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Are there other benefits or risks associated with menopausal hormone use?
Colon cancer
After 5 years of followup of women taking estrogen plus progestin, the WHI study reported a 37-percent reduction in colorectal cancer cases compared with women taking a placebo (2). On average, the researchers found that if a group of 10,000 women takes estrogen plus progestin for a year, 6 fewer cases of colon cancer will occur than in nonusers.
The WHI trial of estrogen alone will provide information on whether estrogen has a similar effect.
Blood clots
Data from the WHI study showed that women who use estrogen plus progestin have double the combined rate of blood clots in the lungs and legs (2). On average, the researchers found that if a group of 10,000 women takes estrogen plus progestin for a year, 18 more cases of blood clots will occur than in nonusers. Other studies have consistently reported increased risks of blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolisms) and deep veins in the legs with hormone use (27, 28, 29).
Stroke
Data from the WHI study showed a 41-percent increase in the incidence of stroke for women using estrogen plus progestin compared with the women not using hormones (2). A longer followup for the same women reported a 31-percent increase in stroke, amounting to 7 additional cases of stroke for every 10,000 women for each year of treatment compared with 10,000 nonusers (30). Previous observational studies have reported conflicting results regarding stroke risk, but two smaller randomized trials showed no significant effect on stroke for women taking either estrogen alone (31) or estrogen plus progestin (32).
Gallbladder disease
Previous studies have consistently shown that women who use estrogen plus progestin are at increased risk for gallbladder disease (28, 33,
34).
Questions and
Answers About Menopausal Hormone Use
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