Changes in lipid and lipoproteins with long-term estrogen deficiency and hormone replacement therapy

Article Abstract:

Replacement therapy with the female hormone estrogen helps to protect against cardiovascular disease in women who are postmenopausal. Estrogen improves blood lipids by reducing the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and by increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This results in the improvement of the LDL/HDL ratio, or proportion of LDL relative to HDL. Another female hormone, progestogen, may be added to estrogen in hormone replacement therapy of postmenopausal women. However, progestogens may diminish the beneficial effects of estrogen and the overall effect of hormone replacement therapy against cardiovascular disease. The long-term effects of estrogens, progestogens, and androgens, which are male hormones, on blood lipids and lipoproteins were assessed in 556 postmenopausal women, who ranged in age from 24 to 85 years. These women were assessed for time periods ranging from 1 to 44 years. The lipid and lipoprotein levels before hormone replacement therapy were determined among 155 women after menopause. Shortly after menopause, the blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol increased, whereas HDL cholesterol did not change. The blood levels of triglycerides were associated with weight. Untreated women with normal weight had significantly lower blood triglyceride levels compared with hormone-treated women who weighed more than 200 pounds. HDL cholesterol levels were lower among women treated with C-21 and C-19 progestogens, but were not significantly different from levels among women using only estrogen. HDL cholesterol levels were reduced in all women who smoked, regardless of treatment. The findings suggest that progestogen does not alter the beneficial effects of estrogen on blood lipids and lipoproteins. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Evaluation, Cardiovascular diseases, Measurement, Prevention, Physiological aspects, Blood lipids, Lipoproteins, Progestational hormones, Blood lipoproteins

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Estrogen replacement therapy in women with previous breast cancer

Article Abstract:

Women with a history of breast cancer may still be able to take estrogen replacement therapy. In a study of 76 breast cancer patients, those who took estrogen replacement therapy had no recurrences of their cancer over an average follow-up of 7 years.

Hormone therapy, Cancer survivors

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Physicians should provide moral leadership to their communities: presidential address

Article Abstract:

The president of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists believes his colleagues should work with other grass-roots organizations to reverse an alleged decline in morality in America.

United States, Moral conditions

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