Research Paper on:
Benefits and Detriments of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is utilized in a number of health scenarios. These scenarios range from the replacement of estrogen in menopausal women, to estrogen replacement in  the treatment of osteoporosis, to the replacement of Human Growth Hormone in individuals suffering from problems in cartilage and bone development. This paper will contend, however, that while HRT  is still touted by many professionals as advantageous in certain circumstances, these contentions are now being refuted in the case of new evidence. Even more disturbing, however, is the  fact that HRT is a potentially dangerous approach in that it can incite a number of other physiological complications. Indeed, Hormone Replacement Therapy can be detrimental to an individuals  health in a number of diverse physiological arenas. Quantifying the degree of this detriment, as opposed to the beneficial aspects of HRT, however, remains a highly complicated task.  Many health care professionals continue to assert that Hormone Replacement Therapy is a viable alternative particularly for women undergoing menopause. Estrogen replacement is  commonly accepted, in fact, as being the remedy of choice in combating the symptoms of menopause. It is even touted as reducing the risk of heart disease. Additional  benefits include its use in treating osteoporosis, a debilitating condition which affects twenty-eight million people in the United States alone (McClung PG). This condition, also know as "Brittle Bone  Disease" affects primarily postmenopausal women (McGee PG). The majority of bone loss in these women occurs in the first five to ten years after menopause (Minkin PG).  New evidence suggests that even the most commonly accepted benefits of HRT, that of preventing bone fractures and reducing risks for heart attack