A Patient Who Will Begin Combination Estrogen/progestin Therapy (EPT) for Menopause

A patient who will begin combination estrogen/progestin therapy (EPT) for menopause asks the nurse why she cannot take an estrogen-only preparation. The patient has not had a hysterectomy, has a slightly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and has mild osteopenia. The nurse will tell her that the progestin is necessary to:

A) decrease her risk of endometrial cancer.
B) increase bone resorption to prevent fractures.
C) lower her risk of myocardial infarction (MI) .
D) prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) .