HRT may improve sleep and sexuality

Studies have already shown how HRT can improve quality of life in general terms, such as the way patients feel or function.

Now a team led by Professor Alastair MacLennan, from the University of Adelaide, Australia, has examined the effect of the therapy on women aged 50 to 69 in relation to a range of specific health and wellbeing indicators.

This research, published by the British Medical Journal, shows women treated with HRT in trials showed significantly fewer hot flushes, night sweats, aching joints and muscles, insomnia, and vaginal dryness than those given a placebo.

The team examined obvious clinical outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, fractures and incidences of breast cancer. But the women were also asked a series of questions which were designed to assess physical and emotional components of health such as depressed mood, memory and concentration, sleep problems and sexual functioning.

After one year, the researchers found significant improvements in sexual functioning, sleep problems and what are known as vasomotor symptoms, like hot flushes and sweats.

In the paper, the authors said: "Combined HRT improves sleep, aches and pains, and sexual functioning. These gains can now be factored in to a woman's choice to use combined HRT.

"This benefit must be weighed against the overall short and long-term risks, which must be individualised for women based on years since menopause, medical history, and chosen regimen. Further research with appropriate measures is needed to assess more fully the impact of combined HRT on all aspects of health-related quality of life for postmenopausal women."

But other experts have urged caution. Professor Anne Kavanagh, director of the Key Centre for Women's Health in Society at the University of Melbourne, said: "The increased risk of serious diseases including breast cancer, coronary heart disease and blood clots with the use of combined oestrogen and progesterone therapy is now well established.

"While this study shows some short-term benefits of combined hormone therapy use on symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and joint pain it did not show overall improvements in overall quality of life or depression. In fact, the study found that quality of life was actually lower in the women taking hormone therapy in the first few months of commencing treatment."