Hormone use and stroke

Strokes are an important cause of disability and death among older women. Because many women use hormone therapy for the control of perimenopausal symptoms and to prevent osteoporosis after menopause, establishing whether such therapy has other health effects is of considerable clinical importance. Overall, 55% of strokes occur in women, and women account for nearly 60% of all stroke-related deaths. Women appear to be protected from heart disease and stroke before menopause. This is thought to be because of the protective effects of ovarian hormones, and this effect could provide clues on new paradigms to prevent stroke and ischemic vascular disease.