In the past, some women would take hormones to replace the estrogen and progesterone their bodies were losing during menopause. Taking these hormones, known as
hormone replacement therapy (HRT), might help with menopause symptoms and with bone loss.
But new research shows that, for some women, taking hormones has risks, including greater risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. Therefore, for post-menopausal women, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises that HRT be used for the shortest time and at the lowest doses possible.
For more information on menopause and HRT, visit the Women’s Health Initiative Web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi.