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Menopause and Perimenopause - Hormone Therapy: A Shift in Thinking
Changes in hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Over the past decades, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was thought to offer health- and youth-preserving benefits to postmenopausal women. But recent studies have led to a dramatic shift from this way of thinking.
One large study done by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) has shown that HRT does not protect against heart disease. In fact, in a small number of women who are 10 or more years past menopause, it causes heart disease, including heart attacks.8 In the WHI study, short-term use of HRT was also linked to an increase in the numbers of strokes and blood clots. Using HRT for several years was linked to increased cases of breast cancer and dementia. Overall, most women using HRT in the WHI study had no serious side effects, but they also had no long-term benefits.
Among all women, average hormone therapy risks are very low. Your personal risks may be lower or higher than the average. This depends on your risk factors for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cardiovascular problems, blood clots, or dementia.
Based on the WHI study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its HRT recommendations. Estrogen-progestin HRT is approved for:
- Short-term treatment of menopause symptoms. HRT effectively relieves menopause symptoms for most women. Women who decide that HRT benefits outweigh their risks are advised to use the lowest effective dose for as short a time as possible.9 For most women, menopause symptoms naturally improve within a few years' time, making long-term symptom treatment unnecessary.
- Osteoporosis prevention and treatment, in select cases. Most experts recommend that long-term HRT only be considered for women with a high osteoporosis risk. In this case, estrogen's bone-protecting benefit may outweigh the risks of taking HRT. Women are now encouraged to consider all possible osteoporosis treatments and to compare their risks and benefits.14
Changes in estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
Women who have early, sudden menopause after a hysterectomy with both ovaries removed are usually advised to use estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) to protect against bone loss. The low estrogen levels of menopause cause bone thinning. Compared to women who are not taking hormone therapy, women taking ERT have fewer hip fractures (a sign of estrogen's bone-protecting effect).15
ERT also helps with menopausal symptoms. Known ERT risks come from studies of women older than 50. It may be that the benefits outweigh the risks for younger women who take ERT until the age of natural menopause.16 This question needs further research.
The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) studied estrogen-only therapy in older women and found that it increases the risks of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism) and the risk of stroke during the first year of use.15 ERT may increase the risk of dementia in women who are older than 65.17 ERT offered no protection against heart disease. In fact, it was linked to heart disease and ovarian cancer in a small number of women.8, 18
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Menopause and Perimenopause Topics
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
Ob-Gyn Laura Corio talks about the importance of exercise during menopause.
