Management of menopausal symptoms in women with gynecologic cancers

Abstract

ObjectiveWomen with gynecologic malignancies will be cured or may become long-term survivors. Management of menopausal symptoms is important in addressing their quality of life. We review the benefit and safety of hormone therapy use in these patients. MethodsMEDLINE was searched for studies on menopause management published in English through December of 2016. ResultsAvailable data suggest that short-term use of hormone therapy in gynecologic cancer patients who do not have an estrogen-dependent malignancy do not adversely impact oncologic outcome and results in improvement of menopausal vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms. Evidence regarding safety of hormone therapy use in women with estrogen-dependent gynecologic malignances is currently lacking. ConclusionsCandidates for hormone therapy in gynecologic oncology include women with menopausal symptoms diagnosed with low-grade, early-stage endometrial cancer, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer, and ovarian cancer.