Many women may consider switching to natural therapies to ease the symptoms of menopause after a new study found that oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of blood clots.
French and Scottish researchers conducted a review of existing research into the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in postmenopausal women taking HRT.
Publishing their findings in the British Medical Journal, they reveal that women who took HRT orally were between two and three times more likely to develop a blood clot, with the first year of treatment posing a particular threat.
The risk was also increased in women who were overweight or had a genetic predisposition to blood clots.
The study authors claimed that the findings may have "important" clinical implications.
Although HRT can improve the quality of life of women suffering from postmenopausal symptoms, many worry about the documented health risks and prefer to try natural therapies such as flaxseed, evening primrose oil, soy isoflavones and extracts of sage.
Many women may consider switching to natural therapies to ease the symptoms of menopause after a new study found that oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of blood clots.
