Around menopause, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progestin decrease, resulting in hot flashes, sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Lower hormone levels increase bone loss and the risk for heart disease. Postmenopausal hormone therapy(HT) involves taking estrogen with or without progestin. Combination HT refers to taking both hormones and is necessary in women with a uterus because estrogen alone greatly increases the risk for uterine cancer (also called endometrial cancer). Women who have no uterus because they have had a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone because they cannot get uterine cancer. Some women take HT to relieve menopausal symptoms, others take it to reduce the risk for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones that can lead to fractures), and some take it because they hope it will decrease their chances of getting colon cancer or developing problems with memory or thinking. In 2002, the USPSTF recommended against postmenopausal women taking combination HT for the sole purpose of preventing chronic conditions. However, at that time there was insufficient information for the USPSTF to make a definite recommendation about the use of estrogen alone.