12/06/2025
Do Bio-Identical Hormones Cause Breat Cancer?
One of the most frequently asked question I hear when starting a woman on bioidentical hormones is ‘ Will this cause me to get breast cancer?’ My answer is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with bio-identical hormones actually lessens once chance of getting breast cancer. That is because bio-identical hormones have the same molecular structure as those naturally produced by the human body, and are derived from plant sources like wild yams or soy.
What is crucial in prescribing these natural hormones is the balance between estrogen and progesterone. High levels of estrogen in relation to progesterone increases one’s risk of developing breast cancer. It is well know that most women are diagnosed with this cancer during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause when progesterone levels drop causing an estrogen dominance. A study of over 1,000 women who were followed for 30 years found that those who were deficient in progesterone were 5.4 times more likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer. And it has been shown that women with the highest levels of progesterone had an 88% reduction in developing breast cancer. This is even if they have a history of breast cancer on both sides of the family. But not all progesterones are the same. The use of Progestin (a synthetic progesterone) is associated with a 40% increase in breast cancer when taken with estrogen. This synthetic progesterone should never be taken.
To read more of this interesting article, click here: https://www.iwholehealth.com/breast-cancer-is-avoidable-part-ii/