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Long-Term HRT BenefitsBecause short-term HRT is useful for treating menopausal symptoms, most women have their initial experience with HRT for treatment of hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. But the potential for benefit with HRT goes beyond symptom relief, particularly for a number of conditions that have long-term health implications. The data relating to osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are well established. Preventive efforts, including HRT, can forestall some of these diseases and can preserve quality of life. Women should be counseled about the benefits and risks of continuing treatment after symptom management so they can make an informed decision about whether to reap or forgo the other benefits of HRT.Because short- and long-term therapy have different rationales, the counseling for each may occur separately, although ideally, they would occur together. In any event, it is important to begin a discussion of long-term benefits by the time a woman is taking HRT for symptom relief. It is also an appropriate time to begin making an assessment of a woman's risk for osteoporosis and CVD.
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