Different menopausal hormone treatments pose different risks
Researchers at IGP have analysed the effects of seven different hormone treatments for menopausal symptoms, and the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. The risks differed depending on the active substance and how the medicine is taken. The study involved around one million women aged 50–58 and is the largest and most comprehensive study of currently prescribed hormonal substances in the world.
Most women go through menopause between the ages of 50 and 60. Levels of the hormone oestrogen fall sharply and the low levels can contribute to health problems such as hot flushes, mood swings and difficulty sleeping. To counteract these health effects, women may be prescribed hormone replacement therapy involving medicines containing hormones or hormone-like substances.
In the new study, the researchers looked at seven different types of currently used hormone replacement treatments, administered via tablets, hormone patches or hormone-releasing intrauterine devices. The risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease was compared between women who had and had not collected a prescription medicine for hormone replacement therapy. The results showed clearly that the risks of hormone replacement therapy vary depending on the type of treatment.