Compliance with hormone replacement therapy in women under the age of 40 after total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

Abstract

Introduction. Women under the age of 40 after a surgical menopause are advised to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) long-term as they especially are at risk of developing osteoporosis and early cardiovascular disease. The literature only provides very few data about compliance with HRT in women under 40 after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Several studies have examined the use of HRT in peri-and postmenopausal women. Methods. We undertook a retrospective study to investigate the rate of compliance with HRT in women under 40 years after TAH and BSO. From our computerised records we identified 73 women under the age of 40 who had a TAH and BSO. The operations were performed between 1994 and 1999. After examination of the notes seven women had to be excluded from the study. In total 66 women met the study criteria. The general practitioners of these women were