Health-related quality of life and hormone replacement therapy

Abstract

With increasing recognition of the limitations of the traditional indicators of health, health-related quality of life (HRQL) has emerged as a pivotal outcome when evaluating the effects of new or existing therapies because the patients’ subjective response to therapy can be evaluated. HRQL outcomes have become increasingly accepted because they have equal meaning for the lay public, health professionals and policy makers. Assessing the impact of a condition on HRQL is particularly relevant in symptomatic conditions such as the menopause. Around the menopause, changes at several levels may affect mental health: hormonal and menstrual changes, the occurrence of vasomotor symptoms, and psychological reactions. In addition, postmenopausal women have to deal with the transition into mid- and later life and loss of reproductive potential. Other difficulties include social stresses, such as children leaving home, problems at the workplace, marital stresses relating to midlife transition, and physical illness of self, partner or parents.