[Hormone replacement therapy in menopause and colorectal disease]. / Traitement hormonal de la ménopause et pathologies colorectales.

Colorectal disease is frequent. Accumulating evidence indicates that postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of this pathology in women. Through MEDLINE computer searches, we identified English-language articles with quantitative data on the relation of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy to colorectal cancers and adenoma. Twenty-four studies about colorectal cancer and five studies about colorectal adenoma were reviewed. Epidemiological data suggest a 20 to 30% reduced risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma among women taking postmenopausal hormones. There is biological evidence to support this association.