Although widely publicized, the landmark 2002 study on the potential risks of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women was completely unknown to most women.
New research from Stanford University School of Medicine found that only 29% of the women surveyed knew anything about the study two years later. In addition, only 40% of women were able to identify the possible risks and benefits associated with hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy is used to ease your menopausal symptoms, but has also been widely prescribed for prevention purposes, in part based on previous observational studies that suggest it may help protect women against heart disease, weak bones and dementia.
In July 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) abruptly ended the estrogen and progestin combination therapy study, when their data revealed rates of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots were higher in those taking the hormone, compared with those taking a placebo.
Then, in April 2004, the WHI also halted the study on estrogen-only therapy, after it was found that the hormone did not protect against heart disease but increased the risk of heart disease. stroke and blood clotting.
The WHI findings have caused enormous changes in hormone therapy use, and prescribing fell by 38% in 2003.
Senior author Randall Stafford, MD, PhD, says their latest survey shows that there is a major problem in effectively communicating important health information to patients, which in turn sees an even bigger problem – making sure people can make informed decisions about their medical care.
Menopause April 10, 2007
Women’s Health Initiative June 21, 2007
WHI March 2, 2007 (Estrogen-Alone Research Link)
Women’s Health Initiative (Estrogen-Plus-Progestin Research Link)
Eurekalert September 18, 2007
