Nobody knows if combination hormone therapy also increases risk, or if adding progestin might instead protect the ovaries. Despite those important caveats, the American Cancer Society study promises to deepen women's dilemma about who should use estrogen and for how long. Some 20 million Americans use either combination hormone therapy or estrogen alone. But she stressed that for many women, estrogen is helpful. Until then, stay tuned to the latest discoveries when considering hormone therapy, Bodurka-Bevers advised.
Every day there's new information.
The story is not complete to date. Estrogen therapy has pros and cons. It can prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis and treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. There is evidence but not proof that it may decrease risk of heart disease and colon cancer. Comparing estrogen users with nonusers showed just a few years of estrogen therapy didn't affect ovarian cancer risk, while using it 10 or more years roughly doubled the risk.