SYNOPSIS ot the USPSTF "Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions"

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions: Recommendation Statement
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0315/od1.pdf
Am Fam Physician. 2013 Mar 15;87(6):online.


     Hormone therapy has been in and out of style for many, many years. For POSTmenopausal women, the USPSTF currently recommends against its use for the prevention of chronic conditions. Although it may reduce the risk of fractures, it may also increase the risk of stroke, dementia, gallbladder disease, PE, DVT,  and urinary incontinence. This goes for both estrogen alone and estrogen combined with progestin. Basically, the risk outweigh the benefits. Women who are concerned about possible fractures are better of with weight-bearing exercises, bisphosphonates, and calcitonin. Tamoxifen or raloxifene may be a better choice for prevention of breast cancer than estrogen alone (estrogen alone has some benefit with breast cancer prevention, whereas the combined hormones do not). Lastly, this recommendation does not apply to women considering this therapy for menopausal symptoms, or those younger than 50 with surgical menopase.