Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome 'Sapienza', Italy.
Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2013;76(1):38-43. doi: 10.1159/000351104. Epub 2013 May 24.
Prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) declined following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative study. The number of women who experience recurrence of menopausal symptoms after discontinuation of long-term HRT (LT-HRT), the length of time these symptoms last and the preferred alternative treatments remain unknown.
This prospective 3-year follow-up study analyses the prevalence and intensity of menopausal symptoms that occur in young postmenopausal women who discontinued LT-HRT. Symptoms were evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale.
Women (254) who discontinued LT-HRT (mean use: 6.9 ± 2.3 years) were recruited. Mean age at menopause was 48.1 ± 3.4 years. Mean age at discontinuation was 56.8 ± 3.7 years. 23% of the women were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 196 women, 93% experienced a recurrence of menopausal symptoms within the first year, 25% resumed low-dose HRT, 62% used vaginal estrogens, 54% used phytoestrogens, and 2% used alternative therapies. A decrease in symptom prevalence and intensity was observed during the 3-year follow-up.
Symptoms re-appeared in a significant proportion of patients within the first year after discontinuation of LT-HRT. However, after 3 years, the majority of these women were asymptomatic. Patients who discontinue LT-HRT may require a more detailed follow-up immediately after the discontinuation of treatment.
妇女健康倡议研究发表后，激素替代疗法（HRT）的处方量下降。长期 HRT（LT-HRT）停药后经历绝经症状复发的女性数量、这些症状持续的时间以及首选替代治疗方法仍不清楚。
这项前瞻性 3 年随访研究分析了停止 LT-HRT 的年轻绝经后妇女中发生的绝经症状的流行率和强度。使用绝经评定量表评估症状。
招募了停止 LT-HRT（平均使用时间：6.9 ± 2.3 年）的女性（254 名）。绝经的平均年龄为 48.1 ± 3.4 岁。停药的平均年龄为 56.8 ± 3.7 岁。有 23%的女性失访。在其余 196 名女性中，93%的女性在第一年出现绝经症状复发，25%恢复低剂量 HRT，62%使用阴道雌激素，54%使用植物雌激素，2%使用替代疗法。在 3 年的随访中，观察到症状的流行率和强度下降。
在 LT-HRT 停药后的第一年，相当一部分患者出现症状复发。然而，3 年后，这些女性中的大多数无症状。停止 LT-HRT 的患者在治疗停止后可能需要更详细的随访。
