HRT Good or Bad

Hello.  I have a few questions and THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 1) I have gone thru early menopause (42 done).  Is it safer for me to not take any HRT or worse?  I mean what risks of cancer are WITHOUT therapy?  I am SO CONCERNED for some reason about cancers, even though as far as I'm aware, no one in my family had it.
2) Is my risk of ovarian cancer greater due to the early onset of menopause or lower?  Or is there any correlation between the two?  I started my periods at approx. 13 1/2 yrs. old, had one pregnancy which ended in a miscarriage at 4 mos., NO LIVE BIRTHS and by the time I was 38 yrs. old, was having irregular (perimenopause) periods.  By 41 (Oct. 2005) I had my last period.  I get regular exams by my Gyno, Mammograms, etc.

I read on the net something about late menstruation start & early menopause is actually better due to the lack of ovaries working/estrogen.  Then, of course, I read the opposite on another website, so if you can clear these up for me I would really appreciate it.

Also, 3) how long are the symptoms supposed to last once you are done with your periods?  I still have the sweats at night, the mood swings, etc. I just really do not want to put any drugs in my system that I don't absolutely have to. I already take Synthroid daily.  

Thank You again.....

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. Early menopause means you may spend more than half your life in menopause since the average life expectancy for women today is about 83 years.  That is a long time and you want to be both comfortable and safe.  

According to the Women