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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Cynthia Pearson and Amy Allina. National Women's Health Network, 514 Tenth Street, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20004, 202-347-1140, cpearson@womenshealthnetwork.org
Building on information presented in the National Women’s Health Network’s book The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy: How to Break Free from the Medical Myths of Menopause (Prima, 2002), this presentation provides a balanced review of the most up-to-date information about risks and potential benefits of drugs marketed to women at menopause. This includes information about the pharmaceutical industry’s promotion of menopause treatments to women and health care providers. The presentation also addresses scientific evidence about alternative therapies such as herbs, phytoestrogens and “natural” hormones.
Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help some women with certain menopause-related problems, the benefits have been oversold. HRT is approved for treatment of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, slowing bone density loss and reducing incidence of bone fracture. There is not adequate scientific evidence to support claims that estrogen prevents heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or wrinkles—all things it is purported to do. At the same time, taking estrogen may increase the risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, gall bladder disease, blood clots and hysterectomy. Research on newer drugs for older women’s health concerns, in particular osteoporosis, appears to hold some promise although long-term safety data is not yet available.
Pharmaceutical industry marketing campaigns send women and health care providers the message that women need medicine to be healthy at and after menopause. In fact, there are many achievable lifestyle modifications that women can make throughout their lives to increase their chances of remaining healthy as they age.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.