Socioeconomic Factors in Menopausal Women's Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Abstract

This study examines if education, income, and medical insurance coverage are primary factors in determining whether menopausal women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). To accomplish this purpose, the author conducted a survey of 62 women between 30 and 60 years of age. These women completed a self-administered questionnaire that provided both quantitative and qualitative information. The results suggest that these socioeconomic factors increase the likelihood that menopausal women will receive treatment with HRT. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• hormone replacement therapy
• menopause
• medical insurance
• physician–woman relationship

Notes

1. Watkins (2007) helps to clarify terminology. Estrogen is the common term used for both natural and synthetic forms of this female sex hormone. Progestin refers to the synthetic forms of the second female sex hormone, progesterone. In this paper, the term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) refers to treatment with a combination of estrogen and progestin. The term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) refers to treatment with estrogen alone.