Hormone replacement therapy and menopause: a review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is frequently prescribed to healthy women to ameliorate menopausal symptoms. HRT is used long term (> or = 1 year) to prevent chronic disease in older women. The objective of this study was to review the benefits and risks of HRT and studies of menopause or HRT in Taiwan via a MEDLINE search. Recommendations are provided for future HRT research in Taiwan. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are considered the gold standard of scientific evidence. A MEDLINE literature search (January 1966-July 2002) identified 23 papers on trials (> or = 1 year) that met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that various HRT regimens used for more than 1 year caused more harm than good in healthy menopausal women and that there was no benefit for women with coronary artery disease, Alzheimer's disease, hysterectomy, hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy, and ischemic stroke. None of this research was conducted in Taiwan. A MEDLINE search using the key words "estrogen replacement therapy and menopause in Taiwan" identified 16 studies. There was only one, short-term, HRT trial. No evidence suggested benefits from long-term HRT in menopausal women in Taiwan.