Hormone therapy use after the Women's Health Initiative

A. H. MacLennan, A. W. Taylor, D. H. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To continue surveillance of hormone therapy (HT) use in an Australian population and to assess the impact of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and associated reports on HT use 16 months after the results of the WHI were first reported. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2003 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey, which involves a representative, population face-to-face interview survey. Data were compared to five surveys undertaken between 1991 and 2000, which had consistent methods and quality-control procedures. A total of 907 interviews were conducted with women over 40 years in their own homes by trained health interviewers. Results: In association with the timing of media reporting of the WHI, current HT use rates dropped from 28% in women over 50 years in 2000 to an estimated 10.2% in 2002. By October 2003, current use rates had returned to 18.8% in this age group. The media had been the main influence in the women's decision-making. Half of those who restarted therapy changed to another type of HT. Only 2.8% changed to an alternative/ complementary therapy. Conclusions: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those currently using HT in 2002 stopped therapy, mostly in response to the media reporting of the WHI. Nearly half of those who stopped HT in 2002 have since restarted. Media reporting greatly influences the use of hormonal therapies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)138-142
Number of pages5
JournalClimacteric
Volume7
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Jun 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Australia population study
  • Postmenopausal hormone therapy
  • Prevalence
  • Women's health initiative

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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