The KEEPS study followed 729 women early in menopause, 45 to 54 years of age for 4 years using either placebo, 0.45 mg of low dose oral conjugated estrogen or 50 mcg of transdermal estrogen plus a cycle of progesterone each month. The study did not find any increase in risk of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cardiovascular disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, breast cancer, or endometrial cancer. The hormone therapy did not significantly affect atherosclerotic change determined by measuring carotid intimal thickness. (15)
Weight gain and hormone replacement therapy:
Hormone replacement therapy is believed by many women to lead to weight gain. On the contrary, a study showed that less accumulation of body fat occurred during menopause in women on hormone replacement therapy for 5 years (16).