World Research Trends in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Postmenopausal Women and Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) Research Group's Response

폐경기 여성의 호르몬대체요법(HRT)과 관련된 국제적 연구경향과 한의학계의 대응에 관한 소고

Objectives: After the discontinuance of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI)clinical trial in the U.S. in July 2002, I thought that the domestic medical field would come to a crisis in hormonal treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, the domestic condition of HRT has barely changed. This study was designed to investigate world research trends in HRT and bring forward the response of the Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) Research Group. Methods: I investigated recent domestic ;md world research trends about HRT and climacteric syndrome. Based on this analysis, I predicted western medical research trends and direction for HRT and medical care of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Results and Conclusions: I propose that we (TKM Research Group) have to explain the side effects of HRT for postmenopausal women and try to suggest complementary therapy for it. For that aim, the Association of Korean Medicine's effort is very important, as well as personal practitioner's actions.