction in their quality of life as a result of menopausal symptoms. The increased risk for an individual woman taking hormone therapy remains extremely small.

The SOGC reiterates the recommendations of the 2006 Menopause Consensus Report, that hormone therapy be prescribed in the lowest dose and for the duration necessary to achieve treatment objectives.

For more information:

• Read The Lancet study press release

• To view a summary of the SOGC's recommendations on menopause and hormone therapy, please read our Consensus Companion Guide.

• Read the complete clinical guideline, the 2006 Menopause Consensus Report. (This document is written for a healthcare professional audience).

• Read a commentary from the Lancet (subscription required)

• Read the complete Lancet Study (subscription required)

 

Members of the media seeking SOGC comment are invited to contact:

Mike Haymes
Editor, Communications and Public Education
Tel: (800) 561-2416 ext. 325, or (613) 730-4192, ext. 325
Fax: (613) 730-4314
Email: mhaymes@sogc.com

Last Updated April 20, 2007