HRT accepted as Best Treatment for Menopause - doctors agree at last

What is the best way to treat the Menopause with Bio Identical HRT?

Although Professor John Studd has been saying this for years in his articles for totalhealth , there is now at last consensus confirming that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective available treatment for menopause. The statement was released in order to clarify years of confusion among doctors and patients.

Getting the best advice on HRT for treating Menopause

HRT when correctly prescribed is associated with fewer fractures, less colon cancer, fewer heart attacks, possibly less breast cancer and certainly fewer deaths. There is a good case for saying that it should be a first line therapy.

In his article, Prof Studd says, “In my view, the best method of taking bioidentical hormones would be Oestrogel, 2-3 measures daily with the possible addition of transdermal testosterone gel and then Utrogestan 100 mgs daily for the first 7 days of each calendar month. This would bring about a regular scanty bleed on about the 10^th day of each calendar month.”

 The consensus statement was issued by the following professional societies:

• The American Society for Reproductive Medicine,
• The Asia Pacific Menopause Federation,
• The Endocrine Society, the European Menopause and Andropause Society,
• The International Menopause Society,
• The International Osteoporosis Foundation, and
• The North American Menopause Society.

Menopause and Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT tends to be most effective when under 60 or within 10 years after menopause in terms of relief of menopause symptoms and also for preventing osteoporosis-related fractures, the statement indicated.

The consensus recommendations include:

• Patients under 60 or within 10 years after menopause, oestrogen-alone HRT at standard doses, "may decrease coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality."
• Low-dose topical oestrogen is for women whose menopause symptom are vaginal dryness or discomfort during intercourse
• Following a hysterectomy oestrogen-only HRT is preferred
• Custom-compounded "bioidentical" hormone therapy is not recommended.

The concensus statement also stresses that the option over HRT is down to patient choice. Appropriate treatment needs to take into consideration the patient's own personal preferences, age, time since menopause and risk factors for adverse outcomes. Hormone doses and therapy duration should also be individualized for the patient.