Estrogen Therapy (ET) and Hormone Therapy (HT)
(Multiple brand names are available.)

Estrogen therapy (ET)/Hormone therapy (HT) is approved for the prevention of osteoporosis. ET has been shown to reduce bone loss, increase bone density in both the spine and hip, and reduce the risk of hip and spinal fractures in postmenopausal women. ET is administered most commonly in the form of a pill or skin patch that delivers a low dose of approximately 0.3 mg daily or a standard dose of approximately 0.625 mg daily and is effective even when started after age 70.

When estrogen is taken alone, it can increase a woman's risk of developing cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer). To eliminate this risk, healthcare providers prescribe the hormone progestin in combination with estrogen (hormone replacement therapy or HT) for those women who have an intact uterus. ET/HT relieves menopause symptoms and has been shown to have a beneficial effect on bone health. Side effects may include vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness, mood disturbances and gallbladder disease.

The Woman’s Health Initiative (WHI) study recently confirmed that one type of HT, Prempro®, reduced the risk of hip and other fractures as well as colon cancer. The WHI also confirmed that this HT is associated with a modest increase in the risk of breast cancer, strokes and heart attacks. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that women first consider other osteoporosis medications for prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis. The FDA also suggests using the lowest possible dose for the shortest period of time to manage symptoms of menopause.

Information on this page was obtained from the National Osteoporosis Foundation website, www.nof.org.