Women's HOPE Study
Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen Study
Good news for women who have had undesirable side effects such as breakthrough
or unpredictable bleeding from their HRT (hormone replacement therapy)! A recent
study in the journal Fertility and Sterility (June 2001) reports
that lower doses of HRT than are most commonly prescribed actually have higher
rates of amenorrhoea (no bleeding).
This study is called the Women's Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen
(Women's HOPE) study. It was conducted at more than 50 centers across the United
States and included 2,673 healthy postmenopausal women. The doses used were:
- Premarin, or conugated equine
estrogen (CEE) 0.625 mg
- Prempro, or CEE 0.625 mg with
medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 2.5 mg
- CEE 0.45 mg with MPA 2.5 mg
- CEE 0.45 mg with MPA 1.5 mg
- CEE 0.3 mg with MPA 1.5 mg
- Placebo
The authors
concluded that once a low dose combination product becomes available, this may
be a worthwhile dosage starting point for newly menopausal women.
Another article in the same issue of this journal (Fertility and Sterility,
June 2001) indicated that lower-dosage combinations of CEE and MPA are
as effective as doses commonly prescribed for relieving the symptoms of menopause
(hot flashes, night sweats, etc.) and vaginal atrophy (which produces vaginal
dryness).
For more information on hormone replacement therapy, click here.
Created: 6/26/2001 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
