Hormone replacement therapy can improve quality of life after menopause

London, Aug 22 : Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can significantly improve well being in women with menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, according to researchers.

In the study involving 5692 healthy women aged 50-69, about 3 out of 4 women, who complained of night sweats and hot flushes, found that these symptoms had vanished after a year of HRT use.

"This report from WISDOM study is reassuring that there are real benefits for some women electing to use HRT," the British Medical Journal quoted Dr Roger Lobo fromColumbia University, New York, as saying.

"While it has been well established that quality-of-life measures are improved in younger symptomatic women, this paper adds some information that even older women may benefit.

"While some of this information was reported from the WHI, which used the same hormonal regimen, more sensitive instruments were used in WISDOM which was able to show improvements in other measures such as sexual function.

"While this is important information and is reassuring regarding the benefits of HRT, these findings in isolation are not an indication to initiate hormones in asymptomatic older women for the first time," he added.

Dr David Sturdee from Solihull, UK, President of the International Menopause Society said that this study reinforces the benefits of appropriate use.

" It shows that HRT can offer real benefits to most women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Our advice remains the same: each woman is an individual, and she needs to discuss what's right for her with her doctor, in the light of her medical history," he added.

The study is published in August online issue in British Medical Journal.

ANI