In relatively healthy women , combined continuous HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism or coronary event ( after one year 's use ) , stroke ( after three years ) , breast cancer and gallbladder disease .
Long-term oestrogen-only HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism , stroke and gallbladder disease ( after one to two years , three years and seven years ' use respectively ) , but did not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer .
The only statistically significant benefits of HT were a decreased incidence of fractures and ( for combined HT ) colon cancer , with long-term use .
Among women aged over 65 who were relatively healthy ( i.e. generally fit , without overt disease ) and taking continuous combined HT , there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of dementia .
Among women with cardiovascular disease , long-term use of combined continuous HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS HT is not indicated for the routine management of chronic disease .
We need more evidence on the safety of HT for menopausal symptom control , though short-term use appears to be relatively safe for healthy younger women
BACKGROUND Hormone therapy ( HT ) is widely used for controlling menopausal symptoms and has also been used for the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease , osteoporosis and dementia in older women .
This is an up date d version of the original Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of long-term HT on mortality , cardiovascular outcomes , cancer , gallbladder disease , cognition , fractures and quality of life .
Postmenopausal hormone use and the risk of nephrolithiasis: results from the Women's Health Initiative hormone therapy trials.
BACKGROUND Observational studies examining the role of estrogen in the risk of kidney stone formation have shown conflicting results . However , r and omized trial evidence on nephrolithiasis risk with  estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women is lacking . METHODS We review ed the incidence of nephrolithiasis in the Women 's Health Initiative estrogen-alone and estrogen plus progestin trials conducted at 40 US clinical centers . A total of 10 739 postmenopausal women with hysterectomy were r and omized to receive 0.625 mg/d of conjugated equine estrogens ( CEE ) or placebo , and 16 608 postmenopausal women without hysterectomy were r and omized to receive placebo or estrogen plus progestin given as CEE plus medroxyprogesterone acetate ( 2.5 mg/d ) . The incidence of nephrolithiasis was determined for an average follow-up of 7.1 years for the CEE trial and 5.6 years for the estrogen plus progestin trial . RESULTS Baseline demographic characteristics and risk factors for nephrolithiasis were similar in the placebo and treatment arms . Estrogen therapy was associated with a significant increase in nephrolithiasis risk from 34 to 39 cases per 10 000 person-years ( hazard ratio , 1.21 ; 95 % confidence interval , 1.03 - 1.44 ) . Censoring data from women when they ceased to adhere to study medication increased the hazard ratio to 1.39 ( 95 % confidence interval , 1.08 - 1.78 ) . The increased nephrolithiasis risk was independent of progestin coadministration , and effects did not vary significantly according to prer and omization history of nephrolithiasis . CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that estrogen therapy increases the risk of nephrolithiasis  in healthy postmenopausal women . These findings should be considered in decision making regarding postmenopausal estrogen use . The mechanisms underlying this higher susceptibility remain to be determined . Trial Registration clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT0000611
In relatively healthy women , combined continuous HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism or coronary event ( after one year 's use ) , stroke ( after three years ) , breast cancer and gallbladder disease .
Long-term oestrogen-only HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism , stroke and gallbladder disease ( after one to two years , three years and seven years ' use respectively ) , but did not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer .
The only statistically significant benefits of HT were a decreased incidence of fractures and ( for combined HT ) colon cancer , with long-term use .
Among women aged over 65 who were relatively healthy ( i.e. generally fit , without overt disease ) and taking continuous combined HT , there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of dementia .
Among women with cardiovascular disease , long-term use of combined continuous HT significantly increased the risk of venous thrombo-embolism .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS HT is not indicated for the routine management of chronic disease .
We need more evidence on the safety of HT for menopausal symptom control , though short-term use appears to be relatively safe for healthy younger women
BACKGROUND Hormone therapy ( HT ) is widely used for controlling menopausal symptoms and has also been used for the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease , osteoporosis and dementia in older women .
This is an up date d version of the original Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of long-term HT on mortality , cardiovascular outcomes , cancer , gallbladder disease , cognition , fractures and quality of life .