Hormone pills in menopause may carry gallstone side effects - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Hormone pills in menopause may carry gallstone side effects

Updated:
© iStockphoto.com © iStockphoto.com

TUESDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- Taking estrogen pills increases a menopausal woman's risk of needing gallbladder surgery to treat complications of gallstones, according to a new study.

But there does not appear to be an increased risk for women who take estrogen through skin patches or gels, called transdermal methods.

The study appears March 18 in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Researchers analyzed data gathered from more than 70,000 women in France between 1992 and 2008. In France, transdermal hormone therapy is preferred, while oral hormone therapy (pills or tablets) tends to be favored in North America and the United Kingdom, a journal news release noted.

"Complicated gallstone disease should be added to the list of potential adverse events to be considered when balancing the benefits and risks associated with menopausal hormone therapy," said Dr. Antoine Racine, of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research and Paris-Sud University, and colleagues.

These findings support current recommendations for minimizing doses and duration of hormone therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, Dr. Bette Liu, of the faculty of medicine at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

If hormone therapy is necessary, skin patches or gels may cause fewer side effects than pills or tablets, she added.

"Unfortunately there are no large clinical trials comparing transdermal and oral therapies, and such trials will probably never be conducted," Liu wrote. "Evidence to guide recommendations on the best route of hormone administration for individual women and prescribers will thus be limited to the growing volume of observational data. These data suggest that the overall risk-benefit of transdermal menopausal hormone therapy makes it a more attractive option than oral therapies."

Although the study showed a link between oral estrogen medications and gallbladder complications, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about hormones and menopause.

Health News Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

  • Medical News HeadlinesMedical News Headlines

  • Friday, May 17 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:15:06 GMT
    Cholesterol, cancer, even infectious diseases: our blood can help doctors detect them all. Now, blood is being used to figure out what's going on inside your head.
    Cholesterol, cancer, even infectious diseases: our blood can help doctors detect them all. Now, blood is being used to figure out what's going on inside your head.

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-16 21:15:01 GMT
    Millions of Americans suffer from GERD – a chronic digestive disease that happens when stomach acid flows back into your food pipe. A lot of people know the condition causes heartburn, but there's a lot more to it.
    Millions of Americans suffer from GERD – a chronic digestive disease that happens when stomach acid flows back into your food pipe. A lot of people know the condition causes heartburn, but there's a lot more to it.

  • Wednesday, May 15 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-15 21:15:01 GMT
    The average person remembers less than half of what doctors say during their office visits. Now there's a way to remember exactly what your doctor told you.
    Good communication between patients and physicians is critical to care, but the average person remembers less than half of what doctors say during their office visits. Now there's a way to remember exactly what your doctor told you.

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:15:08 GMT
    If a sharp pain hits your back or side, beware, it could be a warning sign of a kidney stone. Every year one million people in the U.S. are treated for them and there's a lot of misinformation about the masses.
    If a sharp pain hits your back or side, beware, it could be a warning sign of a kidney stone. Every year one million people in the U.S. are treated for them and there's a lot of misinformation about the masses.

  • Monday, May 13 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-13 21:15:02 GMT
    They're popping up all over the place. Providing kids and adults wall-to-wall entertainment, but is the trampoline arena trend resulting in simple fun or serious fractures?
    They're popping up all over the place. Providing kids and adults wall-to-wall entertainment, but is the trampoline arena trend resulting in simple fun or serious fractures?

  • Friday, May 10 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-10 21:15:03 GMT
    At least 30 million Americans are having trouble hearing. Now, a new type of hearing aid is making it easier for people to get help without everyone knowing it.
    At least 30 million Americans are having trouble hearing. Now, a new type of hearing aid is making it easier for people to get help without everyone knowing it.

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-09 21:15:08 GMT
    When a nerve is injured, pain, numbness, and loss of sensation are common. Fixing damaged nerves used to mean patients had to sacrifice another nerve from their body, but now there's an easier way.
    When a nerve is injured, pain, numbness, and loss of sensation are common. Fixing damaged nerves used to mean patients had to sacrifice another nerve from their body, but now there's an easier way.

  • Tuesday, May 7 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-07 21:15:08 GMT
    Aggressive breast cancer can be hard to beat. Even if women do overcome it, there's a good chance it could come back. Now, doctors believe depleting the body of a well-known metal could be the key to keeping it away.
    Aggressive breast cancer can be hard to beat. Even if women do overcome it, there's a good chance it could come back. Now, doctors believe depleting the body of a well-known metal could be the key to keeping it away.

  • Monday, May 6 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-06 21:15:02 GMT
    Low dose CT scans have revolutionized early diagnosis and early treatment, but sometimes it's hard to tell if the abnormalities they detect are really cancer.
    Low dose CT scans have revolutionized early diagnosis and early treatment, but sometimes it's hard to tell if the abnormalities they detect are really cancer.

  • Friday, May 3 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-03 21:15:05 GMT
    The first MRI body scan was performed on a human in 1977. Thanks to medical advances, the technology has greatly improved. Now, a new type of MRI could be medicine's next big thing.
    The first MRI body scan was performed on a human in 1977. It took almost five hours to produce one image. Thanks to medical advances, the technology has greatly improved. Now, a new type of MRI could be medicine's next big thing.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.
Powered by WorldNow
Contact Us | Advertise | Mobile | RSS Feeds | Facebook | Twitter | Email Alerts | Jobs |
Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Public File

© 2013 NewsChannel5.com | NewsChannel 5 WTVF-TV Nashville TN | Site hosted by WorldNow. All Rights Reserved.