After 10 years of estrogen-only HRT, the risk of endometrial cancer increases by approximately how many times?

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Multiple Choice

After 10 years of estrogen-only HRT, the risk of endometrial cancer increases by approximately how many times?

Explanation:
Unopposed estrogen stimulates the endometrium, and without progesterone to oppose its effects, prolonged exposure leads to continued endometrial proliferation and a higher risk of malignant transformation. After about a decade of estrogen-only HRT, this risk becomes quite high—roughly nine times greater than in someone who hasn’t used estrogen. This is why adding a progestin to estrogen therapy in women with a uterus is recommended to reduce endometrial cancer risk. Shorter durations produce smaller increases, so the ninefold figure best fits long-term unopposed use.

Unopposed estrogen stimulates the endometrium, and without progesterone to oppose its effects, prolonged exposure leads to continued endometrial proliferation and a higher risk of malignant transformation. After about a decade of estrogen-only HRT, this risk becomes quite high—roughly nine times greater than in someone who hasn’t used estrogen. This is why adding a progestin to estrogen therapy in women with a uterus is recommended to reduce endometrial cancer risk. Shorter durations produce smaller increases, so the ninefold figure best fits long-term unopposed use.

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