Postmenopausal hormone therapy: impact on menopause-related symptoms, chronic disease and quality of life.

Quality of life in climacteric and postmenopausal women is often compromised. This overview addresses the many factors that may interfere with health and well-being in such women. Hormonal changes during the menopausal transition, finally resulting in estrogen deficiency, play a pivotal role in the incidence of climacteric symptoms and also in the development of chronic diseases. Such symptoms and diseases can contribute to impaired quality of life in climacteric and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) is the treatment of first choice to alleviate symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Besides effectively relieving climacteric symptoms and complaints, PHT can also protect against some chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis and colorectal cancer. Presently, available PHTs vary widely in type, estrogen and progestogen dosage, and route and duration of administration. Furthermore, the number of alternatives to treat climacteric symptoms, and/or to prevent chronic diseases, has increased. Therefore, doctors involved in the care of climacteric women in the 21st century are much more able to meet the specific needs of individual patients and improve health and quality of life.