Hormone Decision » (Reprint)

Tara Parker-Pope has been a professional reporter for 20 years, currently serving as the weekly consumer health columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Her weekly Health Journal and Health Mailbox columns appear every Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal. Her special report on the findings of the Women's Health Initiative earned her the media award from the North American Menopause Society as well as the Second Century Award for Excellence in Health Care from the Columbia University School of Nursing. She is also the author of Cigarettes: Anatomy of an Industry from Seed to Smoke. A 1988 graduate of the University of Texas, she resides in southeastern Pennsylvania.

It's the most pressing question on the minds of women at any stage of the menopausal transition: "Should I or shouldn't I take menopause hormones?" The answer is far from crystal clear. Hormone drugs are the most effective therapy for easing hot flashes and other common menopause symptoms. But their long-term effects have been the focus of intense scrutiny and debate. As the weekly consumer health columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Tara Parker-Pope has been an eyewitness to the growing controversy surrounding hormone therapy. Her understanding of menopause research, and her access to the experts behind it, has given her unique insight into the complex issues surrounding hormone use. In The Hormone Decision, Parker-Pope explores the scientific, political and social forces that have shaped current thinking on hormone therapy. And she takes you on a head to toe tour of how hormones affect every part of your body, including your brain, your breasts, your heart, your bones, your vagina, and even your skin. As you will discover, hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. It's as individual as your health status, family history and menopause experience. When you start hormone therapy and how long you use it are major factors in determining its health effects. While it may raise certain risks for some women, it actually may be protective for others. This is why you need an independent, objective resource like The Hormone Decision. It provides the context for you to understand the research, ask intelligent questions, and ultimately choose whether or not hormone therapy is right for you.

Preface to the Paperback Edition     ix
Introduction     xix
Untangling the Controversy
Hormone Confusion: Making Sense of the Headlines     3
Hormone History: The Pendulum Swings     28
Hormones and the Symptoms of Menopause     50
Understanding the Science
Hormones and Your Heart     71
Hormones and Your Breasts     96
Hormones and Your Bones     126
Hormones and Your Vagina     143
Hormones and Your Brain     162
Hormones and Your Skin     193
Hormones and Other Body Parts     208
Making Your Own Choices
The Progestin Question     225
Prescription Hormones: Pills, Patches, Creams, and Rings     250
Hormone Alternatives: Drugs, Supplements, and Other Options     275
The Hormone Decision     297
Endnotes     325
Acknowledgments     349
Index     353