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The new results for estrogen-only pills echo previous data from the same study showing estrogen-progestin had little effect on older women's overall well-being and quality of life.

The 10,739 women in the latest study, which appeared in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, had all had hysterectomies.

In both groups, fewer than 3 percent reported poor quality of life and scores for 40 percent were in the excellent range after a year.

Several doctors said the conclusions cannot be generalized to apply to younger women.

Dr.

Julia Johnson, vice chairman of gynecology at the University of Vermont, noted that the women were about 10 years past the age when troublesome symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats - which can affect quality of life - are most likely to occur.

"Using this study to look at quality of life is sort of like comparing apples and oranges," said Johnson, who was not involved in the study.

Dr.

Ginger Constantine of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which makes University of Nevada researcher Robert Brunner, the study's lead author, said estrogen pills reduced troublesome hot flashes in a subgroup of...

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