THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

The short-term benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the r elief of acute menopausal symptoms are beyond dispute. It is equally c lear that premenopausal women who have undergone surgical menopause ne ed HRT to prevent the otherwise rapid development of coronary heart di sease and osteoporosis. There is epidemiologic evidence that women who have undergone a natural menopause receive similar relief with HRT. Y et patient compliance with long-term HRT is poor. This is due to unacc eptable uterine bleeding and the largely unfounded fear that HRT promo tes breast cancer.