What are the Recent Concerns Regarding HT?

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) funded an important study of menopausal hormone therapy (HT). The study used a combination of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) and a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Although neither of these hormones is present in femhrt, which contains the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and the progestin norethindrone acetate. Other combinations and dosage forms of estrogen and progestins were not studied in the WHI study. In the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar. The study findings are important and a summary of the results of the WHI study is provided below.

Hormone risks. The study also showed that for every 10,000 women taking combined estrogen plus progestin, there would be eight more cases of breast cancer, seven more cases of heart disease, eight more cases of stroke, and eight more cases of blood clots in the lungs above the expected annual number.

The WHI Memory Study, a substudy within the WHI hormone program, looked at how estrogen and progestin affects women's thinking or cognition. The study found 23 more cases of dementia per year for every 10,000 women 65 and older taking that combination of hormones. It is unknown if these findings apply to women under the age of 65. Your healthcare provider can discuss what these results mean to you and answer any questions you may have.

Hormone benefits. The investigators found two important health benefits. They estimate that for every 10,000 women taking combined estrogen plus progestin each year, there would be about five fewer cases of hip fracture and six fewer cases of colorectal cancer compared with women taking placebo.

Reviewing your HT options with your healthcare provider
Before you initiate therapy, your heathcare provider will want to discuss your medical history and the benefits and risks associated with HT.

For treatment of menopausal symptoms, recent guidelines recommend the lowest effective dose for menopause for the shortest time. Low-Dose femhrt 0.5/2.5 offers the lowest effective dose for menopause with the same ingredients used in birth control pills for over 40 years.

If you and your healthcare provider decide HT is right for you, make a regular appointment (every three to six months) to review your progress and treatment decision.

Please see IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.

For more information, refer to the PATIENT PRODUCT INFORMATION.