A new study suggests that women taking the hormones estrogen and progestin are at an increased risk of receiving faulty mammograms.
A study conducted in 2002 revealed that post-menopausal women taking hormones were at an increased risk of cancer, blood clots and heart attacks,WebMd reported Tuesday.
Researchers from the UCLA medical Center near Torrance examined 1600 women. They found that women taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) were more likely to have faulty mammograms resulting in follow-up tests.
In addition, 10% of hormone users underwent a breast biopsy to test for possible cancer, compared to just 6 percent of those taking the placebo.
Experts believe that hormones increase breast density, which make mammograms more difficult to interpret.
“Now that we have quantitative estimates of what the risks (for breast cancer) are, women should bring this up with their doctor,” said Rowan Chlebowski, the lead investigator on the study.
Although most women only take estrogen, and not both hormones used in the study, researchers suggest women only take the lowest recommended dose.
The study appears in the current issue of Archives of Internal Medicin.