Minimal dose combined hormonal replacement therapy for menopausal women

The problem of managing postmenopausal women with hormonal replacement therapy is reviewed. A case is clearly made for using progestogen in every instance when women receive oestrogen in the menopause. By this means the incidence of carcinoma is reduced to at least the rate found in non-treated patients and perhaps even lower. The biochemical changes leading to this reduction are summarized, and a suggestion is made regarding the optimal dosage of progestogen. This paper presents evidence to suggest that minimal doses of progestogen given for at least ten days in each month will protect endometrial target cells.