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Hormone Replacement Therapy. Hormonal Therapy. Beliefs before July 2002 Relieves hot flashes, improves mood, improves sexuality, improves sleep Prevents osteoporosis Prevents heart disease and stroke Improves urinary problems ? Slight increase in breast cancer.
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Hormonal Therapy • Beliefs before July 2002 • Relieves hot flashes, improves mood, improves sexuality, improves sleep • Prevents osteoporosis • Prevents heart disease and stroke • Improves urinary problems • ? Slight increase in breast cancer OB-GYN Specialists, PC and Covenant Medical Center
Women’s Health Initiative Study • BIG STUDY! • Multiple centers, 27347 patients, wide cross section of women, planned for 8.5 years of study • GOOD STUDY! • Double blind-neither the patient nor the researcher knows what medication the patient is taking • Placebo controlled-patient doesn’t know if she is taking ANY medication OB-GYN Specialists, PC and Covenant Medical Center
Benefit Risk Stroke Coronary artery disease Breast cancer Plan to study until 2005 OB-GYN Specialists, PC and Covenant Medical Center
Benefit Risk 29%increase Coronary artery disease 41%increase Stroke 26%increase Breast cancer OB-GYN Specialists, PC and Covenant Medical Center
Hormone Use Post WHI • Only use in women with moderate to severe symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances • Limit the total duration • If possible use local estrogen therapy for vaginal symptoms • Use the lowest dose possible OB-GYN Specialists, PC and Covenant Medical Center
Risks • Increase risk of breast cancer (8 per 10,000 users) • Increased risk of DVT (8 per 10,000 users) • Increased risk of stroke (8 per 10,000 users) • Increased risk of cholecytitis/pancreatis • Increased risk of MI in patients with coronary artery disease or if long term menopausal
No Risk or Benefit • Weight gain • Osteoarthritis • Ovarian/endometrial • Cognitive function/dementia • Development of coronary artery disease in recently menopausal women
Discontinuing HRT • Tapering off verses discontinuing abruptly • What to do with the lady that can’t or won’t quit?
What is it? • Not very specific • Compounded mix of various hormones • Estrone, estradiol, estriol • DHEA • Testosterone • “Natural” progestone • Mixed may be determined by hormone testing • Various routes of absorption
Why do this? • Pro (as per advocates) • More effective • Safer • Con • Costs more • Not always covered by insurance • Lacks scientific basis
Concerns • Compounding lacks the quality control of traditional products • As of 2005, no random clinical trials of compounded products in terms of efficacy and risks