CHANGES IN THE USE OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN SOUTH-AUSTRALIA

Objective: To determine changes in the use of hormone replacement ther apy (HRT) in South Australia between 1991 and 1993. Design and setting : Survey of women aged 40 years and over, as part of the 1991 and 1993 South Australian Health Omnibus Surveys (household interviews); 868 w ere interviewed in 1991 and 790 in 1993. Outcome measures: Rates of HR T use. Results: In 1993, 19.0% of women aged 40 years and over were ta king HRT and 28.5% had ever taken it (currently or in the past). The h ighest rates were in the 50-54 years age group (46.2% current use and 57.8% ever use). Between 1991 and 1993 there was a 40% increase in the number of women taking HRT and a significant increase (P<0.01) in the median duration of therapy, from 38 to 54 months. There were also sig nificant increases in rates of use by country women and Australian bor n women (P<0.01). Premarin and Provera remained the most commonly used products in 1993. Conclusion: Australian perimenopausal women are inc reasingly using HRT. This may reflect recent educational programs on t he menopause for both health professionals and the public, and also an increasing number of choices of therapy.