11.   Women for whom any hormone supplement is medically inadvisable or unwanted might try consuming more foods with effects that mimic those of ovarian hormones.

12.   Women take hormone supplements at menopause to combat symptoms such as hot flashes and to reduce the longterm risk of heart disease and bone fractures caused by osteoporosis.

13.   A new study adds to the growing body of evidence that recent, long-term use of hormone supplements after menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer.

14.   A surprising new study raises questions about the effectiveness of hormone supplements containing estrogen in warding off heart trouble in older women.

15.   A surprising new study appears to cast doubt on the widely held medical belief that hormone supplements containing estrogen protect women from heart disease after menopause.

16.   But they could offer a safer alternative for women who avoid hormone supplements because of fear of increasing their risk of breast cancer.

17.   Hormone supplements can cut in half the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death for women as well as men.

18.   However, for those whose risk of these problems is low, the study says the increased chance of breast cancer may make hormone supplements a bad gamble.

19.   However, some studies have connected hormone supplements with increasing the risk of developing blood clots, gallstones and breast cancer.

20.   Menopause hormone supplements are approved only to prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis and vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.