Estrogen Matters

By: Avrum Bluming, Carol Tavris

Narrated by: Carol Tavris, Avrum Bluming

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

A compelling defense of hormone replacement therapy, exposing the faulty science behind its fall from prominence and empowering women to make informed decisions about their health.

For years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was hailed as a miracle. Study after study showed that HRT, if initiated at the onset of menopause, could ease symptoms ranging from hot flashes to memory loss; reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and some cancers; and even extend a woman's overall life expectancy. But when a large study by the Women's Health Initiative announced results showing an uptick in breast cancer among women taking HRT, the winds shifted abruptly, and HRT, officially deemed a carcinogen, was abandoned.

Now, 16 years after HRT was left for dead, Dr. Bluming, a medical oncologist, and Dr. Tavris, a social psychologist, track its strange history and present a compelling case for its resurrection. They investigate what led the public - and much of the medical establishment - to accept the Women's Health Initiative's often exaggerated claims, while also providing a fuller picture of the science that supports HRT.

A sobering and revelatory listen, Estrogen Matters sets the record straight on this beneficial treatment and provides an empowering path to wellness for women everywhere.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"This book is long overdue. Having spent over two decades advancing women's health, I was appalled by the Women's Health Initiative's efforts to sensationalize and distort their own findings to promote an anti-hormone-therapy agenda. Personally I have been taking HRT for over 25 years and have no intention of stopping. I hope Estrogen Matters draws enough attention to counter the fears and misinformation about HRT that so many women, and their physicians, still hold." (Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, former president and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research)

"For far too many years women and their doctors have been held in fear of prescribing estrogens - believing that they were dangerous because of a widely quoted study purporting to show that they were too damaging. Now it turns out that this seems to have been an example of 'fake' news. In a thorough, careful, and unbiased assessment of all the scientific evidence, Bluming and Tavris debunk this most widely quoted work and show that estrogens are not only not dangerous but beneficial for the vast majority of women suffering from post-menopausal symptoms, whether or not they have had breast cancer. This extremely valuable message deserves to be widely disseminated." (Lord Turnberg, former president of the Royal College of Physicians)

"This is such an important book, I want to do all I can to encourage every woman to read it. Groundbreaking and carefully researched, Estrogen Matters provides essential information about the many benefits of estrogen at menopause and even after a diagnosis of breast cancer. It reveals the misinterpretation of study results that led women (and their doctors) to have unwarranted concerns about estrogen use. The thoughtful information presented here will help women feel more comfortable taking estrogen, leading to healthier, longer lives for many." (Patricia T. Kelly, PhD, specialist in cancer risk assessment and author of Assessing Your True Risk of Breast Cancer)

Amazing!

This book needs to go viral! Its an excellent source and carefully written! Congratulations on the authors. I can’t thank them enough!

information and mind-blowing

After 3 years of struggle this book has helped me navigate the journey I find myself in at 53. Amazing information!

So informative!!

This is a great book! I have learned so much!Every woman should read this back.

Very informative

As someone with a family history of cancer I’ve been told not to do HRT and have suffered but reading this book I have a whole new perspective on the facts.

Facts Presented Clearly and Concisely

The authors present the facts and disprove the lies around estrogen therapy clearly and concisely. They show that the facts in favor are decisive. They also demonstrate along the way the harm that may result when people abuse science for their own ends, and the importance of following the reliable evidence wherever it leads, regardless of one’s biases. Highly recommended.

Thank you

As a peri-menopausal woman, I've been on HRT for a year now. Estrogen has been holding its own until very recently. A few months ago my doctor said it had fallen off and recommended estrogen replacement. I hesitated. I wanted to do some research first. We've heard so many scary things. Turned to a group of woman online who recommended this book. It was awesome!! Not only did it provide outstanding considerations and input for me but also provided several sources of reference I then when and researched further. Thank you!!

Mind boggling.

Fact-based statistical analysis explained in an engaging, easy to understand way. I'm quite outraged. I hope all the Doctors read it.

Insightful

Appreciated the candid over view and reflection on the development of medical care for women

Every woman must read this book!!!

Extremely educational book for all Women. I highly recommend all adults women to read this book. I feel extremely lucky to discover this book to educate myself about HRT before it is too late for me. I truly appreciate dr. Tavris and dr. Bluming to write this book for women to educate themselves! Thank you for your sincere and caring work to help women's health issue!

Every woman should read this book!

Very informative, I really enjoyed listening to this book. I am now going to go talk to my doctor about prescribing HRT for my symptoms that have been negatively affecting my life. It’s really great to know all the positive affects of HRT on my whole body and the fact that I have the potential to live a longer and healthier life because of it. Thank you to the authors!