This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
HT improved health-related QOL in postmenopausal women
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Combined hormone therapy may improve vasomotor symptoms, sexual functioning and sleep problems in postmenopausal women, according to recent data from the Stephenson House and other sites in London, Australia and New Zealand.
The randomized, placebo-controlled study included 3,721 postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 69 years. Participants were randomly assigned to estrogen and progestogen (n=1,862) or placebo (n=1,859) for one year. Researchers evaluated health-related quality of life and changes in emotional and physical menopausal symptoms, based on questionnaires.
Compared with women in the placebo group, those assigned to HT experienced improved vasomotor symptoms (P<.001), sexual functioning (P<.001) and sleep problems (P<.001), according to the researchers.
Hot flashes, night sweats, muscle and joint aches, insomnia and vaginal dryness were reported in fewer women in the HT group, compared with placebo. However, a greater number of those in the HT group reported breast tenderness (P<.001) and vaginal discharge (P<.001).
At baseline, 30% of women in the HT group and 29% in placebo experienced hot flashes. After one year, 9% of women in the HT group and 25% in placebo reported hot flashes.
BMJ. 2008;doi:10.1136/bmj.a1190.