Ask Dr. Marie

An ongoing Women’s Health Initiative study released results last week showing postmenopausal women who took a combination of estrogen and progestin therapy had a higher chance of getting aggressive forms of breast cancer and may even be at a higher risk of death because of the disease.

“World News” asked viewers to respond to the Oct. 19 story and they did in the hundreds.

Below are some of the main questions and concerns about hormone replacement therapy and answers from Dr. Marie Savard, an ABC News medical contributor.

What are some of the alternatives to using HRT?

The Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. It recently was named one of the top hospitals of 2010 by US News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic doctors from every specialty work together to care for patients, united by one philosophy: “The needs of the patient come first.”

Now, the Mayo Clinic has released a book designed to keep you out of the hospital.

Every woman goes through menopause, but there are some common misconceptions about “The Change.”

ABC News medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard appeared on “Good Morning America” today with information to bust the menopause myths and help women keep themselves healthy during menopause.

Savard tackles the most intimate questions women have about the female reproductive system in her new book, “Ask Dr. Marie: Straight Talk and Reassuring Answers to Your Most Private Questions.”

You Asked, We Answered

Note: Some questions have been slightly edited for clarity and to ensure anonymity for the submitter.

Men have had their little blue pills for years, but some women in search of the same kind of libido boost may simply need to talk about their problems in the bedrooms.

Researchers studying drug treatments for 200 women with sexual dysfunctions say they were surprised to find that 35 percent of the women who were given a placebo — a sugar pill — reported significant improvement in their sex lives.

Now, some experts say, the solution may be found in a conversation with a doctor.

About 7 million people over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with depression, and many more could be suffering.

Dr. Marie Savard appeared on “Good Morning America” today to answer questions about how you can spot the warning signs of depression in an older person and what you can do to help.

Depression in the Elderly

Q: Why is this such a big problem for seniors?

The United States is in the grip of a record hot summer, and children who play outdoors sports are vulnerable to heat stroke.

Earlier this month two assistant football coaches were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment after a student athlete collapsed during training. The student had been doing weight training and running in 93-degree weather, according to reports.

Police say the coaches failed to provide the players with water.

The danger is very real. Exertional heat stroke is one of the leading causes of sudden death in sports.

Omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle followed 35,016 post-menopausal women who had no history of breast cancer.

They asked the women to fill out a questionnaire about their use of non-vitamin, non-mineral specialty supplements, and then followed their progress for an average of six years.

They found that women who regularly used fish oil supplements had a 32 percent reduced risk of developing the most common form of breast cancer. Of the total number of women in the study, 880 developed the disease.

Studies show that 98,000 people die in hospitals every year because of medical errors.

That’s a staggering statistic, but there’s ways to make sure those medical mistakes don’t happen to you.

Dr. Marie Savard, “Good Morning America” medical contributor, has 5 insider tips that could save your life on your next hospital stay.

Savard’s Tips

” Have a copy of your medical records when you visit the hospital. Savard says she has a three-ring binder of medical information for herself and her parents.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may approve a pill next month that could boost women’s sex drives.

Flibanserin, the drug made by German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, is already being called the “female Viagra” because its potential effects could change women’s sex lives much as Viagra did by treating men’s erectile dysfunction.

But even though flibanserin is being likened to Viagra, the two drugs work in very different ways, according to Dr. Marie Savard, “Good Morning America” medical contributor.

On the show this morning, Savard said flibanserin works on a woman’s brain chemistry, increasing her desire for sex, while Viagra increases blood flow to the genitals, increasing a man’s ability to perform.

The average American consumes about 156 pounds of added sugar each year per capita, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.