Postmenopausal Hormones — Therapy for Symptoms Only

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 348; no. 19; pp. 1835 - 1837
• Main Author: Grady, Deborah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 08.05.2003
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bone density; Breast Neoplasms - chemically induced; Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced; Cognition - drug effects; Colonic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Estrogen Replacement Therapy - adverse effects; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hip Fractures - prevention & control; Hormone replacement therapy; Hormones. Endocrine system; Hot Flashes - drug therapy; Humans; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Older people; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female); Quality of Life; Risk; Womens health; Human; Replacement therapy; Healthy subject; Toxicity; Menopause; Estrogen; Cardiovascular disease; Quality of life; Randomization; Follow up study; Secondary effect; Postmenopause; Female; Profit; Hormone replacement therapy; Progesterone; Elderly
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp030038

Over the past two decades, multiple observational studies have suggested that postmenopausal hormone therapy reduces the risks of osteoporotic fractures and coronary heart disease. On the basis of this evidence, hormone therapy was often recommended for women who were at high risk for fractures and coronary disease. But these recommendations were based entirely on observational evidence, which can sometimes be misleading if the groups being compared have different risk patterns and lifestyles. In the early to mid-1990s, several large, randomized trials were initiated to provide definitive evidence concerning the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for the prevention of disease. . . .