Prempro

Mangione's panel called for a new study to fill the knowledge gaps about treating menopausal symptoms, which it identified as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and a possibility of sleep disturbances.

The study should compare the long-term risks and benefits of three to five years of treatment with low-dose hormone therapy, the panel said.

Participants should represent a variety of ethnic groups and body sizes to determine the role of such factors in menopausal symptoms and treatment.

"These are very expensive studies to undertake," Mangione acknowledged.

"At the same time, this is a condition that affects a lot of women in the United States." Cynthia Pearson, executive director of the National Women's Health Network, praised the panel's push for more research.

"Women can make very good decisions about their own health if they have very good information on which to base those decisions," Pearson said.

The full text of the panel's draft statement is available online at consensus.nih.gov.

The final version of the statement will be available at the same Web address in about four weeks.-start data for usatc appM...

Read more...