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Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 6773& 2005 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved 1362-4393/05 $30.00www.nature.com/scReviewHormone replacement therapy in women with spinal cord injury
a survey with literature reviewS Khong1, G Savic*,2, BP Gardner2 and F Ashworth11Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks, UK;2National SpinalInjuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks, UKStudy design: Postal questionnaire survey.Objective: To examine the current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in a sample of
menopausal women with spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting: National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC), Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
Method: A postal questionnaire was sent to 94 women from the NSIC patient database who
met the study inclusion criteria (wheelchair dependent, aged 49 years and above, last seen or
heard from within the last 3 years).Results: A total of 59 valid questionnaires were analysed. At the time of the survey, 50 women
were menopausal and 11 of them were using HRT, sixfor menopausal symptoms and ve for
osteoporosis prevention. Another 11 had used HRT, eight for menopausal symptoms and three
for osteoporosis prevention, but had discontinued it. The main reasons for stopping HRT were
side eects. Of the 28 women who had never been on HRT, 20 had either enquired about it, or
had been oered HRT, but decided against it. Of the nine women who were still premenopausal
at the time of the survey, four would consider using HRT.Conclusions: Results show that 44% of the menopausal women in our sample have used HRT
at some point and 22% still do, mostly for treatment of menopausal symptoms and for
osteoporosis prevention. In view of the latest literature ndings in able-bodied women, use of
HRT for osteoporosis prevention in women with SCI may have to be reconsidered.
Sponsorship: Partly supported by the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Charitable Fund.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 6773. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101694; Published online 30 November 2004Keywords: spinal cord injury; osteoporosis; menopause; hormone replacement therapyIntroductionA woman is deemed to be postmenopausal if her last
menstrual period occurred 12 or more months ago.1 The
menopause is associated with symptoms such as hot
ushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, emotional
instability, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness as well
as increased risks of osteoporosis and cardiovascular
disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been
used widely over the past few decades by...