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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
06:18
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Spanish post-menopausal women's viewpoints on hormone therapy
Camil Castelo-Branco1, Javier Ferrer, Santiago Palacios
1Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology Institute (ICGON), Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. castelo@sego.es
Maturitas
|December 19, 2006
Summary
Fear of side effects and cancer risk deter women from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Medical prescription and improved quality of life encourage HRT use, with media influencing attitudes.
Area of Science:
- Menopause research
- Women's health
- Pharmacotherapy
Background:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common treatment for menopausal symptoms.
- Understanding factors influencing HRT prescription and discontinuation is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify socio-demographic, climacteric, and healthcare factors associated with HRT prescription in post-menopausal women.
- To investigate factors contributing to early discontinuation of HRT in women aged 40-65.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey conducted in four major Spanish cities.
- Personal interviews with 270 symptomatic post-menopausal women using semi-structured questionnaires.
- Data collected on HRT use, alternative therapies, and reasons for initiation/discontinuation.
Main Results:
- Fear of side effects (43%) and breast cancer risk (38%) were primary reasons for not using HRT, influenced by media and journal data (67%).
- Phytoestrogens were used by 58% of non-HRT users.
- HRT users (9.4% reluctant) cited efficacy, medical prescription, and quality of life as reasons for continued use.
Conclusions:
- Concerns about side effects and cancer significantly impact HRT non-initiation.
- Positive outcomes like symptom relief and improved quality of life, alongside medical guidance, drive HRT continuation.
- Media and scientific publications play a substantial role in shaping women's perceptions of HRT.
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