Thoughts on Hormone Treatment Guidelines

Dr. Allmen’s Comments:  Yesterday, the United States Preventive Services Task Force issues it’s updated statement regarding it’s views on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). They said that Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not recommended for preventing chronic disease among post-menopausal women, as the health risks it poses outweigh its likely benefits. The statement, published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, does not apply to the use of HRT for managing symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Nor does it apply to women younger than 50 who have had a hysterectomy. My view of this is: Let’s not take a 10 year step backward when the Women’s Health Initiative results caused many younger, symptomatic menopausal women to suffer from menopause symptoms because their fear was greater than their understanding of the real risks, which are very small in this group. As far as using hormone therapy as a younger menopausal woman without hot flashes, solely for the purpose of preventing heart disease and osteoporosis, it is increasingly clear that this younger group of menopausal women would derive benefit with very little risk as well.

Tara Allmen, MD Credentials:
– Board Certified Gynecologist and Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner
– New York City’s Leading Expert In Menopause
– President, North American Menopause Society Foundation
– Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
– New York City’s Top Gynecologist, 2015
– Five Star Rating From Doctor’s Choice Awards
– Five Star Rating From HealthGrades