Hormone Therapy (cont.)
What medical checkups are advised for women on hormone
therapy (HT)?
All women receiving hormone therapy (HT) should undergo a medical checkup
every year. At that time, the doctor or nurse will perform a breast exam and
order a mammogram (a special x-ray picture of the breasts) to check for masses in the breasts that
might possibly be cancer. At, or even prior to these check-ups, a woman should
discuss her bleeding pattern with her physician to be sure it is within the
expected pattern for her specific type of hormone therapy (HT). Other routine screening
evaluations may also be performed at this annual check-up.
What if a woman decides against hormone therapy (HT)?
If a woman decides against hormone therapy (HT), there are other methods
to deal with the symptoms of menopause. Although hormone therapy (HT) is by far superior to other
medications in relieving hot flashes, other prescription non-hormonal
medications can also reduce hot flashes. Likewise, a water soluble surgical
jelly (not petroleum jelly) can be applied to the vagina to reduce dryness.
A woman may also want to
ask her doctor about non-hormonal prescription osteoporosis medications These
new treatments appear safe and effective in preventing fractures.
- Hormone Therapy (HT) refers to either estrogen or
combination estrogen /progesterone treatment.
- Estrogen therapy is the most highly effective
prescription medication for treating menopause symptoms and in light of recent
research is still safe and effective for many women when used for fewer than 5
years.
- Estrogen therapy reduces or eliminates several
symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep resulting from hot
flashes, and vaginal dryness.
- Other safe and effective non-hormonal medications
exist to address a woman's concerns regarding osteoporosis.
- The use of estrogen therapy, without progesterone
(progestin), is associated with an increase in the risk of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer, cancer of the lining of the uterus).
- Treatment with progesterone along with estrogen
substantially reduces the risk of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer) so that the risk of
developing this cancer is equivalent to that of women not taking estrogen.
- Users of oral hormone therapy (HT) (in the doses of the Women's Health
Initiative) for more than 5 years are at slightly increased risk
of breast cancer risk, heart disease, and stroke than are nonusers.
References: WHI
article in JAMA 2002 Rossouw et al
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2005
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