Hormone Replacement Therapy - Is It for You?

On July 9, 2002, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stopped early a major clinical trial of the risks and benefits of combined estrogen and progestin in healthy menopausal women.

There are two arms to this study:
(1) combined estrogen and a progestin (Prempro)
(2) estrogen alone (Premarin).

The estrogen only arm of this study is continuing and will be reported in 2005.

Findings were indicating increased risks for heart disease, cancers, and blood clots by taking the combined HRT. The decision to stop this one component of the Women’s Health Initiative has brought us an important step closer to answering vital questions about hormone therapy, which is used by nearly 40% of postmenopausal women in this country to relieve symptoms of menopause. Due to this, millions of American women are now reconsidering whether to start or to continue this commonly used combined therapy.

Since that time so much information has come to us in some form — newspapers, magazines, television, internet, discussions with our friends. What is a woman to do? Continuing or starting HRT is a major and personal decision for women today; we should be armed with the latest facts and tools to make this decision for ourselves. In September 2003, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration launched an education campaign about HRT. Working in collaboration with NIH and other Department of Health and Human Service agencies, the FDA has developed science-based information materials on its latest guidance on menopausal hormone therapies. It is working closely with women’s health organizations and community-based organizations and others to get this information out to women and health-care providers. This information is posted on The National Women’s Health Information center’s website at: www.4woman.gov. After logging on choose “Menopause and Hormone Therapy” under Special Sections. A wealth of information is provided there that was last updated in
September 2003.

Taking hormone therapy is one of the most important health decisions a woman in mid-life can make. As research findings are released, we can use them to help us have open discussions with our Health Care Providers about what is best for our health.

In addition, www.4woman.gov provides you with links to other websites and an abundance of articles about HRT. Additional websites for Hormone Replacement Therapy information are:
www.breastcancer.org
www.acog.org.