Table 3 Outcome data for individual studies: HT users versus non-users

General QOL

Tucker [32]

SF-36 ​–​ total

108

Systemic HT = 1.76

-

NA

93

Local HT = 3.3

-

SF-36 – pain

108

Systemic HT = 14.64

-

93

Local HT = 4.85

-

SF-36 – physical

108

Systemic HT = 7.15

-

93

Local HT = 5.34

-

SF-36 – emotional

108

Systemic HT = -0.50

-

93

Local HT = -5.5

-

SF-36 – social

108

Systemic HT = -3.67

-

93

Local HT = 3.66

-

SF-36 – energy

108

Systemic HT = 0.6

-

93

Local HT = 3.66

-

SF-36 – general health

108

Systemic HT = 4.55

-

93

Local HT = 3.37

-

Menopause specific QOL

Challberg [33]

FACT-ES^d – total

141

3.1

-

NA

Chapman [37]

MSL^e – total

51

-1.1

-

NA

Finch [38]

MENQOL Intervention^e – total

73

-3.37^f

-

13.6 months (10.8–21.8)

MENQOL – vasomotor

73

-3.4

-

MENQOL – physical

73

-0.38

-

MENQOL – psychosocial

73

-0.07

-

MENQOL – sexual

73

-1.22

-

Heiniger [29]

MRS^e

38

NS

-

3 years^g

Madalinska [34]

FACT-ES^d – total

164

3.4

-

NA

Tucker [32]

MENQOL^e – total

108

Systemic HT = -2.76^f

-

93

Local HT = -2.23^f

-

MENQOL – vasomotor

108

Systemic HT = -1.08

-

93

Local HT = -1.04

-

MENQOL – physical

108

Systemic HT = -0.74

-

93

Local HT = -0.54

-

MENQOL – psychosocial

108

Systemic HT = -0.1

-

93

Local HT = -0.1

-

MENQOL – sexual

108

Systemic HT = -0.84

-

93

Local HT = -0.55

-

Breast cancer

Eisen [21]

Self-reported^h

124

-

OR = 0.48(0.19-1.21)

NA

Kotsopoulos [31] Same study as Eisen but an updated analysis

Self-reported

210

-

OR = 1.06(0.58-1.96)

NA

OR = 1.06(0.52-2.18) - Breast cancer risk with HT use of ≤3 years vs. never use

OR = 1.06 (0.41-2.71) - Breast cancer risk with HT use of >3 years vs. never use

Gabriel [28]

Self-reported^h

60

-

OR = 0.31(0.09-1.04)^f

NS

OR = 0.48(0.1-2.1) - Breast cancer risk with ET only (no cases with EPT)

Rebbeck [20]

Medical records, operative notes, and pathology reports

155

-

HR = 3.93(0.51-30.50)ⁱ

2.6 years (0.1-19.1)

HR = 2.56(0.08-78.13) Breast cancer risk with EPT vs. ET

Vasomotor symptoms

Challberg [33]

FACT-ES^j

141

-

Hot flashes OR = 0.55(0.23-1.28)^f

NA

Night sweats OR = 0.28(0.11-0.76)^f

Finch [38]

Self-reported

73

-

Hot flashes OR = 0.27(0.09-0.80)^f

13.6 months (10.8–21.8)

Madalinska [34]

FACT-ES^j

164

-

Hot flashes OR = 0.34(0.17-0.70)^f

NA

Night sweats OR = 0.51(0.26-1.00)^f

Sexual function

Finch^k [38]

SAQ^d

61

Pleasure = 1.22

13.6 months (10.8–21.8)

Discomfort = 1.92

Habit = 0.19

Heiniger [29]

SAQ^d

38

NS for all 3 dimensions

-

Johansen [36]

