[Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of developing breast cancer]

The Million Women Study (MWS) and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Study reveal an increased breast cancer risk and a higher relative risk for cardiovascular diseases in women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in comparison with control groups. For this reason, the WHI study was terminated prematurely. From the point of view of the internist, it would appear that, on the basis of the results of these studies, prophylactic treatment with estrogens and progesterone is no longer indicated. It must, however, be noted that numerous aspects are still unclear. This therefore means that in patients with severe menopausal symptoms giving rise to a high level of distress, HRT continues to be justified over the short term after a current cardiovascular risk or relevant tumor disease has been excluded.