Abstract

ZULETA, John Jairo. Current view of the hormone replacement therapy in the postmenopausal woman. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2005, vol.56, n.1, pp.46-58. ISSN 0034-7434.

For most part of the last decade the results of the WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) were expected with the purpose of obtaining more conclusive information about the uses of Hormonal Replacement Therapy in the postmenopausal patients. But for most people’s surprise since July 2002 different reports based on that study have appeared in the medical literature with results different than expected to the prior beliefs we had concerning the risks and benefits to these therapies. The criticism and possible explanations to these results did not wait and were manifested almost immediately and all we have left today is a confusion of big proportions to this respect not only for healthcare professionals but most important for the patients. In this present article a revision of the relevant statistic methods employed is made as well as an analysis of the probable explanations of the people’s reluctance to accept the results. It is concluded that the study has an internal validity, its results are important and the possibility to compare them with other situations is high. It is also concluded that for the moment the only acceptable indication for Hormonal Replacement Therapy is in the control of the vasomotor symptoms and that it is necessary to wait for the results of future studies before accepting other similar therapies as a valid option for the patient.

Keywords : hormone replacement therapy; postmenopause.

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