A recent Cohrane review from the 10th March 2015 has examined the value of hormone replacement therapy again. For sometime it has been known that hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women results in increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and stroke. However, this current review shows that there was no benefit in death reduction from causes such as cardiovascular disease or heat attack.

HRT is a bit of a balance. The risk of deep vein thrombosis and stroke is increased only slightly by about 5 per 1000. On the positive side, HRT will save the loss of 6 lives and stop about 8 women per 1000 having heart disease. The decision on hormone replacement therapy is a delicate balance. This is a conversation which the patient should have with her individual doctor.