Use of HT Associated with Higher Risk of Hearing Loss Among Women

​Women who take postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) to alleviate symptoms of menopause may be subject to an increased risk of hearing loss, according to a new study (Menopause. 2017 May 8 [Epub ahead of print]). Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA, analyzed the data of 80,972 women aged 27 to 44 in the Nurses' Health Study II collected over 22 years (1991-2013). Among menopausal women, oral HT, whether it's estrogen therapy or estrogen plus progestogen therapy, was associated with higher risk of hearing loss, and longer duration of use was associated with higher risk as well. The adjusted risk of hearing loss among women who used oral HT was 1.15 (95% CI 1.06, 1.24) for five to 9.9 years and 1.21 (95% CI 1.07, 1.37) for more than 10 years, compared with women who never used HT.

 

Heather Currie, MB BS, FRCOG, DRCOG, MRCGP, chairman of the British Menopause Society, warned people not to jump to conclusions immediately based on this study. "This type of trial relies on women's self-reported hearing loss, and does not prove that [HT] causes this — only that there may be an association," Dr. Currie said in an email to Medscape. "This should not terrify women and, as we have always said, the decision about [HT] should be an individual choice based on the balance of benefits and risks." ​

Published: 6/2/2017 9:13:00 AM

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