How Does Estrogen Affect the Body?
Estrogen is a female hormone. It is often given together with a progestin as hormone replacement therapy after menopause. However, estrogen can cause tissue growth in a woman’s breast and uterine lining. If used for more than 5 to 10 years, it may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. It may also slightly increase the risk for uterine cancer in some women. Women who take estrogen and do not have their uterus are not at risk for uterine cancer. Women who still have their uterus and take estrogen should also take a progestin. This reduces the risk of uterine cancer to the level of women who do not take estrogen at all. How does raloxifene affect the body? Raloxifene has an estrogen-like effect on bone. It increases bone density and prevents fractures in the spine related to osteoporosis. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in women after menopause. It also has some positive effects on blood cholesterol. It
