What the Guidelines Say About Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Women in general need to be educated on Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Indications for the use of Hormone Therapy include the following situations related to menopause:

– relief of vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes, sweating)

– relief of joint and muscle aches and pains+

– relief of sleeplessness and other sleep disturbances+

– relief of depressed mood

– relief of urogenital symptoms (vaginal dryness)

– relief of sexual dysfunction, such as decrease libido

– maintaining and improvement of quality of life.

(+ commonest complaints in Asian postmenopausal  women)

– As a prevention for bone loss and fractures in postmenopausal  women

Contraindications to Hormone Therapy include:

– history of breast cancer

– history of thromboembolism and stroke

– undiagnosed uterine bleeding

– significant cardiovascular disease

– hypersensitivity to oestrogen

Timing:

Best start between 50-59 years or within 10 years of menopause

Dosage:

Lowest effective dose of estrogen with corresponding low dose of progestogen.

(Source: Clinical Practice Guidelines AMM, MOH + CO&GM)