Menopause and HRT Then and Now

Menopause is the onset of secondary amenorrhea that signifies the end of reproductive life. However, in addition to signifying the end of reproductive life and menstruation, it also signifies a key period of transition where women experience numerous disruptive effects of hormonal changes associated with menopause. Today these hormonal changes are increasingly well understood while improved healthcare standards and longer life expectancy means that women are spending a growing number of life years beyond this crucial transition event. Since its' invention, hormone replacement (HRT) has helped millions of women through this difficult transition and helped improve their quality of life beyond menopause. However, when evidence emerged in 2003 on the unacceptable increase in breast cancer resulting from hormone replacement, perception of hormone replacement changed dramatically. The use of HRT plummeted in most countries around the world as popular media gave widespread coverage to the new findings. As a result millions of women around either denied or were denied access to HRT. It was only recently that the claims linking HRT to significantly increased risk of breast cancer were re-examined. Results of this re-examination pointed to significant gaps in the original research and concluded that the claims of widely publicized 2003 study were in fact, unsubstantiated. With the publication of these findings, HRT has experienced a resurgence. Various organizations has since made contributions to the safe use of HRT, most significant of which include the “Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy” by the International Menopause Society.