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CHAPTER SUMMARY FROM THE PHARMACOTHERAPY HANDBOOK
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For the Chapter in the Schwinghammer Handbook, please go to Chapter 31, Hormone Therapy.
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KEY CONCEPTS
The decision to use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and the type of formulation used must be individualized based on several factors, including personal preference, age, menopause onset, the severity of menopausal symptoms, and the risks of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporotic fracture, and venous thromboembolic events (VTE).
Menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment option for alleviating moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms.
Cardiovascular disease—including coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease—is the leading cause of death among females, but MHT should not be used for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The risk of breast cancer associated with MHT is associated with the addition of progestogen therapy to estrogen. Use of estrogen alone does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Use of MHT at doses lower than those prescribed prior to the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study is effective in reducing bone loss and managing menopausal symptoms.
Use of transdermal MHT is preferred over oral preparations due to lower risk of thrombosis, and possibly stroke and coronary artery disease.
Because of the increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer with estrogen monotherapy (ie, unopposed estrogen), use of systemic estrogen in individuals with an intact uterus must always be accompanied by progestogen or tissue-selective estrogen complex (estrogen-bazedoxifene) for endometrial protection.
In individuals experiencing postmenopausal symptoms, initiation of systemic estrogen therapy should generally be limited to those younger than 60 years of age or within 10 years of menopause onset.
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BEYOND THE BOOK
Create a table that compares and contrasts the three main formulations of estrogen: oral, transdermal, and vaginal. Suggested characteristics for comparison include name, dose, efficacy in treating symptoms of menopause, and common and major adverse effects. Summarize the major advantages and disadvantages of each formulation.
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Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses following the loss of ovarian follicular activity. It is a natural life event, not a disease, as all females undergo menopause, and each experiences it differently. Natural menopause occurs in stages including perimenopause (in the 5th decade), menopause, and postmenopause (1 year after menopause and beyond). Induced menopause can be experienced any time before natural menopause with bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries) or iatrogenic ablation of ovarian function (eg, chemotherapy, pelvic radiation). Symptoms of menopause can vary widely with induced menopause typically causing more severe symptoms. Due to the variability in duration, severity, and presence of menopausal symptoms, treatment should be individualized with treatment goals and decisions established in a shared decision-making process. In general, discussions around menopause and its treatment are primarily framed around cisgender women. However, any individual with a female reproductive system who has not undergone medical interventions may experience ...