Compliance with hormone replacement therapy in Thai women.
A retrospective study was performed to determine the compliance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the characteristics of women who continue to use HRT and the reasons for discontinuation. This study comprised of 821 postmenopausal women who attended the menopause clinic between January 1993 and December 1997. A total of 613 women (74.67%) were considered to be good compliant users. They had been on HRT for at least 1 year. Two hundred and eight women (25.33%) discontinued the treatment, with an average of 5.1 months duration of use. The younger age group at time of consultation and at menopause and those with previous hysterectomy were factors associated with higher degree of compliance. Its compliance decreased with age and the duration of menopause. The common reasons in the women's decision to discontinue HRT were bleeding episodes (23.08%), undesirable side effects (15.05%) and on physicians' advice (13.46%), respectively. Compliance with HRT appears to be similar to that reported in other specialist centres. Factors affecting compliance were age, age at menopause, duration of menopause, and hysterectomy. Irregular vaginal bleeding was the major reason for discontinuation.
Manonai
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. rajmo@mahidol.ac.th
Theppisai
U
U
Suchartwatnachai
C
C
Jetsawangsri
T
T
Chittacharoen
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced