Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women after genital cancer

Women treated for genital cancer are not only suffering from the disease itself, but are in most cases confronted with the side effects of the loss of ovarian function. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the gynecologist, who cares for these patients, to strongly consider the benefits and drawbacks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in these women. Overall, it appears, that in women with vulva, vaginal, cervical, ovarian and tubal cancer individually adjusted HRT can be employed for the benefit and well-being of these patients considering psychosomatic, functional and organic aspects. Patients after endometrial cancer should be differentiated according to the stage of the disease. In all cases the individual minimal effective dose of HRT should be searched for. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.