[Current status of hormone therapy during the menopausal transition and post-menopause].

Starting from prospective clinical studies that have evaluated its benefits and risks, hormone replacement therapy in menopause women has been reassessed in its indications in the last four years. In October, 2004 a Latinamerican Experts Consensus was carried out, such report with some modifications is presented in this publication. The conclusions the experts reached were the following: 1) Hormone Therapy is the gold standard for the control of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms; 2) this therapy must be indicated in an individual manner and only in symptomatic women in which the benefit is greater than the risk; 3) the least effective dose must be used; 4) it must be used neither for cardiovascular prevention, osteoporosis, colon cancer nor for mental disorder; 5) the patient must be informed about the benefits and risks.

Age at menopause in Latin America.

Objective: To assess the age at menopause (AM) in Latin America urban areas.

Design: A total of 17,150 healthy women, aged 40 to 59 years, accompanying patients to healthcare centers in 47 cities of 15 Latin American countries, were surveyed regarding their age, educational level, healthcare coverage, history of gynecological surgery, smoking habit, presence of menses, and the use of contraception or hormone therapy at menopause. The AM was calculated using logit analysis.

Latin American position on the current status of hormone therapy during the menopausal transition and thereafter.

Objective: Data from placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials conducted during the past few years resulted in critical re-evaluation of the overall health benefits of hormone therapy (HT) in women during the menopausal transition and thereafter. These data stimulated vigorous debate among experts and produced several position papers by North American and European authorities providing guidance on the use of HT. It is well known that cultural, geographic and ethnic differences influence the acceptance and risk perception of HT.

A 13-month multicenter clinical experience of a low-dose monophasic oral contraceptive containing 20 microg ethinylestradiol and 75 microg gestodene in Latin American women.

This prospective, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the contraceptive reliability, cycle control and tolerability of a 21-day oral contraceptive regimen containing 20 microg ethinylestradiol and 75 microg gestodene in four Latin American countries (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia). Participants took trial medication daily for 21 days. Contraceptive efficacy, cycle control and tolerability were evaluated over a period of 13 cycles.

Comparison of the effect of raloxifene and continuous-combined hormone therapy on mammographic breast density and breast tenderness in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The objectives were to evaluate mammographic changes in breast density that are associated with raloxifene or hormone therapy and to compare the safety profiles of the two therapies.

Study Design: Postmenopausal women older than 60 years who had a bone mineral density T-score of < or =-1 were assigned randomly to receive raloxifene hydrochloride 60 mg/day or continuous-combined hormone therapy that consisted of conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg/day plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.