lack of hormones during menopause increases the risk of fractures and strokes
– ten years after the controversial WHI study, which questioned the safety of the hormone replacement therapy, the studies conclude that this alternative is beneficial if analysed individually to the patient.
-treatment must begin around age 50 to relieve symptoms associated with the climacteric and protect the health of women.
Bogota, March 2012.- 10 years ago, an alarming statement disclosed by the National Institute of heart, lungs and blood, United States, announced the suspension of a part of the Women study ’ s Health Initiative (WHI) after finding an increased risk of cancer, coronary heart disease, thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the women participants who were administered a hormone therapy with estrogen and progestogens. The world press echoed the communiqué, and as a result thousands of women across the globe suddenly abandoned the therapy took control of the symptoms of menopause.
Large number of alternative products out in the market while hormone replacement therapy fell into disuse. A decade later, however, many studies have been conducted to confirm claims by the WHI. The conclusion, supported by the main associations of menopause around the globe, is the lack of hormones during menopause increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, urogenital symptoms and osteoporosis.
The DRA. Isabel Jáuregui, gynecologist and member of the world society of menopause, explains that after published the results of the study has questioned its validity, due to flaws in the selection of the sample: the average age of the women who took part in the WHI was 65 years, i.e.15 years after the women begin menopause. Why they did not benefit from hormone therapy. But in no way can blame to treatment by adverse effects observed ”.
In fact, notes the specialist, in patients who had around 50 years results were very different: obviously if you begin to treat a woman when she is 65 years old, the damage has been done, your body has more than one decade to deteriorate by the lack of hormones which are essential to the health of the heartthe bones and the nervous system. On the other hand, if given a healthy woman, may improve their quality of life for many years and will have a much more healthy ageing ”.
Even, although on that occasion the therapy was associated with a higher incidence of breast cancer, to the DRA. Jáuregui can not say that the number of cases has decreased due to the interruption of treatment: when one asks a female hormone therapy first thing to do is ask a mammogram. If you have suspicious nodules, that patient will receive diagnosis and treatment early, and insurance is not going to die by this tumor. But if you are taking anything, suddenly is neglected and discovered you the disease later, when he has less chance of saved ”.
Hormone replacement therapy is offered to women from age 50 to relieve symptoms associated with the climacteric, as the disgraces, night sweating, vaginal dryness, insomnia and irritability. Moreover, it has shown have a protector in the heart and bones effect, since estrogens are essential for the movement and the fixing of calcium.
These recommendations are backed in recent scientific studies. In two research published in 2011 in the journals American Journal of Epidemiology and Menopause, experts found that women who had interrupted hormone replacement therapy were more likely to suffer fractures than those who took it regularly. And another study revealed that patients who followed the treatment were less likely to die from heart disease than those who did not.
This protection is especially important because osteoporosis is a global epidemic. According to figures from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (OIF), this disease affects more than 200 million women around the world and causes a fracture every three seconds. Furthermore, according to projections of the Agency, 1990 to 2050 the number of hip fractures in Latin America will have increased 400% in the population aged 50 to 64, and 700 per cent among adults over age 65.
Likewise, the World Health Organization warns that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death of elderly women.
Healthy menopause
The DRA. Jáuregui offers some recommendations to enjoy a healthy life after age 50:
1. Do at least one hour of exercise daily.
2 Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (about 5 servings per day) and decrease intake of flours and sugars.
3. Use sunscreen on a daily basis.
4 Avoid the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol.
5. Consult your doctor about the best option for hormone replacement therapy, taking into account their physical condition and clinical background.
