THE USE OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY - RESULTS OF A COMMUNITY SURVEY

Hormone replacement therapy is used for both menopausal symptoms and i n prevention, but for the latter to be effective there may be a need t o promote its use. Suitable strategies need to be informed by current practice. A postal questionnaire was therefore sent to 1649 women aged 20-69 years in Stockton-on-Tees to assess which women consider and ta ke hormone replacement therapy. The response rate was 74%. Therapy had been considered by 346 (28%) women of whom 164 (47%) were premenopaus al. It was taken by 20% of women aged 45-65 years. Users were more lik ely to have taken the contraceptive pill. Use of therapy by women with osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease, or with a family history of t hese, was low. As women used to the idea of taking hormone replacement therapy and accustomed to taking the contraceptive pill reach menopau sal age there is likely to be an increase in uptake of therapy. By tar geting the 'at risk' groups of women, the primary care team may be abl e to make most effective use of the therapy and their own resources fo r the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.