Hormone therapy still has a place for treating menopause symptoms, reports the Harvard Women’s Health Watch

Ten years ago, women were routinely encouraged to take hormones—estrogen or estrogen plus progesterone — during the transition to menopause and beyond to protect against a host of chronic, aging-related health problems. Today, most women are loathe to consider hormone therapy, even for short-term relief of hot flashes and other troublesome symptoms.

The hormone saga has different messages for different women:

  • For women in the transition to menopause who are bothered by hot flashes or other symptoms, hormone therapy shouldn't be dismissed. Approach it as you might a pain reliever: take the smallest dose that does the job for the shortest time period.
  • Two randomized controlled studies now underway should provide more guidance on hormone therapy within the next two years.

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