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CNN Live Today

Government Taking Closer Look at Hormone Replacement Therapy

Aired August 14, 2002 - 10:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn to health news now. And all you women out there who have been confused about hormone replacement therapy, you are going to listen to this next story. Looks like the federal government is now getting involved to take a closer look at the issue and reassess the risks and benefits of this, our medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from New York City to talk about what's become a confusing health issue for a lot of women, and what the FDA now plans to do about that.
Sanjay, good morning.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

You're absolutely right, it's not unusual for the FDA or the Department of Health and Human Services to get involved and hold what are known as public forums,basically inviting doctors, drugmakers, scientists, people to get together and come up with clear set of guidelines.

Daryn, just as you said, it has been a confusing issue for women -- do I take it? Do I stop it? Do I take it for just a little bit? Those are both very difficult questions to answer for both doctors and patients alike. The public forum is basically designed to try and give more clear set of guidelines.

Daryn, also out of the forums might come the possibility of actually relabeling some of these medications so maybe they're not necessarily pitched as hormone replacement therapy, but as medications for the treatment of menopause symptoms. So these are some of the changes that we are hearing about, Daryn.

KAGAN: So this got the attention, Sanjay, of so many women, because the plug was pulled on that study three years early because it appeared to be so dangerous. But to add to the confusion, this is not to say that all women should be off hormone replacement therapy, just like all the women who were on it weren't supposed to be on it in the first place.

GUPTA: That's right, I don't think there are any absolutes, Daryn. But just as you said, you know, when hormone replacement therapy was actually originally released, it was supposed to not only take care of symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, but also lower the risk of heart disease, lower the risk of osteoporosis. The reason the study was stopped early, was because not only did it -- was it not shown to be safe for heart disease and osteoporosis, it actually was shown to increase the risk of those things. But there are some situations, probably still, such as women who have had hysterectomies in the past, they may still need to take hormone replacement therapy. And there are women who have such debilitating symptoms of menopause, those debilitating hot flashes, they may need to be on hormone replacement therapy for a short time.

KAGAN: So the FDA is going to get involved, and hopefully clarify the information that women need. In the meantime, important for each woman to talk with her doctor about whether she should or shouldn't, and how much and what kind of treatment she should be on.

GUPTA: Absolutely. Like I said, there are no absolutes. Talk to the doctor. That's good advice, Daryn, No question about it.

KAGAN: Very good. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us from New York.

GUPTA: Thank you. Good to see you.

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