[The benefits and risks of hormonal replacement therapy--an update]

Abstract

Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogens and gestagens has been used for more than 40 years in the treatment of menopausal complaints and can be considered an effective treatment for vaso-vegetative symptoms and urogenital atrophy. During the past few years many women and doctors have revised their opinions of HRT. The reasons for this change of view are mainly three large international studies: the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Study, the Women's Health Initiative Study and the One Million Women Study. In this review we summarize the data from the most important studies and point out the actual status of the controversial discussion on the benefits and risks of HRT.