Hormone therapy, particularly estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT), has been associated with an increased risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. Statins are primarily prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Some studies have explored whether statins may have additional benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects.
If you are considering hormone therapy or have concerns about blood clot risk, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional. They can assess your individual health status, medical history, and other risk factors to provide personalized advice.
Keep in mind that medical recommendations and guidelines may have changed, and it's always important to rely on the most current information. Please consult with a healthcare provider or check the latest medical literature for updates on this topic.
There are some potential risks to taking menopausal hormone therapy, a few of which center around the heart. These include a risk of strokeTrusted Source when hormone therapy is started later in menopause, as well as a higher risk of blood clotsTrusted Source.
Now, researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch have found that statin therapy may help lower the risk of venous thromboembolismm (VTE) or deep vein thromboembolism (DVT) — a condition that happens when blood clots form in the veins — in women taking menopausal hormone therapy.
Can hormone therapy cause blood clots?
Corresponding study author Dr. Susan C. Weller, professor in the Department of Population Health Science and Health Disparities at the University of Texas Medical Branch, noted the Women’s Health Initiative results appeared two decades ago.
This means many clinicians have been reluctant to prescribe estrogen therapy because of the Women’s Health Initiative finding that menopausal therapy caused women to have venous thromboembolism, she said.
“Venous thromboembolisms are potentially life threatening clots that can form in the arms and legs and may travel to the lungs,” Dr. Weller told Medical News Today. “And indeed, oral conjugated equine estrogen — with and without progestin — is associated with (a) higher risk of possible clots.”
In a previous studyTrusted Source, Dr. Weller said she and her team of researchers found that transdermal estrogen — for example, the estradiol patch — with or without a progestogen was not associated with a higher risk for venous thromboembolisms.
“However, we found that women 50–64 years of age who took oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, whether for menopause symptoms or prevention of pregnancy, were at three times higher risk of venous thromboembolism than women on menopausal hormone therapy,” she added.
Given that women suffering from menopausal symptoms may not be prescribed hormones because of clotting risks, Dr. Weller said it was important to find that there might be some hormonal options for menopause symptoms that are much safer than others.
“During our previous research on statin therapy, we learnedTrusted Source what statin therapy can do. Systematic reviews indicate statins can reduce the risk for venous thromboembolisms as well as major vascular events. If statins generally reduce venous thromboembolism and hormone therapy raises that risk, the next step was a natural extension: what happens if you take both? Our new study tested whether statin therapy might reduce hormone-associated venous thromboembolism risk.”
— Dr. Susan C. Weller, corresponding study author
Hormone-statin therapy decreases blood clot risk
For this observational study, Dr. Weller and her team examined data from almost 224,000 women ages 50 to 64 between 2007 and 2019.
Within this study participant pool, researchers reported almost 20,000 had recent hormone therapy exposure and about 36,000 had current statin exposure.
When analyzing the data, scientists found the risk of venous thromboembolism was 53% higher in women recently exposed to hormone therapy without current statin therapy.
They also discovered that venous thromboembolism risk dropped to only 25% in women recently exposed to both hormonal therapy and current statin therapy.
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