The women's health agenda: evolution of hormone replacement therapy as treatment and prophylaxis for coronary artery disease.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the research literature on the connection between hormone replacement therapy and development of coronary artery disease as it pertains to women. It is clear that research in this century regarding heart disease in general has been gender-biased or inappropriately gender-neutral. Research initially focused on how the developing knowledge of the protective effect of female hormones could be used to benefit men. It has only been in the last decade or so that gender-based research has been appreciated, acknowledged, facilitated, and finally accepted for its contributions to advancing knowledge and for benefiting women with coronary artery disease.