If the uterus is removed, uterine cancer is no longer a concern. In addition, a doctor may prescribe estrogen therapy if you are at risk for osteoporosis or coronary heart disease. The long-term effects of ERT, especially of combination therapy, are not yet fully known. Most studies have focused on the use of estrogen alone, and different studies have produced conflicting results. The risk of heart disease dramatically increases for women who have gone through menopause.
Evidence shows estrogen reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
Some doctors recommend estrogen if you are at high risk for coronary heart disease. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood-cholesterol levels, or a family history of heart disease before age 55, estrogen therapy may reduce your risk of heart disease. Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that reduces the density of bone, thus making you prone to fractures. Bone loss begins around age 35 and accelerates rapidly at menopause. You are at greatest risk of the disease if you are Caucasian, thin and fair-skinned, if you smoke, or if your mother had osteoporosis.