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Stopping hormone replacement therapy: were women ill advised?
Grant P Cumming1, Heather D Currie, Nick Panay
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin, UK.
Menopause International
|September 10, 2011
Summary
Media reports influenced many women to stop hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after 2002, particularly younger women. Many later regretted stopping HRT due to symptom recurrence and negative impacts on work and relationships.
Area of Science:
- Menopause research
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) impact
- Media influence on health decisions
Background:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use significantly declined after 2002 due to media reporting on research findings.
- Women's decisions to stop or restart HRT are influenced by media coverage and evolving understanding of risks and benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey women who stopped hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after 2002, including those who later restarted.
- To evaluate the influence of HRT advice on women's decisions to stop or restart therapy.
- To assess the impact of stopping HRT on women's quality of life.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was distributed via the UK-based menopause website www.menopausematters.co.uk.
- The survey collected data on women's reasons for stopping/restarting HRT in response to early 2000s advice and current advice.
- 1100 responses were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 56.4% of women who stopped HRT were influenced by media reports.
- 72.8% of women who would benefit most from HRT stopped without medical advice.
- Younger women (under 50) were significantly more likely to stop HRT themselves than older women.
- Stopping HRT negatively affected work, decision-making, relationships, and social interactions for many women.
- 46.5% of women would not have stopped HRT with current understanding of risk, with younger women expressing this regret more frequently.
Conclusions:
- Media reporting in the early 2000s negatively impacted HRT use, but current coverage appears to mitigate this.
- Media influence on HRT decisions is more pronounced in younger women.
- Lessons must be learned by health professionals and media regarding the communication of health research.
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