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the claim
Hormone replacement therapy can cause cancer
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
Recorded sources
4 sources for · 4 against
Is it true that hormone replacement therapy can cause cancer?
Yes. Substantial clinical and epidemiological evidence, including large meta-analyses, demonstrates that hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of certain cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancers. At the same time, research indicates inverse or neutral associations with other specific cancer types.
Verdict: SUPPORTED · 4 sources for, 4 against · Last checked
The analysis
The claim states that hormone replacement therapy can cause cancer. Multiple large meta-analyses (e.g., papers 1, 2, 3, 6) support this by establishing statistically significant increases in breast and ovarian cancer risk associated with hormone replacement therapy use. Although other studies find inverse associations with gastric, lung, or kidney cancers, the existence of well-documented oncogenic risks (specifically breast and ovarian cancers) fully supports the broad assertion that HRT 'can cause' cancer.
Evidence for · 4
Menopausal hormone replacement therapy was found to be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly serous and endometrioid subtypes.
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Liu, Y., Ma, L., Yang, X., Bie, J., Li, D., Sun, C., Zhang, J., Meng, Y., & Lin, J. (2019). Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00801
Evidence against · 4
Combined results from cohort studies indicated that ever use of hormone replacement therapy is associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer in women.
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Jin, C. & Lang, B. (2019). Hormone replacement therapy and lung cancer risk in women: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017532
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More for · 3
Meta-analyses of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials showed a linear increase in overall breast cancer risk associated with menopausal hormone therapy, especially estrogen-progestin therapy.
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Greiser, C. M., Greiser, E. M., & Dören, M. (2005). Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmi031
Current use of estrogen-only therapy or estrogen plus progestin therapy is associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer, increasing with duration.
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Wang, K., Li, F., Chen, L., Lai, Y., Zhang, X., & Li, H. (2017). Change in risk of breast cancer after receiving hormone replacement therapy by considering effect-modifiers: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.20154
The pooled risks of ovarian cancer were significantly elevated for hormone replacement therapy users in cohort and case-control studies.
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Xiang, H., Wang, L., Sun, L., & Xu, S. (2024). The risk of ovarian cancer in hormone replacement therapy users: a systematic review and meta-analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1414968
More against · 3
A systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the use of hormone replacement therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of gastric cancer.
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Jang, Y., Leung, C. Y., & Huang, H. (2022). Association of hormone replacement therapy with risk of gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17345-2
A meta-analysis showed that hormone replacement therapy use is inversely associated with kidney cancer risk in a dose-dependent fashion.
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Zhang, X., Du, Y., Tan, X., Wang, H., Li, Y., Zhang, Z., & Wang, A. (2020). The Relationship Between Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Kidney Cancer in Women: A Meta-Analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073274820930194
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that hormone replacement therapy had a reduced overall risk for cervical cancer, though specific histological subtypes showed varying associations.
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Zhou, Y., Wei, J., & Ruan, Y. (2025). The effect of hormone replacement therapy on cervical cancer risk in perimenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2025.1621570
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Receipt History
first checked06 Aug 2026
judged → SUPPORTED · 2906 Aug 2026
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