AgingResearch.NewsJoin free
Journal of Health Science and Reports

Hormone therapy linked to faster menopause symptom relief

At six months, symptom scores were an adjusted 6.4 points lower with hormone therapy than integrative care; at 24 months, the comparison found no clear difference.

Paper by Lucky Herawati, Agussalim Agussalim · Stikes Guna Bangsa · Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia
Groups of women stand beneath sparse or dense heat wisps, with a molecular shape beside one group and a leafy sprig and conversing pair beside the other.

Our read

Interventions
Studied:
Non-randomized trial in 500 women with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms, 24 months (Controlled)
What changed:
Menopause symptom scores were 6.4 points lower with hormone therapy than integrative care at six months
The catch:
The comparison did not separate the effects of individual integrative-care components
In the record:
The 506th paper on hormone replacement therapy with results in people; 987 on record in all.

Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper
Follow @agingbrief

Women aged 45–60 with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms participated in a prospective, comparative longitudinal study at six Indonesian hospitals. Of the 500 participants, 250 received combined hormone therapy. The other 250 received integrative care combining individualized lifestyle changes, talk therapy, mindfulness training and supplements containing plant compounds with estrogen-like effects. Researchers assessed symptoms and quality of life over 24 months.

Symptom scores fell in both groups. At six months, hormone therapy was associated with an adjusted symptom score 6.4 points lower than integrative care. At 24 months, the adjusted difference was −0.4 points; the range of likely values included no difference. Integrative-care participants had higher quality-of-life scores at 24 months, particularly for psychological well-being and social relationships, with differences of 8.2 and 8.3 points, respectively.

Why it matters

Menopausal symptoms can diminish quality of life in midlife. The authors recommend shared treatment decisions that account for women’s priorities, risk profiles and cultural context.

Caveats

Integrative care combined several approaches, so the comparison could not separate their individual contributions. The findings do not establish outcomes for women outside ages 45–60 or those with milder symptoms.

Comments

Be the first to comment.

More on Menopause Rating Scale