Article Abstract:
Physicians may need to follow certain guidelines in counseling postmenopausal women who are considering hormone therapy. Hormone therapy consists of treatment with estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progestin to prevent disorders such as osteoporosis and coronary heart disease. Some women may undergo hormone therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause. Patients should understand both the benefits and risks of hormone therapy before beginning any type of treatment. The main disadvantages of hormone therapy include an increased risk of breast cancer or endometrial cancer in women with a uterus. Physicians should work with each individual patient to develop a workable treatment plan. Women receiving hormone therapy should undergo regular check-ups and a yearly mammogram. They should also be taught the warning signs of endometrial cancer such as vaginal bleeding and how to do routine breast self examinations.
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Article Abstract:
Sociological and demographic characteristics appear to strongly influence the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Researchers determined that 38% of 495 women examined were taking hormones after menopause. College graduates and women living in the South and West were more likely to be taking hormones than non-graduates and women in the Northeast. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were not associated with hormone replacement therapy.
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Article Abstract:
Women who have a history of normal Pap smears can stop having regular Pap smears after menopause. In a study of 2,561 postmenopausal women who continued to have Pap smears, all but one of the 110 abnormal results were false positive results. Hormone use did not affect the rate of abnormal smears.
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