[Prevention of osteoporosis using hormone substitution]

Since osteoporosis in the postmenopause is predominantly due to estrogen deficiency, adequate hormone replacement therapy is of utmost importance. Estrogens are preventing bone loss and decrease the fracture rate by 95%, but they also improve vasomotor symptoms, psychic complaints and urogenital atrophy and lower the cardiovascular risk very significantly. Since results depend on long term compliance; motivation, appropriate dose, application mode and treatment schedule are therefore decisive.