How long to take premarin?

I had a TAH 8 days ago. I woke up in recovery room with a estogen patch. My dr started me on .625 premarin in pill form this Wednesday. She says she will keep me on estogen for a year and then start weaning me off it and add drugs for osteoporosis at that time. I have a family history of cancer. Dr says studies show increase in cancer after five years of estrogen use. I was under the impression that once you started estogen you were on it for life. My 71 year old mother in law still takes estrogen. Has anyone heard of being weaned off the drug after only 1 year? Thanks, Sherry

My Dr told me that they feel risks start to increase after 4 years of use, so we are planning to re-evaluate at that time. I will then be 53, so I don't know if that makes any difference.

Sherry,
I think with the recent studies that have come out many doctor's and women are rethinking their approach to hrt. In the beginning I thought I would be on hrt for the rest of my life. I am rethinking that opinion. While I will be on hrt for the near future, I'm not sure when I will begin to taper off. I'm sorry I don't have the answer for you here, but I don't find your doctor's approach surprising.

Sherry,

These new hrt studies have made the vines in the just a bit thicker. Kim is right - many doctors and women are rethinking the lifetime approach to HRT. One year may be right for some, five years for others, til about the time of natural menopause for others. My doc's original opinion, before these studies broke, was 5 years of HRT (I would have been 49 - a decent age for natural menopause) and then switch to a drug for osteoporosis prevention. Now he is asking me to lower my dose (gradually, over months to a year) and discontinue before the 3 year anniversary of my hyst.

We all have our hysts at different ages, and have different risks for cancer, heart disease, etc. Decisions to start and when/how to stop HRT need to be made on an individual basis after a long and thoughtful discussion with one's doc.

Don't let these issues get in the way of doing the things a new princess needs to do - and take care of yourself.

Dorrie