Younger Women's Hearts May Benefit From Estrogen Therapy
Women just beginning menopause may see benefits from hormone therapy.
June 20, 2007 — -- In the 1990s, it was good. In 2002, it was bad. In December of last year, researchers seemed to have confirmed that it was responsible for millions of cases of breast cancer.
Now, in a new study, researchers say that hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, may actually be good after all -- but only for younger women.
Researchers found that for women aged 50-59 who had undergone hysterectomies, taking estrogen actually decreased the buildup of plaque in their coronary arteries, which is a predictor of future heart problems.
Most younger women taking HRT do so to reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
"[This study] adds to the mounting evidence providing reassurance for recently menopausal women," said the study's lead author and chief of the Division of Preventative Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dr. JoAnn E. Manson.
"Younger, recently menopausal women need as much information as possible to make informed choices about their health. This information can be added to the equation to help women weigh the benefits and risks of treatment."
The study evaluated the hearts of 1,064 women after eight years of taking either estrogen therapy or a placebo. Women who received estrogen were 30-40 percent less likely to have severe amounts of calcium plaque in their coronary arteries than those who received the placebo.
Those women who were the most diligent about taking their estrogen, following through with their treatment at least 80 percent of the time, had an even greater reduction -- 60 percent -- in the amount of calcium in their arteries.
The study was carried out by the Women's Health Initiative, the group that originally researched the risks of hormone replacement therapy, and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
"This study emphasizes the need to consider all the research on hormone therapy and the traits of each individual patient before making a decision about its use," said Dr. Robert Rebar, executive director of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
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