Huge drop in HRT over cancer fears

THERE has been a dramatic decrease in the number of women seeking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) since studies established that the most common form increased the risk of breast cancer.

The Well Woman Centre saw a 40% drop in the number of women seeking HRT since 2002, a figure that also reflects trends in other European countries.

In August 2002, a US study showed that women on HRT were at increased risk of stroke by 41%, of heart attack by 29% and breast cancer by up to 26%.

Almost one year later, a British study found that women taking the most common form of HRT, combined oestrogen/progesterone therapy, were twice as likely to develop breast cancer as women who were not on HRT.

Medical director of the Well Woman Centre, Dr Shirley McQuade, said the studies meant fewer women wished to start HRT and those on HRT tended to take it for shorter periods than previously.

Dr McQuade attended an international meeting on women’s health recently and discovered that other countries had experienced the same decrease in the number of women being prescribed HRT.

“Quite a number of women came off HRT two to three years ago and women are now choosing not to use HRT to deal with hot flushes and night sweats,” she said.

She pointed out, however, that women who experience a premature menopause (when menstruation stops) were still being advised to continue using HRT until their early 50s.

Dr McQuade said HRT had been a very popular medication but many women were now finding a sensible diet and exercise was all that was needed to cope.

And, she said, there were other medications now available to cope with some of the symptoms associated with the menopause.

The Well Woman Clinic has also found that waiting times for appointments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the public hospital system were discouraging high-risk individuals from getting tested.

Waiting times for STI testing in public hospitals can be up to eight weeks, according to its 2004 annual report published yesterday.

The centre’s chief executive, Alison Began called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, to make STI screening a priority in any reform of the health services.

The report also highlights that the Dublin-based centre administered emergency contraception to almost 3,500 women, with the greatest demand coming from the 20-30 age bracket.

The centre estimates that more than 12% of those attending its service for emergency contraception on a Sunday are from outside Dublin, indicating that there may be some “worrying gaps in services provision around the country”.