Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy (HT) refers overall to the use of any estrogen therapy (ET) or estrogen/progestogen therapy (EPT) for purposes of menopausal symptom treatment or preventive therapy. HT for postmenopausal women has been a common medical practice in the United States for decades and was believed to provide not only relief from menopausal symptoms but also protection against diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. However, in 2002, publication of data from the Women's Health Initiative suggested higher risks for HT, and the use of HT declined rapidly. Many questions remain about the advisability of HT, including the risks and benefits at different ages with estrogen-progestin versus estrogen-only therapies and with different durations of therapy. In current practice, HT remains a viable short-term option for the ...