Media Releases
Expert committee reports on HRT
An Australian expert committee, convened by the Therapeutics Goods Administration yesterday to evaluate a just released US study that cast doubts on the safety of combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT), has released its report.
TW25/02
11 July 2002
Expert committee reports on HRT
An Australian expert committee, convened by the Therapeutics Goods Administration yesterday to evaluate a just released US study that cast doubts on the safety of combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT), has recommended combination HRT to manage symptoms of menopause is still an appropriate treatment option.
Releasing the Expert Committee's report today, Ms Trish Worth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, said the committee clearly had some concerns about HRT and it strongly recommended that women discuss their particular circumstances with their doctor as individual factors may affect the risks and benefits of treatment for them.
The committee, chaired by Cancer Medicine specialist, Professor Martin Tattersall, concluded that:
- Combination hormone replacement therapy should not be used for long term preventative therapy
- It is still an appropriate treatment option for short-term use for the treatment of symptoms of menopause
- That information about the risks of combined hormone replacement therapy be detailed on product and consumer information
- That a review be undertaken into the use in Australia of combination hormone replacement therapy in long-term prevention of osteoporosis.
Members of the Expert Committee were
| Prof Martin Tattersall | Professor of Cancer Medicine at the University of Sydney and Chairman of the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. |
| Prof Bruce Armstrong | Epidemiologist and Head of School of Public Health at the University of Sydney. |
| Prof Leonard Arnolda | Professor of Cardiology from Western Australia and Member of ADEC. |
| Dr Rosemary Ayton | Senior gynaecologist from Melbourne. |
| Prof John McNeil | Clinical epidemiologist from Melbourne and Member of the ADRAC. |
| Dr Michael Michael | Senior Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne and Member of ADEC. |
| Prof Duncan Topliss | Endocrinologist from Melbourne, Member of ADEC and Chair of the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee. |
A copy of the final report is available at http://www.health.gov.au/tga/docs/html/hrtreport.htm
Further information: Mark Williams, Media Adviser, Ms Worth 0401 147 558
Kay McNiece, TGA Media Unit (contact for Professor Tattersall) 0412 132 585
