Remember in 2002 when "results" from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) brought the use of hormone therapy (HT) for menopausal symptoms to a screeching halt?

Fortunately, subsequent reanalysis of the data revealed that when hormone replacement was taken within 10 years of the start of menopause symptoms, it was not risky for most women.

Then there was more good news: After that revised opinion emerged, it was also discovered that HT is especially beneficial for the cardiovascular system — though women who hadn't had a hysterectomy needed to take progestin along with estrogen, and there were questions about whether or not progestin muted estrogen's benefits.

Now a study that looked at the impact of taking estrogen alone or estrogen and progesterone together found that both approaches have a "favorable influence" on heart health.

With extended use, good HDL cholesterol went up 13% in women taking estrogen, and 7% if taking the estrogen-progesterone combination. Bad LDL cholesterol went down 11% with both treatments.

Lipoprotein(a), a variant of LDL cholesterol, decreased by 15% with estrogen-only and 20% with the two hormones.

Insulin resistance fell by 14% for those on estrogen and 8% for those on the combo.

If you're battling menopause symptoms, ask your doctor whether hormone therapy is right for you.

And if you do go on HT, take it with a half a low-dose aspirin morning and night to super-protect yourself from blood clots — as long as your doctor says that's okay.