Study reveals sharp decline in menopausal hormone therapy use among U.S. women, with significant disparities across racial and ethnic groups over the past two decades.
Study: Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among Postmenopausal Women . Image Credit: adriaticfoto/Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum , researchers investigated the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) by postmenopausal American women in recent decades.
Their findings highlight the decline in MHT use in the United States during the past 20 years across ethnic, racial, and age groups. Background Studies suggest that each year, about 1.3 million women experience menopause, with an estimated 80% of these people being affected by cognitive changes, sleep difficulties, genitourinary issues, and vasomotor changes such as night sweats and hot flashes.
For 30%, the symptoms are severe, with vasomotor issues being particularly disruptive. Research has shown that MHT is an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, particularly for genitourinary and vasomotor issues. However, while MHT prescriptions increased in the 1990s after studies showed benefits for heart health, there are indications that its use has declined since 2002, when a well-known clinical trial found that it did not improve heart health and that the risks of the therapy could outweigh the benefits.
Further studies showed that the effects of MHT are linked to the type of hormone used as well as dosage, timing, and age. Clinic.