Health professionals have advised women with concerns about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after new US findings to contact their doctors.
The study found that HRT increased the risk of breast cancer by a quarter and of cardiovascular side-effects by 22 per cent. Between 10 and 20 per cent of women over 50 in the State take HRT.
The Irish Medicines Board said the result from the US study on the risks and benefits of combined HRT had previously been identified in studies. The preparation used in the study was licensed by the IMB but not marketed by the manufacturer in Ireland.
Yesterday Dr John Kennedy, a consultant medical oncologist in St James's Hospital, said there had always been a concern that HRT slightly increased the risk of breast cancer, but what was surprising was that it also increased the risk of cardiovascular disease.
"That is a new finding. It was previously felt that HRT and oestrogen were beneficial to the heart. That will need to be looked at now." he said. There were many good reasons to take HRT, for osteoporosis and severe menopausal symptoms, but long-term prescribing required scutiny.
The rate of a risk of 25 per cent in breast cancer was in fact quite a small number and was picked up in very large trials like this, Dr Kennedy said.
Dr Mary Henry, a consultant physician, said that, although it seemed to be a very well conducted trial, it was important to remember that the tests were only on one product.
"An awful lot of women have HRT patches, and the tests in the US study were on a specific oral product. We certainly have to look at it very carefully," Dr Henry said.