Does hormone replacement therapy increase cancer risk?

For millions of American women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has provided relief from side effects of menopause. As the ovaries stop releasing eggs, a woman’s body also stops producing the hormones progesterone and estrogen. This change often affects quality of life due to hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and a loss of bone density. HRT replenishes the hormones lost during this process and alleviates the discomfort.