Theoretical basis for the benefit of postmenopausal estrogen substitution

Women are being presented with an increasing number of choices for health c are management as they move through the aging process. Estrogen has positiv e effects on mood, sexual function, target end organs and cognitive functio n, and may play an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer's Disease by acting to prevent amyloid plaque formation, oxidative stress, or deteriora tion of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system. The benefits of estrogen t herapy for osteoporosis, the cardiovascular system, and lipid metabolism ar e far reaching, but the possibility of developing breast cancer later in li fe is also relevant. Understanding the mechanisms for the action of the est rogens, anti-estrogens, and the selective estrogen receptor modulators, and possible alternative routes of symptom management for some menopausal even ts is important to make appropriate decisions on choice of therapy. This re view discusses the theoretical basis for estrogen's actions in the manageme nt of the postmenopausal stage of the life cycle. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.