Hormone (Replacement) Therapy

There are an estimated 50 million post-menopausal women in the United States. National Institute of Health officials estimate that about 6 million women take estrogen plus progestin in Hormone Replacement Therapy. In July, 2002, the Director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute announced the cancellation of a clinical study on Hormone Replacement Therapy "due to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer and evidence that overall risks exceed any health benefits".

According to recent clinical studies there was a higher incidence of serious side effects for women taking Hormone Replacement Therapy than those taking a placebo.

Those side effects include:

• A doubling of rates of blood clots
• A 22% increase in total cardiovascular disease
• A 41% increase in strokes
• A 29% increase in heart attacks
• A 26% increase in breast cancer

Prempro and Premelle are two of the primary drugs that combine estrogen and progestin for use in Hormone Replacement Therapy.