A 49-year-old woman is considering the use of combined ...

[danielfitts88]

A 49-year-old woman is considering the use of combined estrogen-progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HT) during menopause. Which information will the nurse include during their discussion?
 
  a. Use of estrogen-containing vaginal creams provides most of the same benefits as oral HT.
  b. Increased incidence of colon cancer in women taking HT requires more frequent colonoscopy.
  c. HT decreases osteoporosis risk and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.
  d. Use of HT for up to 10 years to prevent symptoms such as hot flashes is generally considered safe.

Question 2

A 47-year-old woman asks whether she is going into menopause if she has not had a menstrual period for 3 months. The best response by the nurse is which of the following?
 
  a. Have you thought about using hormone replacement therapy?
  b. Most women feel a little depressed about entering menopause.
  c. What was your menstrual pattern before your periods stopped?
  d. Since you are in your mid-40s, it is likely that you are menopausal.

[jsm54321]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Data from the Women's Health Initiative indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and breast cancer in women taking combination HT but a decrease in hip fractures. Vaginal creams decrease symptoms related to vaginal atrophy and dryness, but they do not offer the other benefits of HT, such as decreased hot flashes. Most women who use HT are placed on short-term treatment and are not treated for up to 10 years. The incidence of colon cancer decreases in women taking HRT.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The initial response by the nurse should be to assess the patient's baseline menstrual pattern. Although many women do enter menopause in the mid-40s, more information about this patient is needed before telling her that it is likely she is menopausal. Although hormone therapy (HT) may be prescribed, further assessment of the patient is needed before discussing therapies for menopause. Because the response to menopause is very individual, the nurse should not assume that the patient is experiencing any adverse emotional reactions.

[danielfitts88]

TYSM

[dyrone]

Excellent