Eligibility criteria for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT): A consortium of scientific societies for the use of MHT in women with medical conditions. Research protocol.

Abstract

The objective of this project is to create eligibility criteria for the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) similar to those established for contraceptive methods. A consortium of scientific societies coordinated by the Spanish Menopause Society met to formulate recommendations for the use of MHT by patients with medical conditions based on the best available evidence. The project protocol, which was registered in the Open Science Framework platform (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/J6WBC), will be conducted in two phases. As a first step we will conduct a series of systematic reviews on the safety of MHT, addressing eight clinical questions. The findings of these systematic reviews will help to inform a structured process in which a panel of experts will define the eligibility criteria according to a specific framework, which will facilitate the discussion and development process. For the first time, a set of eligibility criteria, based on clinical evidence and developed according to the most rigorous methodological tools, will be defined. This will provide health professionals with a powerful decision-making tool that can be used in the management of menopausal symptoms.