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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
06:01
A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Hormone therapy and stroke: is it all about timing?
1Cheryl Bushnell, MD, MHS Women's Health Center of Excellence for Research, Leadership, and Education, Wake Forest Health Sciences University, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. cbushnel@wfubmc.edu.
Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine
|May 13, 2009
Summary
Hormone therapy (HT) is not recommended for stroke prevention in women, as studies show it increases stroke risk. Further research is needed to understand this risk and identify women who may be susceptible.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Women face unique stroke risks, including menopausal transition and hormonal treatments.
- Initial hormone therapy (HT) studies suggested heart benefits but not stroke protection.
- Secondary prevention trials indicated no benefit and potential early risk from HT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of hormone therapy (HT) on stroke risk in postmenopausal women.
- To determine if HT is a viable option for stroke prevention.
- To investigate the relationship between HT initiation timing and stroke risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of primary prevention data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study.
- Review of randomized trials for secondary stroke prevention.
- Examination of cohort data from the WHI and Nurses' Health Study.
Main Results:
- The WHI study demonstrated an increased stroke risk with both estrogen-alone and estrogen-plus-progestin HT.
- HT showed no stroke prevention benefits in secondary prevention trials.
- Stroke risk appeared consistent regardless of HT initiation timing relative to menopause.
Conclusions:
- Hormone therapy (HT) is not recommended for stroke prevention and may increase risk.
- The mechanisms behind HT-associated stroke risk remain unclear.
- Further research is essential to understand risks and identify susceptible populations for HT use.
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