When to Stop Taking Estrogen Pills

In July 2002, the largest randomized placebo-controlled study of “Hormone Replacement Therapy” for healthy menopausal women was stopped early because it showed that estrogen plus very low dose medroxyprogesterone therapy caused serious harm. Women, when they learned of these results, suddenly stopped their hormone therapy. Many found themselves dealing with severe night sweats and hot flushes.

Last week, when a large federal study on hormone replacement therapy came to an abrupt halt, Cheryl Kipfer's husband handed her a news report on the stunning findings. The drugs, the report said, had risks, including invasive breast cancer, which, although slight, were not counterbalanced by benefits. Ms. Kipfer said her husband, Gary, told her she was crazy. ''Why,'' she said he asked her, ''are you taking those pills?''
Tags: ESTROGEN, HORMONES, BREAST, CANCER, WOMEN, PROGESTIN, MENOPAUSE, OSTEOPOROSIS