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HRT After Menopause Reduces Symptoms
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 Women taking HRT had improvements in many quality-of-life symptoms. For example, hot flashes occurred in 30 percent of the women in the HRT group before starting the hormones, but in just 14 percent at the one year follow-up. In comparison, 29 percent of women taking placebo had hot flashes at the start of the study, while 25 percent were still experiencing them at the follow-up. Improvements were also seen in night sweats, insomnia and vaginal dryness.
Women in the HRT group were, however, more likely to report breast tenderness and vaginal discharge.
No significant differences were seen in reports of depression between the two groups.
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The study authors wrote that if women are considering taking HRT many years after menopause, they needed to balance the benefits of hormone therapy against the possible risks when started after menopause, which include heart disease, blood clots and an increased risk of breast cancer.
"I think this is an important study, because since WHI, many have lost sight of the significant benefits of hormone therapy," said Dr. Steven R. Goldstein, an obstetrician and gynecologist at New York University Langone Medical Center. "This study reinforces the notion that for women with these symptoms, HRT can improve your quality of life. And, the worse your symptoms, the more they'll improve."
Plus, both MacLennan and Goldstein pointed out that most women would initiate HRT near menopause, when these symptoms tend to be most severe, and at that time, potential risks are much lower, and the benefits are likely greater.
"For relief of symptoms, it's OK to go on HRT, as long as you have none of the absolute contraindications, like a history of deep vein thrombosis," concluded Goldstein.
More information
To read more about hormone replacement therapy, go to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 8/22/2008
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SOURCES: Alistair MacLennan, M.D., head, discipline of obstetrics and gynecology, School of Pediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Women's and Children's Hospital, The University of Adelaide, Australia; Steven R. Goldstein, obstetrician and gynecologist, New York University Langone Medical Center, and professor, obstetrics and gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, and author, The Estrogen Alternative and Could It Be Perimenopause?, New York City; Aug. 22, 2008, British Medical Journal
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