title: Individualizing hormone therapy to minimize risk: accurate assessment of risks and benefits.
abstract: Contrary to the exaggerated risks associated with HRT that developed after the initial press reports held by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) writing group, the recent approach to hormone therapy is more balanced and evidence based. A review of over 40 years of scientific studies demonstrates that estrogen is a medication that can decrease mortality, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis fracture, urogenital atrophy and dementia. When timing of administration, dose of therapy and route of administration are considered, estrogen is associated with low risks and substantial benefits. The decision of whether or not to take HRT for either short symptom relief or for long-term therapy, should be based on an accurate risk-benefit analysis. Adjusting the dose of therapy and considering a transdermal approach, particularly in high-risk patients, are important considerations.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. shoupe@usc.edu
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shoupe
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health