I’m concerned about the recent reports that replacement hormones cause cancer and heart disease. What are your thoughts? J. M.

Dear J.M.: It important to understand that the studies were not looking at the replacement of actual estrogen and progesterone. The most recent study to hit the news used a product called PremPro. The Prem is Premarin, a blend of horse estrogens. The Pro is Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), a progesterone-like substance. The effects of Provera are quite different from the effects of true progesterone. Medroxyprogesterone acetate tends to cause headaches, fluid retention, weight gain and sleep disturbances. Actual progesterone often eases those symptoms. The best data available today suggests that bioidentical progesterone, the identical molecule the body would produce if it were able, decreases the risk of breast cancer while supporting bone and heart health. -Dr. Peterson