Research
Hormonal
Long-term hormone replacement therapy (estrogen/progestin) in postmenopausal women delays atherosclerosis and bone loss but increases the risk of breast cancer, with no clear impact on life expectancy.
For postmenopausal women, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a trade-off: it significantly protects bones and heart health but increases breast cancer risk and does not extend life. The decision should be personalized based on individual risk factors, family history, and attitude toward treatment, rather than applied universally.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Long-term (5 to 10 years) hormone replacement with estrogens in combination with progestins starting at menopause has many advantages... estrogen/progestin replacement therapy delays atherosclerosis, loss of bone mass, and loss of cognitive function. Life expectancy seems not to be influenced by estrogen/progestin replacement, but atherosclerosis and bone loss are considerably delayed... The most compelling problem is the increased incidence of breast cancer.
Why this rating
Cites a meta-analysis (Grady et al.) and specific studies on breast cancer risk.
Source
The Endocrinology of Aging
Steven W. J. Lamberts et al. · Science · 1997
DOI 10.1126/science.278.5337.419
narrative_reviewCited 981×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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