New Health Risk for Women on Hormone Pills

Posted: Oct 11, 2010 4:19 PM by AP
Updated: Oct 11, 2010 4:19 PM

CHICAGO (AP) - Women who use hormone pills after menopause may have a new health issue to worry about.

An analysis of government research suggests that kidney stones should be added to the list.

The research looked at 24,000 postmenopausal women who were taking either hormones or dummy pills. The woman using hormones were 21 percent more likely to develop kidney stones over about five years.

Recent data suggest that overall, about 6 percent of
postmenopausal women develop kidney stones.

The study's lead author says women who are thinking of using hormones to ease hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause should "look at the bigger picture." The pills have also been linked with breast cancers, heart attacks and strokes.

The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Topics: New, Health, Risk, for, Women, on, Hormone, Pills