A panel of experts in menopause has reexamined the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for menopausal women, highlighting issues with current FDA warning labels and access to treatment. The meeting, organized by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, aimed to discuss education and access to hormone replacement therapy.
The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study found that hormone therapy carries a risk of breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke. However, experts argue that this warning is not universally applicable to all forms of hormone therapy.
Heather Hirsch, M.D., MS, emphasized the importance of understanding the differences between conjugated equine estrogen and 17 beta estradiol, the most potent form of human estrogen. She stressed that clinicians may receive inadequate training in menopause education, leading to gaps in care.
Osteoporosis is a significant concern during menopause, with approximately 70% of hip fractures occurring in women. However, only 4% of women in the US currently take estrogen for osteoporosis due to fear of warning labels.
Experts also highlighted the lack of access to testosterone therapy as part of hormone replacement regimens. Kelly Casperson, M.D., argued that the FDA is failing women by denying access to a naturally produced hormone.
The meeting aimed to address these issues and promote education and access to hormone therapy for menopausal women. As one expert noted, “Picture 108 million women energized, focused and ambitious… That’s the country we want our children to grow up in.”
Source: https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/fda-panel-challenges-hormone-replacement-therapy-risks