Estrogen therapy and cardiovascular risk in women.

Estrogen therapy in women has traditionally been used for the relief of menopausal symptoms and protection from osteoporosis. Recently, there has been a growing body of evidence suggesting that estrogen therapy protects against cardiovascular disease in women. An epidemiologic review of the literature demonstrates an approximately 50% reduction in cardiovascular risk in women using estrogen. A brief review of indications, complications, and routes of estrogen administration is presented. Current areas of controversy include the effects of parenteral estrogen administration and progestin administration on the cardioprotective aspects of estrogen therapy and the risk of breast cancer in estrogen users. Further study in these areas is needed.