[Hormone replacement therapy in menopause and colorectal disease]

Colorectal disease is frequent. Accumulating evidence indicates that postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of this pathology in women. Through MEDLINE computer searches, we identified English-language articles with quantitative data on the relation of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy to colorectal cancers and adenoma. Twenty-four studies about colorectal cancer and five studies about colorectal adenoma were reviewed. Epidemiological data suggest a 20 to 30% reduced risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma among women taking postmenopausal hormones. There is biological evidence to support this association.