The risks and benefits of long-term estrogen replacement therapy

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for postmenopausal women greatly reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures, but carries an increased risk of endometrial cancer. This risk can be reduced by the addition of progestin, which does not interfere with the osteoporotic benefit of estrogen. Although lon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health reports (1974) 1989-09, Vol.104 (Suppl), p.62-65
Main Author: Barrett-Connor, E.L. (University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Breast cancer
Cancer
CARCINOMA
CARCINOME
Cardiovascular diseases
Case control studies
ENFERMEDADES GLANDULAS MAMARIAS
Estrogen replacement therapy
Estrogen Replacement Therapy - adverse effects
ESTROGENOS
Estrogens
Female
FEMME
FRACTURAS
FRACTURE
Heart diseases
Hormones
Humans
MALADIE DES GLANDES MAMMAIRES
Middle Aged
Mortality
MUJERES
Myocardial infarction
NEOPLASMAS
NEOPLASME
OESTROGENE
OSTEODISTROFIA
OSTEODYSTROPHIE
Osteopathic medicine
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - prevention & control
Panel Session: Prevention/Treatment
Postmenopause
Progestins - adverse effects
Progestins - therapeutic use
Public health
RIESGO
Risk
RISQUE
Women
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Description
Summary:Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for postmenopausal women greatly reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures, but carries an increased risk of endometrial cancer. This risk can be reduced by the addition of progestin, which does not interfere with the osteoporotic benefit of estrogen. Although long-term use data are few, there is presently little evidence for an increase or decrease in breast cancer risk associated with estrogen by itself (unopposed estrogen), or estrogen plus progestin. In contrast, a large body of evidence suggests that unopposed estrogen significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease; there is no evidence that this benefit will persist when a progestin is added. The preferred method of estrogen replacement therapy, to prevent osteoporosis in a postmenopausal woman with an intact uterus, should be chosen with these different risks and benefits in mind
ISSN:0033-3549
1468-2877