WHAT WOMEN WANT FROM HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY - RESULTS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SURVEY

Objectives: To find out what women in France, Germany and the UK want from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Methods. A questionnaire sent to almost 2000 women in France, Germany and the UK followed up by more detailed interviews with 100 women from each country. Results: From t he questionnaire sent to 1871 women aged 48-55 years in France, German y and the UK, it was found that 72% had not used HRT. The main reason for this seemed to be the prescribing physician who did not mention or recommend HRT. Some cultural differences were apparent. For example, in the UK 10% of the women did not use HRT because of perceived contra indications while the corresponding figures in France and Germany were 20% and 23%, respectively. Fear of side-effects was most common in Ge rmany (20%), followed by the UK (14%) and much less in France (8%). In the detailed interviews with 100 women from each country, based on th eir menopausal status and the fact that they had received HRT, it was found that the main motivating factor was a desire to avoid the effect s of ageing and prevent osteoporosis. In spite of their expectations b eing largely met, about one-third of the women sampled stopped taking HRT, mainly due to a dislike of breakthrough bleeding. Conclusions: Th e women who took HRT generally found it a positive experience and wome n who did use it derived considerable benefit. However, the main deter minant whether HRT was used or not was the attitude of the patient's p hysician.