Change of Heart?

Jun 21, 09:55 PM

Current Headlines: By The Associated Press

Here is a look at how hormone advice has changed over time as the federal Women's Health Initiative has been analyzed in more detail.

July 2002 - Officials halt a phase of the study after doctors found higher rates of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke in women taking estrogen with progestin.

May 2003 - A new study of the federal data finds that in women 65 and older, taking hormones for years raised the risk of Alzheimer's.

September 2003 - A study finds estrogen-progestin pills do not reduce - and might increase - the risk of ovarian cancer.

March 2004 - Federal officials stop a phase of the women's health study that looked at estrogen alone after finding that women taking it had an increased risk of stroke, and possibly more dementia.

April 2007 - A study of the federal women's study data shows hormones did not raise heart attack risks for women in their 50s, but did raise breast cancer and stroke risks.

May 2007 - A new review of the data concludes that those who took hormones before age 65 reduced their risk of dementia by half.

June 2007 - A review of the study data shows a lower risk for hardening of the arteries for women who took hormones in their 50s.

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