The findings are part of the Women's Health Initiative and show postmenopausal women should carefully consider their options before starting replacement on their body's levels of estrogen.
More than 25 percent of the women who start hormones may find it very difficult to ever stop taking them. Some of the women who stopped taking hormones experienced more joint pain and stiffness along with hot flashes.
WHI trials have shown menopause symptoms usually subside on their own without use of drugs.
