title: Women's opinion on withdrawal bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.
abstract: The objective of the study was to assess the opinion of women about the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in relation to continuation or re-induction of bleeding periods after menopause. The design was a population-based cross-sectional study using a postnatal questionnaire in Krimpen aan den IJssel, a commuter suburb of Rotterdam. The participants were all 2729 women living in Krimpen aan den IJssel aged 45-60 years, of whom 1947 (71.3%) responded. The main outcome measure was an opinion on monthly or trimonthly withdrawal bleedings with HRT. The results showed 16.9% of all women have no or little objection to use of HRT with monthly withdrawal bleedings. There is a marked difference between premenopausal women (32.4% have no or little objection) and postmenopausal women (only 9.2% have no or little objection). Trimonthly cycles during HRT tend to be perceived as more acceptable (41.4% of premenopausal women and 11.8% of postmenopausal women have no or little objection). It is concluded that a reasonable proportion of premenopausal women accept continuation of periodic bleeding with HRT. There is a preference for trimonthly cycles rather than monthly withdrawal bleedings. Most postmenopausal women object to having withdrawal bleedings with HRT, irrespective of a monthly or trimonthly cycle. Research should continue on schedules without withdrawal bleedings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Elkerliek Hospital, Helmond, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barentsen
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Groeneveld
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bareman
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hoes
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dokter
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Drogendijk
mesh_terms: D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017698:Postmenopause; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*