"This is an important first step, but there are still many unanswered questions about hormone therapy, dosage and delivery options," Sherry Marts, Ph.D., SWHR vice president for scientific affairs, said. "Clearly more research must be done in order to provide women with other treatment options for relief of menopausal symptoms and prevention of bone loss."
"Today, an estimated ten million postmenopausal women in the U.S. use combination hormone therapy products, while others have chosen not to. No matter which alternative women choose, they should have the best information available as they make the decision for their own, individual health," she said.
Launched this month, the FDA campaign provides women with the following:
- General information about benefit and risk factors of menopausal hormone therapy.
- Questions that women can ask in discussion with their health professional to determine if menopausal hormone therapy is right for them.
- Actions women can take to improve their overall health.
Information is available in both English and Spanish from the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) at www.4woman.gov.
The Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to improve the health of women through research. Founded in 1990, the Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the resulting need for more information about conditions affecting women. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health, encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies. Visit the Society's Web site at www.womens-health.org for more information.