Effect of the WHI study on the attitude of Israeli gynecologists to hormonal therapy during menopause.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the attitude of Israeli gynecologists to the use of hormonal therapy (HT) during menopause consequent to the recent publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study.


METHODS
Gynecologists present at the annual convention of the Israeli Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the community were asked to complete a 5-item questionnaire on their opinions regarding hormone therapy (HT) use in light of the WHI study.


RESULTS
Ninety-five percent of the physicians believed that HT is still a legitimate treatment modality during menopause, although almost 40% would now limit it to the management of climacteric symptoms. As a result of the WHI study, 65% of the physicians recommended cessation of HT use in up to 30% of their treated postmenopausal patients. The responders estimated that about 40% of their patients using HT ceased treatment on their own initiative following publication of the WHI study.


CONCLUSIONS
Both physicians and patients were clearly influenced by the WHI study. Today, HT is being reserved by most gynecologists in Israel for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and is not being used as a preventive measure against future complications of heart disease and osteoporosis.
Kaplan
B
B
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Yogev
Y
Y
Orvieto
R
R
Hirsch
M
M
Fisher
M
M
Rabinerson
D
D
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008593:Menopause; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires