Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or postmenopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. These symptoms can include hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, accelerated skin aging, vaginal dryness, decreased muscle mass, and bone loss.
Previous studies have shown that HRT has both safe and harmful effects in asthma. However the latest research demonstrated that HRT plays a role in the development of asthma.
The researchers undertook a test based on Danish registers. Estrogen and progesterone have important effects at the cellular level, consistent with potentially harmful and beneficial effects in lung disease. Large epidemiologic studies show an increased risk of development of asthma with the use of HRT.
It is advisable to distinguish between ET (Estrogen therapy) and EPT (estrogen-progesterone therapy) because of their significant differences on female body.
Estradiol is associated with a significant improvement in asthma symptoms and dyspnea index scores. Women receiving the hormonal replacement should be aware of this problem if they have asthma or COPD. Further research is needed to illuminate the clinical importance of estrogen and progesterone in the pathophysiology and therapy of asthma.