Are women using postmenopausal estrogens? A community survey.

Self-reported estrogen and progestin use in a California community was determined in 1986-87 from a telephone survey of postmenopausal women (n = 954) ages 50-65 years. Current use of hormones was reported by 32 percent; 26 percent took estrogens alone while 6 percent used estrogen + progestin. Comparisons pointed to significant social network and medical care utilization differences. Women who used estrogen therapy were younger, thinner, lived in smaller household units, and were less likely to be widowed.