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- $Unique_ID{BRK00087}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Are Estrogens Used to Treat Osteoporosis?}
- $Subject{osteoporosis estrogen vertebrae Musculoskeletal System Connective
- Tissue Estrogens bone loss ovaries ovarian failure menopause endocrine gland
- glands ovary skeletal hormone hormones}
- $Volume{M-17, M-22, C-17, C-22}
- $Log{
- Contributing Factors to Osteoporosis*0005701.scf
- Osteoporosis*0005702.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Are Estrogens Used to Treat Osteoporosis?
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- QUESTION: I know there is a lot of disagreement about this question because
- two doctors have given me different answers, but I would like to read your
- opinion. Do you use estrogens to treat osteoporosis?
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-
- ANSWER: In a word, "yes," as do many other, but not all, physicians.
- Although there is still much we don't know about osteoporosis, two important
- facts have come to light in recent years: a lack of estrogen in women results
- in bone loss, and adding estrogen improves the situation. Since the ovaries
- are the prime source of estrogen, it's believed ovarian failure (menopause)
- should always warrant treatment.
- Support for these conclusions is based on a variety of research and
- statistical information. One of the most important studies was conducted in
- the late 1960's among women whose ovaries (for various reasons) had been
- surgically removed. Through specialized x-rays, researchers were able to
- prove that those women given replacement estrogen shortly after surgery
- retained bone mass, those not treated with estrogen lost skeletal density.
- Added to this are statistics which rate menopausal women 12 times more likely
- to have a vertebrae collapse and 2 times more likely to suffer a broken hip
- than their male counterparts. If estrogen therapy is begun early and
- continued for at least five years, say the experts, these kinds of fractures
- can be significantly reduced.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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