[The use of estrogen preparations after the menopause and the risk of endometrial carcinoma].

Studies have shown that the risk of endometrial cancer increases 4-7 times among women who undergo post-menopausal estrogen treatments. Certain factors can be associated with an increase inpost-menopausal estrogen levels in the body: acyclic anovulatory menstrual cycles, estrogen-producing ovarial carcinomas, use of post-menopausal estrogen treatments, and obesity. In obese women, estrone is produced from androstendion in fatty and other peripheral tissues. Cyclical therapy; avoiding progestative substances; and using preparations based on estriol, which does not affect the endometrium as strongly, are suggested as possibilities for post-menopausal estrogen treatment.