Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Brings Better Quality of Life in Older Women?

Filed in archive Studies , Treatment , Women's Health on August 25, 2008

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 6552719

Aging can sometimes suck, now that I think about it. Especially for women. Menopause isn't easy I've read and been told. Sleeping problems, hot flashes and night sweats - I guess each and every woman dread those and we all are going to go through with it. Hormone replacement therapy - despite the previously reported downsides (such as increased mortality and increased risk of cancer and heart disease) - has been shown to relieve the symptoms of menopause and thereby providing a better quality of life to older women.

As recently reported in British Medical Journal by a major international study funded by British, Australian and New Zealand government research bodies: combined oestrogen and progestogen hormone replacement therapy showed overall improvement in quality of life.

The study found that 3 out of 4 women, who complained of night sweats and hot flushes, found that these symptoms had vanished after a year of HRT use and even in women who were well past menopause and did not suffer hot flushes, there was a noted improvement in sleep, sexuality and joint pain as a result of HRT use.

Professor Alastair MacLennan, leader of the Australian arm of WISDOM and head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide, Australia, says overall, quality of life improved, even when women did not have hot flushes and were well past menopause.

Could it (HRT) be the solution to women's woes in menopause and beyond? Read more about this latest findings on HRT.

In lieu of women's health, our diet is a big factor undoubtedly. Check out this article: 100 Best Foods For Women.