Were the panicky headlines about the dangers of hormone replace-ment therapy (HRT) true? Is "as low a dose as possible for as short a time as possible" really the only safe approach to HRT? How can you distinguish effective alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms from those that are no better than placebos? Is there anywhere you can turn for clear, sensible, science-based answers to these and scores of other crucial questions?Yes. In Hormones and Your Health, renowned medical researcher and celebrated author Winnifred Cutler gives you the solid, succinct, in-depth information you need to take control of your health and work with your doctor to make the treatment decisions that are right for you.Drawing on the latest scientific evidence, Dr. Cutler offers balanced information on mainstream and alternative approaches to women's hormonal issues and explains the connection between hormones, sexuality, bone and cardiovascular health, memory, and breast cancer. She demystifies complex issues and reveals why some of the most commonly prescribed regimens, while they may be great for "big pharma" and medical society interests, could be all wrong for you. She helps you decide which hormones to request and which ones to refuse and how to get the best possible support from your doctor before you make a final decision.You'll discover what you need to know about the differences between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones and what that difference means for you. You'll learn how a carefully chosen long-term hormone therapy regimen can improve bone, brain, blood vessel, and even breast health as it helps you maintain an active sex life and keeps you feeling comfortable in your own skin.Among Dr. Cutler's more controversial recommendations, she warns that not every woman benefits from the universally recommended annual mammogram. She argues that given the frequency of false positives, unnecessary biopsies and radiation exposure, and the stress that