Menopause news

Effects of Estrogen plus Progestin on Health-Related Quality of Life.

May 8, 2003

Further information from the Women's Health Initiative assessing effect of HRT on quality of life was published in the May 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and appeared online in March. Although HRT use was associated with a small but significant benefit in sleep disturbance, physical functioning and bodily pain, it was concluded that HRT "did not have a clinically meaningful effect on health-related quality of life" and that "there is no role for hormone therapy in the treatment of women without menopausal symptoms".

Comment

The WHI study assessed postmenopausal women who did not have menopausal symptoms. Control of menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms is one of the main indications for HRT, for which it is known to be extremely effective. When used for the indications of symptom control, or osteoporosis treatment/prevention in women who have or who are at risk of osteoporosis, HRT does have significant benefits but should not be used inappropriately.

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