Interference of progestins with endothelial actions of estrogens: a matter of glucocorticoid action or deprivation?

Estrogens play a pivotal role in sexual development and reproduction and are also implicated in a number of physiological processes in various tissues including the cardiovascular system. Epidemiological evidence suggests that endogenous estrogens protect women against coronary heart disease (CHD) before the age of menopause, and decreased CHD risk among postmenopausal women has been for a long time the main expected benefit of hormone therapy (HT).1 However, from the publication of the Women Health Initiative (WHI) results,2 medical practices of HT have been dramatically altered.