Hormone therapy is an option available to address the concern and quality of life of peri-menopausal women. However, the treatment presents various benefits and risks. To this regard, the first advantage of hormone therapy is that it is the first-line of a cure for the management and prevention of osteoporosis risks in women who are under the age of 50 years but experiencing menopausal symptoms. The second benefit is that hormone therapy has a positive effect on the bone as well as the collagen. The reason is that it leads to a decreased osteoclastic resorption.
The risks, on the other hand, include first the ischaemic stroke, which may transpire in women taking combined hormone therapy or oral estrogen-only. For the women with considerable risk factors for stroke, the lowest effective dose should be prescribed because the effect of hormone therapy on stroke may be dose-related. Protection against pregnancy will be lost if drug metabolism is increased enough (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2016). There is also the risk of breast cancer. In the hormone therapy, the combination of progestin and estrogen may increase the risk of breast cancer compared to estrogen therapy alone (Ladwig & Ackley, 2017).
Hormone Therapy Outweighs the Risks
Arguably, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks, which is evident in many women. The rationale is that the systemic hormone therapy, which is absorbed into the blood assist in addressing osteoporosis, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes. It also lowers the risks of type 2 diabetes and protects the bones. It also assists with memory and mood. The vaginal symptoms such as pain during sex and dryness are also treated with the local low-dose estrogens, which is applied into the vagina directly.
Potential Alternative to Hormone Therapy
One potential alternative to hormone therapy is the Bisphosphonates. The reason is that it is the most effective class of bone-active agents and is potent inhibitors for bone resorption. The method provides affinity for bone and is useful and safe in preventing and treating osteoporosis. The continuous quality improvement allows directive to the standardization of processes that are improved and implemented on a constant basis (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014).
QSEN pre-licensure
There is need to incorporate QSEN pre-licensure Patient-Centered Care competency when it comes to helping the peri-menopausal patient make an informed decision on the plan that is most suitable for her care. The incorporation will involve quality improvement, teamwork and collaboration, safety informatics, and evidence-based practice (Pillitteri, 2014).
References
Burchum, J. R., & Rosenthal, L. (2016). Lehne's pharmacology for nursing care (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier - Health Sciences Division.
Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2014). Study guide for Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (13th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health.
Ladwig, G. B., & Ackley, B. J. (2017). Mosbys guide to nursing diagnosis (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Pillitteri, A. (2014). Maternal & child health nursing: care of the childbearing & childrearing Family (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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