Hormone replacement therapy. An analysis of efficacy based on evidence

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been a staple of management of the postmenopausal life phase. Over time, and after estrogen therapy was modified to include progestin, an increasing number of observational reports suggested that HRT conferred benefits well beyond those of managing or minimizing not flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. In short, HRT was believed to improve women's health and even extend life. One of the most significant theorized benefits was protection against cardio- and cerebrovascular events. Other benefits--protection against osteoporosis, reduction in incontinence symptoms, and improved cognition--have also been linked with HRT. The validity of these theories depended largely on observational studies and anecdotal reports, and only lightly (or not at all) on randomized clinical trial data. Nevertheless, significant clinical data refuting HRT's proposed benefits has been available for several years. Findings from these investigations, including new results from two very large trials, show that beyond managing traditional menopause symptoms, HRT has little or no role in protection against certain diseases or conditions associated with aging. Indeed, long-term use of HRT may be contraindicated in most older women with intact uteruses.