Consensus and Controversy: Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Risk of Breast Carcinoma

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is the medical treatment that mitigates menopausal symptoms with administration of supplementary sexual hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are often involved in MHT. Experts from the Department of Gynecologic Endocrine and the Department of Breast Surgery have paid special attention to the risk of breast carcinoma related to MHT and reached consensuses on the following issues:MHT increases the risk of breast carcinoma; decision should be made after a careful and comprehensive assessment of the risk of breast carcinoma and the potential benefit of MHT. Since the administration of MHT has a window period, a thorough discussion with patients is essential to fully inform the indication and contraindication of MHT, and an informed consent should be obtained. There are still controversies over the risk of breast carcinoma with natural progesterone, tibolone, and single estrogen.