The Role of Hormone Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

ABSTRACT

The use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HT) to prevent bone loss has long been considered as one of the major indications for its use. Following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative study in 20031 the role of HT for the prevention of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease has been questioned with the majority of the guidelines emanating from menopause societies recommending that the primary role of HT; be it estrogen only (E) or estrogen with progestin (E/P); is the alleviation of the symptoms of early menopause and that it should be used in the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. In the years since the publication of the WHI results there have been publications from sub-studies and re-analyses of WHI as well as publications on the use of different products and different modes of delivery of estrogen and progestin. The current status of HT therefore needs to be re-evaluated in the light of these more recent publications