Clinical and laboratory work-up prior to hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women

In a retrospective study on 100 female patients (mean age 52 years), with a menopause lasting for 3.5 years, referred to the Menopausal Clinic of Beilinson Medical Center, we studied the pretreatment, clinical and laboratory work-up before administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The work-up consisted of clinical and medical examination and history. Mammography is a necessary test for malignancy exclusion, and also the assessment of lipid metabolism. Pap smear is not so important since cervical cancer is a rare event in Jewish women and pelvic sonography cannot be a decisive diagnostic tool for ruling out malignancy. We conclude that HRT for prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease should be administered in a menopausal clinic by a gynecologist, after performing a few tests: confirmation of menopause by follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) and E₂, excluding malignant by mammography, and confirmation of normal lipid metabolism.