Estrogen banishes hot flashes, offers protection against the crippling bone loss of osteoporosis, and there is convincing evidence it reduces the risk of heart disease. But recent studies show estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer. Do you have to choose between healthy bones and healthy breasts-- or can you protect both? Here is everything you need to know, including:

The benefits and dangers of estrogen replacement therapy

How to draw your own health profile and assess your particular risks

The alternative to estrogen for easing menopausal woes

Whether estrogen can invigorate a flagging sex drive

The value, and the downside, of taking progestin along with estrogen-- and whether you should take progestin in cycles or continuously

The different forms of estrogen-- including pill or patch-- and which suits your needs best

The questions you should ask your doctor

This indispensable guide is the only book to incorporate the latest studies on estrogen replacement therapy, objectively present the pros and cons, and provide you with all the facts you need to make an intelligent, informed decision.