POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONES AND CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Women who self-select to take postmenopausal hormones have lower risks of coronary heart disease, their leading cause of mortality. Women an d their primary health care providers must weigh this and other clear (osteoporosis), and possible (stroke, colon cancer, and Alzheimer's di sease) benefits against clear (endometrial cancer) and possible (breas t cancer) risks. Because all existing data derive only from observatio nal studies, reliable information on the balance of risks and benefits must await the results of the Women's Health Initiative, a large-scal e, randomized clinical trial.