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# Hormone replacement therapy raises stroke risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/hormone_therapy_stroke_1117120354/
- Published: 2012-11-17T16:53:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:23:39.000Z
- Description: Analysing Women's Health Initiative trial data, Stanford and Columbia researchers report that standard hormone therapy raised stroke risk in postmenopausal women by 33%, and adding progestogen did not lower it. For women under 60 that meant 2 extra strokes per 10,000 person-years.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Drug, Health News, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Saturday Nov 17, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- It has been known that hormone replacement therapy incrases risk of breast cancer and heart disease. A new study in Climacteric suggests that the treatment intended for menopausal symptoms can also increase risk of stroke.

V. W. Henderson and R.A. Lobo from Stanford University and Columbia University analysed data from the Women's Health Initiative clinical trials of hormone therapy and found the standard hormone therapy increases stroke risk in postmenopausal women by 33%. 

Also addition of progestogen into the estrogen therapy did not lower the risk of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke (blockage type of stroke).

Age of hormone initiation or use did not modify the risk. Lower doses of transdermal estradiol ( equal or lower than 50 ug/day might not alter the risk of stroke.

For women younger than 60 years old, the absolute risk was 2 additional strokes per 10,000 person-years of hormone use, but the risk was considerably higher in older women. 

Other hormonal drugs including raloxifene, tamoxifen, and tibolone could also have an effect on the stroke risk.