Press Release on SARS in Pregnancy
Press Release on The Risks of Hormone Therapy in Postmenopausal Women
Joint Press Statement on Misunderstanding about HRT
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| Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong |
JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT
| For immediate release | March 22 2002 |
Misunderstanding About Hormone Replacement Therapy Sparks "Unnecessary Fear and Worry" Say Hong Kong's Leading Women's Health Authorities
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Remains a Safe Treatment Option When Administered Correctly
Responding to a spate of inaccurate claims about health risks associated with HRT, the Hong Kong
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists together with the Hong Kong Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society today reassured women that HRT is safe when administered correctly under medical supervision.
Women who have been properly assessed by their doctors and placed on HRT as an appropriate form of treatment during and after menopause should not over-react to those inaccurate reports and should continue their treatment in consultation with their doctor.
The College has published guidelines for doctors on the use of HRT. It urged women to obtain the facts on this very important public health issue and should not simply discontinue the use without consulting their doctor.
Recent news reports have been based on information provided by certain sources, which was either inaccurate or incomplete, and this has led to a lot of unnecessary fear and worry among patients.
HRT is useful in relieving many of the symptoms and discomfort caused by the onset of menopause which occurs when women stop producing the hormone estrogen. Symptoms of estrogen loss may include hot flushes, difficult intercourse, sleep disturbances, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and urinary problems. Over time, the loss of estrogen in the body can also lead to bone loss (osteoporosis) that predisposes to women to fractures of the spine and hip.
HRT has been a treatment option worldwide for over 50 years and has been proven effective. For many women HRT is the best treatment and the appropriate treatment.
Clinical studies conducted abroad indicate that women with no history of coronary illness receiving HRT are not at any greater risk of developing heart disease or stroke after menopause than women of the same age who aren't receiving HRT. In fact, most studies in healthy women suggest that the use of HRT protects women against future heart disease. Claims made about increased risk of heart attack relate to studies done on women who already have heart disease. To date, the College confirms that there is no published scientific data indicating that HRT will increase the risk of heart disease in normal women. But recent news reports have incorrectly suggested that all women may be at increased risk of heart disease, causing much unnecessary worry and fear. This is just undesirable and regrettable.
| Dr. L.C. Ho President Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
Dr. Dominic Li President The Obstetrical and Gynaecological Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong |
For further information please contact: The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Ph: 2871-8700) or The Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong (Ph: 2845-8228)
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| 香港婦產科學院 | 香港婦產科學會 |
聯合聲明
香港婦女健康權威表示
賀爾蒙補充療法使用得當非常安全
公眾毋須產生不必要的恐慌和憂慮
香港 2002年3月22日------ 鑑於最近有關賀爾蒙補充療法危害健康的廣泛及不實報導，香港婦產科學院和香港婦產科學會今天向婦女重申，只要在醫生的正確指導下，賀爾蒙補充療法十分安全。
經醫生適當評估後接受賀爾蒙補充療法醫治更年期症狀的婦女，實在毋須對這些不正確的報導反應過敏，應繼續在醫生的指引下接受治療。
學院已有一套就賀爾蒙補充療法的醫生指引，並呼籲婦女深入了解這個重要的健康議題，而不應在未諮詢醫生前終止治療。
最近的新聞報導所依據的資料失實及未能反映事實的全部，但已引起很多不必要的恐慌和憂慮。本學院及學會對此感到不安及遺憾。
當婦女踏入更年期賀爾蒙分泌便會減少，引致種種不適。補充性賀爾蒙治療就是解決更年期症狀的有效方法。賀爾蒙流失引起的症狀包括發潮熱、性生活問題(包括性慾減低、陰道乾燥、行房時感痛楚等)、失眠、異常疲倦、精神難以集中及小便因難等。長遠而言，賀爾蒙的流失更會提高患上某些疾病──例如骨質疏鬆症引致骨折的風險。
賀爾蒙補充療法已在全球使用超過50年，證實十分有效，對於很多婦女而言，這是最佳和最適當的治療。
外國的臨床研究指出，正常健康的婦女如接受賀爾蒙補充療法，在更年期後患上心臟病或中風的風險，並不會較同齡而沒有接受治療的婦女為高。最近有關賀爾蒙補充療法會提高心臟病及中風風險的指控，研究對象只是有心臟病病史的婦女。直至目前為止，香港婦產科學院證實並未有正式發表的科學數據顯示賀爾蒙補充療法會提高正常婦女患上心臟病的風險。相反地大部份研究報告顯示在正常婦女身上，服用賀爾蒙補充療法可以預防心臟病。然而，最近的新聞報導卻錯誤地指出所有婦女患上心臟病的風險都會提高，因而導致很多不必要的憂慮和恐慌。本學院及學會對整件事件感到不安及遺憾。
| 何樓章醫生 香港婦產科學院院長 |
李福謙醫生 香港婦產科學會會長 |
| 查詢詳情，請聯絡 : 香港婦產科學院 電話: 2871 8700 香港婦產科學會 電話: 2845 8228 |