in a woman with a uterus, who takes HRT medication, why must progesterone be included in the HRT?

Answer 1

Because if you only had estrogen the endometrium would build up like crazy and increase your risk of endometrial cancer. This doesn't happen if progesterone is in the regimen.

Answer 2

I actually am not the best to answer this, but I have an addition. Even if you have your uterus, that doesn't mean you have your ovaries, does it? Or vice versa? Have you had a hysterectomy? Also, estrogens and progesterones are hormones, androgens that need to be in place for the female body to work as a female body, as far as I know. I've known women who've been on the Pill with too much estrogen, not an equal enough level to progesteron and they get zits, get hairy get psycho bitchy mean. I'm thankfully not talking about myself, having learned from other's mistakes. In summation, however, you really need to ask your gyno. not your gp, your gyno.
I've even heard of women, known women who have gone on testosterone to become more "young" looking, firmer breasts and body, although it's an iffy thing, hard to control. The point, i think , is to do what you must, but play around with the hormone issue as little as possible. Another source of information: an endocrinologist.
Hope things work out.

Answer 3

A hysterectomy can be partial (removal of the ovaries OR the uterus) or total (removal of both the ovaries and the uterus, leaving the vagina). The uterus itself does not release hormones, the ovaries release the hormones.

There are two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. These work together to perpetuate the female cycle. They also perform other (lesser) functions in the body that have nothing to do with reproduction. You can't really have one without the other without getting the body all out of whack. So for people who have had their ovaries removed, they need both hormones.

Answer 4

The cancer prevention answer by the phamacist is the only reason its prescribed in HRT. Any other reason is simply malpractice