ABSTRACT
Menopause brings about changes in the health of a postmenopausal woman that may have a major impact in her life. Until recently, estrogens in various formulations and combinations have been used to relieve menopausal symptoms in these women (1). The loss of bone mass and osteoporotic fractures can be effectively prevented by hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). However, initial enthusiasm about long-term benefits of HRT has been brought into question with two large, prospective randomized trials, the heart and estrogen/progestin replacement study and the Women’s Health Initiative study. Long suspected risks associated with estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women including breast cancer and deep vein thrombosis were also confirmed. The conclusion is that the balance between benefits and risks of long-term HRT in healthy postmenopausal women may not be advantageous after all. There is, therefore, a need to develop new therapies related to estrogen that can ideally provide significant benefits without the negative side effects associated with the use of estrogen.
