ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in postmenopausal women; slightly more than 1 of every 2 women in this age group will die from heart disease (Gura, 1995). Sudden cardiac death is now recognized to be more prevalent among postmenopausal women than any other segment of the population, a statistic that has been linked to the hypoestrogenic state. The risk of death due to cardiovascular illnesses in women in the over 50 age group may be up to four times the combined death rates for breast and endometrial cancer, and replacement of ovarian steroid hormones significantly reduces this risk (Wenger et al., 1993). The reluctance for increased use of estrogen replacement therapy is based on the increased risk unopposed estrogen places on developing endometrial cancer (Gorodeski and Utian, 1994). However, addition of progesterone to the regimen provides the balance and eliminates the harmful effects of unopposed estrogen (Gorodeski and
* Corresponding author: Kent Hermsmeyer, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue Beaverton, OR 97006, USA, Tel.: 0015036905580, Fax: 0015036905563.
