Current issues in menopausal hormone replacement therapy.

For most menopausal women, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks, despite the fears aroused by the unproven link to breast cancer. If the goal is solely to relieve menopausal symptoms, the treatment duration is generally 2 to 3 years and then gradually tapered off. If the goal is to provide cardiac protection and prevent osteoporosis, long-term, possibly lifetime, treatment is needed.