MENOPAUSE AND POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY or oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
Today the majority difficult health care choices facing women is if they should opt to use postmenopausal hormone therapy. ERT, once prescribed primarily to relieve vasomotor symptoms, has been endorsed as a plan to prevent a variety of chaos that go faster after menopause, together with osteoporosis and cardiovascular ailments. More than 30% of postmenopausal women in the United States currently use ERT. This widespread use is unwarranted given the paucity of conclusive data, on the physical condition results of such treatment. Even though most of the women are dependent on their fitness care supplier for a ultimate answer to the only query that is if they opt should to experience postmenopausal hormones, this balances the benefits and threats for a patient is challenging.
Even though observational studies suggest that ERT prevents cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, the apparent benefits may result at least in part from differences between women who opt to take postmenopausal hormones and women who do not. Those choosing ERT tend to be healthier, have greater access to medical care, are more compliant with prescribed treatments, and maintain a more health-promoting life-style. Randomized trials, which eliminate these confounding factors, have not consistently confirmed the benefits found in observational studies. Indeed, one arm of the largest trial of ERT to date, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which examined more than 16,000 postmenopausal women for an average of 5.2 years, was stopped early because of an overall unfavourable risk-benefit ratio associated with oestrogen-progestin therapy.
The following summary offers a decision-making guide based on a synthesis of currently available evidence. The decision is divided into one of short- (<5 years) or long-term (?5 years) use of ERT. Prevention of cardiovascular disease is eliminated from the equation due to lack of evidence for such benefits in recent randomized clinical trials.
BENEFITS OF POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY:
Osteoporosis-Definite increase in bone mineral density and decrease in fracture risk,
2–5% increase in bone density; 25–50% decrease in risk of fractures
RISKS OF POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY:
