Many Women Lack Information About Estrogen Use

For Release at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday Nov. 11
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Many Women Lack Information About Estrogen Use for Osteoporosis Prevention

Two-thirds of women surveyed did not understand that estrogen replacement therapy is an important way to combat osteoporosis, according to research presented at the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals National Scientific Meeting Nov. 8-12 in San Diego, Calif.

Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone mass and strength, which leads to fractures, usually of the spine and hip. It is the major cause of bone fractures in older people, particularly women. Decreased estrogen production after menopause has been shown to trigger rapid bone loss. Estrogen replacement is one of the most common and most effective treatments for women with low bone mass or rapid post-menopausal bone loss.

Researchers asked 209 women in North Carolina if they knew of anything that may help to prevent osteoporosis. One-third of the respondents mentioned estrogen, even though over half of them were using estrogen supplements. When women using estrogen supplements were asked why they use them, only one-fourth of the women gave osteoporosis prevention as a reason. Nearly one-fifth gave 'following doctor's advice' as the sole reason for taking estrogen supplements.

"These findings suggest that many women lack information about the reasons for long-term estrogen use," said lead investigator Susan J. Blalock, PhD. "Better counseling by health care providers concerning the risks and benefits of estrogen is needed to enable women to make informed decisions in this area."

The Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals is the professional organization for non-physician health care professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on this meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/educ/nm98/nm98.html.

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