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Epidemiologic aspects of the benefits and risks of oestrogen therapy

  • Chapter
The Controversial Climacteric

Abstract

This workshop attempted to summarize the epidemiologic evidence bearing on the proposed benefits and suspected risks of oestrogen therapy. We illustrated the sorts of data available, discussed their limitations and attempted to quantify their effects. The ultimate goal of this exercise was to permit some idea of the balance between risks and benefits of oestrogen therapy. From the outset, we concede that no simple equation can be derived to demonstrate a positive or negative balance sheet for oestrogen therapy. This is true because of gaps in our knowledge about the full effects of exogenous oestrogens, vagueness in the measures we use to value the risks and benefits, and widely different standards of practice which could affect risks and benefits.

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van Keep, P.A., Utian, W.H., Vermeulen, A. (1982). Epidemiologic aspects of the benefits and risks of oestrogen therapy. In: van Keep, P.A., Utian, W.H., Vermeulen, A. (eds) The Controversial Climacteric. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7253-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7253-0_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7255-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7253-0

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