SAQ^l

157

Pleasure systemic HT (both ET and EPT) = 0.9

-

102

Pleasure local HT = -1.5

-

116

Pleasure systemic ET = 0.8

111

Pleasure systemic EPT = 0.5

112

Pleasure systemic tibolone = 1.5

157

Discomfort systemic HT (both ET and EPT) = -1.2

102

Discomfort local HT = -0.7

116

Discomfort systemic ET = -1.1

111

Discomfort systemic EPT = -1.2

112

Discomfort systemic tibolone = -1.39

Madalinska [34]

SAQ^d

164

Pleasure = 0.4

NA

Discomfort = 0.4

Habit = 0.1

Tucker [32]

FSFI^dm – total

108

Systemic HT 5.36

OR = 0.40(0.12-1.31); P = 0.130 Risk of FSD with systemic HT

NA

93

Local HT 7.61

OR = 0.22(0.05-0.95);

P = 0.043 Risk of FSD with local HT

FSFI – desireⁿ

108

Systemic HT 0.09

OR = 0.77(0.23-2.52) P = 0.66 Risk of HSDD with systemic HT

93

Local HT 0.52

OR = 0.29(0.07-1.28); P = 0.10 Risk of HSDD with local HT

FSFI – arousal

108

Systemic HT 0.57

-

93

Local HT 1.35

-

FSFI – lubrication^o

108

Systemic HT 1.39

OR = 0.38(0.12-1.19); P = 0.10 Risk of lubrication difficulty with systemic HT

93

Local HT 1.84

OR = 0.29(0.05-1.53); P = 0.14 Risk of lubrication difficulty with local HT

FSFI – pain^o

108

Systemic HT 1.97

OR = 0.16(0.03-0.81);

P = 0.03 Risk of dyspareunia with systemic HT

93

Local HT 1.55

OR = 0.99(0.22-4.47); P = 0.99 Risk of dyspareunia with local HT

FSFI – orgasm^o

108

Systemic HT 0.71

OR = 0.35(0.10-1.21); P = 0.10 Risk of orgasm difficulty with systemic HT

93

Local HT 1.47

OR = 0.57(0.10-3.15); P = 0.52 Risk of orgasm difficulty with local HT

FSFI – satisfaction^o

108

Systemic HT 0.62

OR = 0.36(0.11-1.14); P = 0.08 Risk of dissatisfaction with sex life with systemic HT

93

Local HT 0.86

OR = 0.88(0.19-4.06); P = 0.87 Risk of dissatisfaction of sex life with local HT

FSDS-R^p

108

Systemic HT -4.07

OR = 0.36(0.16-1.13); P = 0.08 Risk of sexual distress with systemic HT

93

Local HT -2.34

OR = 1.28(0.30-5.41); P = 0.74 Risk of sexual distress with local HT

Loss of interest in sex

Challberg [33]

FACT-ES^j

141

OR = 0.68(0.34-1.37)^f

NA

Madalinska [34]

FACT-ES^j

164

OR = 0.66(0.30-1.47)^f

NA

Vaginal dryness

Challberg [33]

FACT-ES^j

141

OR = 0.48(0.20-1.16)^f

NA

Finch [38]

MENQOL Intervention^e

73

-1.22

13.6 months (10.8–21.8)

Madalinska [34]

FACT-ES^j

164

-

OR = 0.47(0.21-1.07)^f

NA

Tucker²⁴

MENQOL – sexual

108

Systemic HT = -0.84

-

93

Local HT = -0.55

-

FSFI – lubrication^o

108

Systemic HT 1.39

OR = 0.38(0.12-1.19); P = 0.10 Risk of lubrication difficulty with systemic HT

Bone loss prevention

Challberg[33]

93

Local HT 1.84

OR = 0.29(0.05-1.53); P = 0.14 Risk of lubrication difficulty with local HT

NA

Chapman [37]

DXA scan

31

-

OR = 0.41(0.07-2.41)^fi

NA

Garcia [30]

DXA scan

198

OR = 0.84(0.26-2.74)

NA

Cardiovasc-ular disease

Michelsen [35]

Physical measurements, blood samples and self-administered questionnaire

326

-

NS

NA