Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormones are a set of chemical substances which exist inside the body and regulate a number of critical life functions. As a result of various changes in bodily condition, the responsible organs may fail to produce sufficient or any hormones and this can result in negative health outcomes. For example, menopause inhibits the production of estrogen and this can result in hot flushes and more serious symptoms. In certain cases, medical practitioners will recommend replacement of the hormone from an external source as a means of treating the undesirable symptoms. The production of hormones has generally resulted from synthesizing cognate hormones from animals and treating them appropriately before introducing them into the patient's body.

However, improvements in scientific and pharmaceutical technology make it possible for entirely artificially created hormones to be used in the future. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) overall represents a large economic opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to exploit and, consequently, there has been some controversy concerning the motivations for some medical practitioners to prescribe HRT and the incentives they might be receiving to influence their decisions.

HRT most commonly takes the form of a combination of estrogen and progestin. The purpose of the treatment is generally to reduce the symptoms of postmenopausal health, but the operations of hormones within the body are so complex and multivalent that the reintroduction of hormones can have many different and often unpredictable effects. These may be either positive or negative. Positive side effects can include strengthening of the bones and reduction of the risk of colon cancer. Negative side effects include elevated risks of cardiovascular disease and breast and other types of cancer, stroke, blood clots, and dementia. Some of the promised positive side effects of HRT, which include better self-esteem through enhanced beauty and sex life have not fully materialized. Some research has also shown that postmenopausal symptoms may have been overstated and that those women who do suffer from them may not obtain the level of relief that had been promised. As a result, many doctors now follow the policy that only HRT should only be prescribed when the woman concerned is suffering symptoms of vaginal dryness, hot flushes, or insomnia to such an extent that they significantly affect quality of life. An alternative prescription may also be offered if the risk of osteoporosis is deemed to be sufficient.

However, there are many occasions on which the woman is left without a clear direction, because symptoms might be present but bearable, at least periodically, while the risks of the treatment may appear possibly worse. In these cases, the woman may have to bear the responsibility for the decision personally and this might be an onerous burden, especially if the woman feels intimidated by the medical experts and the other aspects of the environment. The revelations of the research findings which occurred over the past few years have proved to be rather disturbing to those who have been receiving HRT or had been considering doing so. Trust in the medical profession has been shaken to some extent and the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry has also been further affected.

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