Hormonersatztherapie in der Peri- und Postmenopause und Krebsrisiko

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in peri- and postmenopausal women is one of the most common endocrine interventions. HRT has a number of benefits and risks. One of the most important risks is cancer. Hormone-dependent cancer may be influenced by HRT. The best evidence exists for breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer. HRT may increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The increased risk is time dependent and it may be influenced by the different compounds used in HRT. Risk for endometrial cancer may be increased by HRT regimes with insufficient progestin administration. HRT may be considered during or after adjuvant cancer treatment, which may lead to increased risk of relapse of endocrine-dependent disease. In this article, the complex knowledge on the subject is summarized and recommendations for the use of HRT are provided.