Pendulum Swings on Estrogen and Women’s Heart Health Risk

May 2006

= Full article available

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New research into the benefits and risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may allow women entering menopause to reconsider their options. Findings recently published in the Journal of Women’s Health show that women who began HRT soon after entering menopause had a 30% lower risk for heart disease than women who did not use hormones. Contrary to earlier research linking estrogen treatment to increased cardiovascular risks, this Harvard analysis of data from the Nurses Health Study indicates HRT may indeed offer heart-protective benefits, depending on a woman’s age and how long since she entered menopause.