yes, I did read it. Experts disagree about a magic cut off at 5 years and with low dose transdermal, it can likely be used safely long-term. Definitely more research is needed but I'm not hopeful we will see it. If one chooses to go on HRT, personally I don't see the point of going on it for 5 years only to go off it and confront hot flashes and bone loss once again (and all of the other menopausal issues) at which point most would have to go on medication anyway. It only prolongs the inevitable. Barring any contraindications and making sure your cardiac profile and risk factors are all okay, I think it's a good choice for many women. I only wish I had started it earlier to prevent the loss I experienced rather than using it to play catch up (which you never entirely do),

Certainly good screening is in order if you use HRT to potentially find any problems early. The WHI was skewed older and sicker which also had an influence on the outcome along with the use of oral premarin. Though HRT is not natural it is something the body recognizes and utilizes in a more natural way than than how pharmaceutical alternatives address bone building. We each have to determine best options for our own situations. In my case, I eventually opted for both sequentially.