open access: Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of cholecystectomy: a prospective study based on the French E3N cohort

cmaj

Background: Studies in the United States and
the United Kingdom have reported an in -
creased risk of cholecystectomy among wo men
exposed to menopausal hormone therapy, but
with substantial heterogeneity between types
of hormone treatments. We evaluated the risk
of cholecystectomy (gallbladder) associated with different
regimens of menopausal hormone therapy in a
large prospective cohort study.

"....  We did not observe any increased risk of cholecystectomy
associated with transdermal estrogen use,
which is in partial agreement with a weaker association
with transdermal compared with oral estrogen
use reported in the Million Women Study.9"......

Interpretation: The risk of cholecystectomy was
increased among women exposed to oral
estrogen menopausal hormone therapy, especially
oral regimens without a progestagen. (estrogen alone)
Complicated gallstone disease should be added
to the list of potential adverse events to be
considered when balancing the benefits and
risks associated with menopausal hormone
therapy

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"See related commentary by Liu at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.130004"