Modest amounts of alcohol and eggs do not increase heart risk. The increased risk of heart disease after menopause may be the result of progesterone deficiency rather than estrogen deficiency. Heart disease risk is highly variable when different cultures are examined, yet all women experience menopause. Clearly there are other factors involved. The role of estrogen per se is still questionable.
Estrogen works especially well for hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
These symptoms can be taken as a sign of estrogen deficiency. However, because progesterone is a biochemical precursor to estrogen, it alone is often sufficient to restore estrogen levels to normal and eliminate these symptoms. If used for hot flashes, find the lowest dose of estrogen that works. If vaginal dryness is the problem, I usually recommend vaginal gels or creams containing estrone or estriol. Often, a small dose applied in the vagina only twice a week, three weeks a month, will do wonders.