Women taking HT had a significantly decreased incidence of fracture with long-term use .
Research ers found no strong evidence that HT has a clinical ly meaningful impact on the incidence of colorectal cancer .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS : Women with intolerable menopausal symptoms may wish to weigh the benefits of symptom relief against the small absolute risk of harm arising from short-term use of low-dose HT , provided they do not have specific contraindications .
HT may be unsuitable for some women , including those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease , increased risk of thromboembolic disease ( such as those with obesity or a history of venous thrombosis ) or increased risk of some types of cancer ( such as breast cancer , in women with a uterus ) .
The risk of endometrial cancer among women with a uterus taking oestrogen-only HT is well documented .
HT is not indicated for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia , nor for prevention of deterioration of cognitive function in postmenopausal women .
Although HT is considered effective for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis , it is generally recommended as an option only for women at significant risk for whom non-oestrogen therapies are unsuitable .
BACKGROUND : Hormone therapy ( HT ) is widely provided for control of menopausal symptoms and has been used for the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease , osteoporosis and  dementia in older women .
This is an up date d version of a Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES : To assess effects of long-term HT ( at least 1 year 's duration ) on mortality , cardiovascular outcomes , cancer , gallbladder disease , fracture and cognition in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women during and after cessation of treatment .
Increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism during hormone replacement therapy--results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled estrogen in venous thromboembolism trial (EVTET).
Recent observational studies suggest a 2 - 4 fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism ( VTE ) in women taking hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) .  The present study was started before publication of these studies , and the aim was to determine if HRT alters the risk of VTE in high risk women . The study was a r and omized . double-blind , and placebo-controlled clinical trial with a double-triangular sequential design . Females with previously verified VTE were r and omized to 2 mg estradiol plus 1 mg norethisterone acetate , 1 tablet daily ( n = 71 ) or placebo ( n = 69 ) . The primary outcome was recurrent deep venous thrombosis ( DVT ) or pulmonary embolism ( PE ) .  Between 1996 and 1998 a total of 140 women were included . The study was terminated prematurely based on the results of circumstantial evidence emerging during the trial . Eight women in the HRT group and one woman in the placebo group developed VTE . The incidence of VTE was 10.7 % in the HRT group and 2.3 % in the placebo group . In the HRT group , all events happened within 261 days after inclusion . The sequential design did not stop the study , but strongly indicated a difference between the two groups . Our data strongly suggests that women who have previously suffered a VTE have an increased risk of recurrence on HRT . This treatment should therefore be avoided in this patient group if possible . The results also support those of recent epidemiological studies , which also indicate increased risk of VTE in non-selected female population s during HRT
Women taking HT had a significantly decreased incidence of fracture with long-term use .
Research ers found no strong evidence that HT has a clinical ly meaningful impact on the incidence of colorectal cancer .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS : Women with intolerable menopausal symptoms may wish to weigh the benefits of symptom relief against the small absolute risk of harm arising from short-term use of low-dose HT , provided they do not have specific contraindications .
HT may be unsuitable for some women , including those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease , increased risk of thromboembolic disease ( such as those with obesity or a history of venous thrombosis ) or increased risk of some types of cancer ( such as breast cancer , in women with a uterus ) .
The risk of endometrial cancer among women with a uterus taking oestrogen-only HT is well documented .
HT is not indicated for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia , nor for prevention of deterioration of cognitive function in postmenopausal women .
Although HT is considered effective for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis , it is generally recommended as an option only for women at significant risk for whom non-oestrogen therapies are unsuitable .
BACKGROUND : Hormone therapy ( HT ) is widely provided for control of menopausal symptoms and has been used for the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease , osteoporosis and  dementia in older women .
This is an up date d version of a Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES : To assess effects of long-term HT ( at least 1 year 's duration ) on mortality , cardiovascular outcomes , cancer , gallbladder disease , fracture and cognition in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women during and after cessation of treatment .