Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and major clinical outcomes: a focus on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and breast and endometrial neoplasia.

Current data suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might have a beneficial role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), osteoporosis, and dementia in postmenopausal women, but other therapies should be considered for the treatment of these conditions. In this review we evaluated the potential benefits of HRT for CVD, osteoporosis, and dementia, and compared HRT with proven, effective therapies. In addition, we identified the potential risks of breast and endometrial neoplasia, and an early risk of CVD and thromboembolic disease associated with HRT use.