Estrogen and Heart Disease

It was thought in the past that estrogen could protect women from heart disease. But a recent study has found that hormone therapy or HT (taking estrogen and a particular synthetic progesterone together) can increase a woman's risk for heart disease, as well as breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots. In addition, another recent study has found that taking estrogen replacement therapy or ERT (taking estrogen only) can increase a woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer, especially if taken for 10 years or more. If you are in menopause and taking estrogen, talk with your health care provider about whether estrogen is best for you and about other treatments available to help you manage menopause and protect your health as you age.