Menopause

5.2. Effectiveness of short-term use

Hot flashes and sweats

Oestrogen-based HT can reduce hot flashes and sweats quite a lot for many women [11]. But even for HT, there is no guarantee that they will go away completely. However, hot flashes if they continue are generally less severe [42],[43].

This effect on symptoms comes mostly from trials that lasted between three and six months. Women were taking oral HT, but patches might be just as effective [42].

When the results of these trials are looked at together, it shows that out of 10 women with hot flashes who take oestrogen-based therapy, after three to six months:

  • About 2 of the women will still have hot flashes (15%)
  • About 8 o fthe women will no longer have hot flashes (85%)

But a large part of this reduction is not because of the hormones. The trials show that for about 5 out of 10 women who did not take HT, the hot flashes went away by themselves:

proportions

Grey figure Women whose hot flashes would have stopped anyway
White figure Women whose hot flashes stop because of HT
Green figure Women who still have hot flashes despite taking HT

Combined oestrogen therapy often cause vaginal bleeding or spotting, a bit like light periods. Some women find this bleeding so annoying that they stop taking HT because of that. HT can also cause breast tenderness or soreness [42],[44].

Other symptoms

The question of whether or not HT can relieve other menopausal symptoms than hot flashes and sweats has not been so well studied. Researchers do not agree on whether HT can improve sex lives and influence incontinence (inability to control urine) or overall quality of life. [11],[45]. It is possible that women who are being woken at night by hot flashes get more sleep thanks to HT. That might improve quality of life.

Body weight

Women gain a bit of weight as they get older. Studies show that weight increases whether or not women use HT [46]. The drugs do not cause weight gain, but they also cannot stop it.

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  • Created (German version): February 14th 2006 10:00
  • Last update: September 17th 2007 14:51
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