Dr. Roger Lobo et al-Short Term Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Is Safe For Most Women At The Time Of Menopause’

According to an article published in MSN Health, Dr. Roger Lobo, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University in New York City, says that he is amazed by the evidence that women who are 50-59 years old and healthy do quite well and benefit by using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in several ways.

Dr. Lobo who is also a member of the working group that updated the HRT guidelines for the International Menopause Society, said that this new report may help to settle down the controversy that arose  because of an alarming report from the large-scale Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). But when the WHI and additional evidence was reviewed by menopause society, they concluded that HRT was safe for most women at the time of menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT is an individual treatment, hence women should check with their doctor when to start or continue it and the decision should be reviewed annually to check when to discontinue the treatment. They should keep a note of symptoms and observe if they come back. HRT should be only used for as long as needed and at the lowest dose that would treat the symptoms.

Benefits of HRT

• It improves quality of life and sexuality by relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
• It also helps to prevent osteoporosis and colon cancer.
• There is a benefit of heart health for women under 60.
• Other complaints related to menopause such as joint and muscle pain, mood swings, sleep disturbance, and sexual dysfunction, may also improve.
• It benefits women who have undergone hysterectomy as it reduces the risk of heart disease.

Disadvantages of HRT

• It increases the risk of breast cancer. So the women who have family history of breast cancer should not take it.
• It has risks and side effects that increase with age, so women who have passed menopause many years back should be cautious.

Dr Elizabeth Poynor, a gynecologist and a gynecologic oncologist, said that HRT is not a one size fits all, so it should be really individualized from person to person.

Conclusion

When the WHI study data and additional evidence was reviewed by the menopause society, they concluded that HRT was safe for most of the women at the time of menopause. So, if treatment is given according to needs of an individual woman, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) appears to be safe during menopause. This report was released at the World Congress on Menopause in Rome, Italy.
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