In a study done on the risks and benefits of short-term use of hormone therapy in menopausal women it was found that women can increase their quality of life, but they may also shorten their life expectancy if they use hormone therapy.
Deciding whether or not to use hormone therapy can be a difficult decision. Hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, but are the risks worth the benefits? Question researchers . In a recent study conducted researchers investigated the precise risks and benefits of short-term hormone therapy .For the study, researchers developed a Web-based computer model to simulate the effects of two years of hormone therapy use. They looked at life expectancy and the improved quality of life among 50-year-old menopausal women. The computer model was based on findings from the Women’s Health Initiative, a 15-year-long research project.
It was observed that for women without any menopausal symptoms, short term hormone therapy resulted in a net loss in life expectancy and quality of life expectancy of one to three months. Women with symptoms gained seven to eight months of improved quality of life, but a shortened overall survival.
Researchers conclude saying that short-term hormone therapy can be both harmful and beneficial. The decision to use it depends on a woman’s treatment goals. If the goal is to maximize the quality of life, then hormone therapy is beneficial. However, if the goal is to live longer, they do not recommend hormone therapy.
