HRT – Fact or Fiction??
This is an excellent editorial on the rampant use of HRT in medicine. The article uses well referenced material to basically state that there is a paucity of evidence to support the use of HRT in peri and post-menopausal women and even less on the safety. So why are meds like Premarin so incredibly prevalent? The cynic that loves a Mac over an IBM would gladly give you the answer–good marketing… Remember that managing perimenopause does NOT require medications in the vast majority of women. Blunt the estrogen peaks with progesterone cream (downregulates the estrogen receptors) and fill in the valleys with some form of phytoestrogens (soy, black cohosh, licorice…).
December 2001 SMJ
