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 .
Hormone Replacement Therapy Does Not Affect Plasma Homocysteine in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Artery Disease
Objective : The objective was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) on plasma homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) and to investigate associations of homocysteine to other cardiovascular risk factors . Methods : The women in this single-center , controlled , and r and omized study were examined at baseline , and after 3 and 12 months , after they had been recruited consecutively from patients referred for investigational coronary angiography . All analyses were performed examiner blind . They were r and omized to HRT consisting of transdermal application of continuous 17β-estradiol with cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate ( MPA ) tablets for 14 days every 3rd month , or to a control group . Results : After 3 months of unopposed 17β-estradiol , no significant effect on homocysteine was observed compared to the control group . The absolute decrease of 5 % in median plasma homocysteine levels after 12-month HRT did not reach statistical significance . Plasma homocysteine seemed slightly higher in women with three- or four-vessel disease , but the difference was not significant . With increasing homocysteine levels , free tissue factor pathway inhibitor ( TFPI ) antigen increased , whereas E-selectin decreased . In women with diabetes or elevated blood glucose > 6.0 mmol/l , plasma homocysteine was correlated to body mass index , C-peptide and insulin as well as age . Conclusion : Transdermal application of 17β-estradiol and sequential MPA do not affect plasma homocysteine in women with established CAD . Plasma homocysteine is stable in women with CAD over time , and unless special intervention is undertaken , repetitive measurements are not necessary in this particular group of high-risk individuals . The circulating anticoagulant TEPI is related to plasma homocysteine
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 .