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The initial report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002 addressed only use of combined estrogen/progestin therapy (Journal Watch Jul 26 2002). In 2004, results finally were published on the effects of estrogen alone (in women who had undergone hysterectomies).
Because an interim analysis showed that conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) alone had no effect on coronary heart disease prevention (the primary outcome) and significantly increased risk for stroke, the NIH terminated the study early. A trend was noted toward increased risk for venous thromboembolism with CEE use. However, CEE use significantly decreased risk for hip fracture, and, contrary to results of earlier studies, showed a trend toward decreased risk for breast cancer,…