ESTROGEN THERAPY FOR POSTMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Menopausal symptoms are noted as estrogen deficiency affects target ti ssues during the climacteric and after menopause. With estrogen replac ement therapy (ERT), clinical signs, such as vasomotor symptoms and ge nitourinary atrophy, abate. Estrogen replacement therapy protects agai nst the development of osteoporosis and is used in its treatment. In a ddition, ERT has a positive effect on serum lipids and appears to be p rotective against coronary heart disease. More than 75% of all women e xperience troublesome vasomotor symptoms during the climacteric years, and osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in postm enopausal women. In the United States, the current annual cost of trea ting patients with osteoporosis is $10 billion dollars. With the aging of the baby boom generation, it is estimated that osteoporosis-associ ated costs may double in the next 30 years if interventions are not un dertaken to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis. It is therefore impo rtant for pharmacists and other health care practitioners to educate w omen about ERT after menopause to reduce the risks of vasomotor sympto ms, osteoporosis, and other problems. The incidence, etiology, symptom s, and therapeutic measures used to reduce vasomotor symptoms are disc ussed, and updates on pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, and t reatment of osteoporosis, with an emphasis on ERT, are reviewed.