[RJCogburn]

While estrogen-replacement therapy may be needed short-term at menopause and the Pill is beneficial for certain reproductive disorders, largely it's a bad idea.

The benefits of estrogen may be more than the menopausal symptom amelioration, including protection against osteoporosis, which actually contributes to many deaths since the mortality rate is high in the elderly who suffer hip fractures.

Additional benefits may include improvment of mood including for some women mood disorders that interfere with normal life functioning, protection against cardiovascular disease,and protection against dementias.. The final answers are not in yet.

Having said this, I agree that most of the time estrogen replacement is not a good idea and, were I a woman, would decline.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

What you say is absolutely true. Given that, I would rather take my chances with heart disease and osteoporosis than in getting breast cancer (and I'm a nurse with elderly relatives with osteoporosis and cardiac problems). There are good procedures and medications to take care of heart problems and osteoporosis should they develop. Plus, a healthy lifestyle can go a long way. Personally, I'm of the belief that God has a reason for menopause and estrogen reductions and I believe we have everything needed on this planet to cure our diseases. It's just out there for us to discover. I'm big into alternative medicine (homeopathy and Ayurveda) so someday when menopause arrives then I will use whatever natural means are available before I consider a carcinogen.

I think this is what informed choice is really all about. I do believe the drug companies and Planned Parenthood make an enormous profit off the bodies of women and have plenty of reason to want to block this kind of information. They stand to lose millions. But after getting all the facts, if a woman still wants to take these drugs then it is her choice. But I think we all deserve to be fully informed regardless.