Hormone treatment of menopause
Written by:The use of hormones at menopause is a treatment that consists of a combined therapy of estrogen and progestin low dose. In Spain the proportion of women performing this treatment is between 5 and 10%.
Hormones are administered in tablets, although you can also choose patches or by a combination of patches, tablets, and skin gel.
For women without a uterus, hormone treatment is prescribed only estrogen.
The use of this treatment in gynecology has declined in recent years as a result of the publication in 2002 of the WHI (Women's Health Initiative). This study advised against the use of hormones to treat menopause because, he claimed, increased the risk of breast cancer did not decrease cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal.
Professional organizations such as the Spanish Association for the Study of Menopause (EMEA), said that the results are not concluded exactly what is claimed; since the study was designed to improve cardiovascular health in women at high risk for this disease and their average age was 64 years.
Although it is shown that after five years of combined hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer, it is also true that after 5 years of use of estrogen-only therapy a protective effect on the breast is obtained, which decreases this cancer.
Duration of treatment with hormones
The recommended duration of this treatment is 5 years old, depending on whether the person has started treatment at an earlier age to 50 years. In these cases of early menopauses, treatment can be prolonged.
Benefits and risks of treatment
The main benefit of using hormones to treat menopause is the relief of symptoms of the syndrome and its accompanying hot flashes and irritability, insomnia, depression, emotional lability.
Hormones also act at promoting bone preserving bone mineral density and delaying therefore osteoporosis. Maintaining urogenital health and preventing skin tissue atrophy vulvovaginal .Also considering its role as protector of cognitive impairment.
The most significant risk is the cumulative risk of breast cancer after 5 years, so you should limit the administration at 5 years or follow controls.
