A hormonal medication contributes very little to women developing breast cancer, according to a physician.

Annabel Fountain, from Fountain Health, challenged the belief that a link exists between the disease and Hormonal Replacement Therapy throughout October, which was both breast cancer and menopause awareness month.

HRT, which replaces the hormones that women stop producing after menopause, is often used to combat symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats.

However, it could lead to side-effects, including chest pains, a reduced sex drive, depression, brain fog and memory problems.

Despite these effects, Dr Fountain highlighted the treatment’s benefits, saying: “For most women who have symptoms and are either younger than 60 or within ten years of going through menopause, the benefits of HRT usually outweigh the risks.

“The use of HRT can often have benefits far beyond relieving hot flushes. It can also improve mood and decrease depression, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve sleep, lessen vaginal dryness and improve sex drive, reduce post-menopausal bone loss and fractures [osteoporosis] and may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

Dr Fountain also addressed a 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, which proposed that some forms of HRT could increase the risk of breast cancer.

She said: “It’s important to understand that the women who were studied in this trial were aged 50 to 79 years old and did not include those who had premature menopause.”

Premature menopause affects women under 40 years old and early menopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 45.

A 2022 Oxford University study found that women younger than 50 who have taken HRT for between one and four years have less chance of developing breast cancer than older women.

A statement from Dr Fountain said that a family history of breast cancer, as well as obesity, smoking and alcohol use, contributes more to developing the disease than the use of HRT.

Her statement added: “Any increased risk of developing breast cancer when taking HRT is relatively low, with less than one additional case per 1,000 women per year of hormone therapy use or three additional cases per 1,000 woman when used for five years. This risk increases with longer duration of use and older age.

“According to the British Menopause Society, most women — 90 per cent of the female population — have a low lifetime risk of breast cancer.

“In women with a low underlying risk of breast cancer, the symptomatic benefits of HRT use for up to five years exceeds the potential harm.”