The Woman's Health Initiative

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) is a major research program that started in the 1990s to study how lifestyle, medications, and nutrition affect women’s health, especially as they age. It included large clinical trials and observational studies involving thousands of women to examine risks for conditions like heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. One well-known part tested hormone therapy’s effects on postmenopausal women, finding it increased certain health risks. The WHI has provided valuable insights that guide healthcare decisions and prevention strategies for women’s health worldwide.