Pop quiz: Is hormone therapy a good option for menopausal women to control hot flashes and mood swings and protect the heart?

First let me ask if you think you know the answer. Most women say they can’t answer this question because of confusing information in the media. Before 2002, healthcare providers touted the benefits of hormone therapy (HT) for all menopausal women to help with the symptoms of menopause and to protect women’s hearts from declining estrogen.

Then, in the summer of 2002, the federally funded landmark Women’s Health Study showed that taking HT was more complicated than we previously believed. The study showed that it can be beneficial for some women but it was found to be very risk for others. Since then, the news headlines regarding HT and its effects have confused many consumers and healthcare providers alike.

And that’s the problem: What are you supposed to do with health news that seems contradictory? Science isn’t static. Every day, newspaper and magazines writers look at familiar healthcare questions through the lens of new studies. For reasons ranging from study design to the study participants, the outcomes aren’t always similar.


The problem is compounded when you’re dealing with a diagnosis. It’s scary to hear your healthcare provider say you have a serious disease like diabetes or cancer. At that point, your best ally is unvarnished information based on the most up-to-date science. Unfortunately, good information can be hard to find.

Along with your diagnosis you’ll get treatment recommendations. These options may seem bewildering, and you might feel pressure to do something—anything—quickly. If you’re like most women, you rely on your healthcare providers for knowledge-based guidance, leaning on their education and experience. At the same time, you’ve heard horror stories from friends and relatives who didn’t get the medical care they needed or have their individual desires respected.


So how do you find information you can trust? Health information is everywhere; however, not all information is good information. Some information is downright dangerous. Beware of “miracle” treatments and cures. They can cost you money and your health, especially if you delay or refuse proven treatment.

Medical evidence changes all the time, so we at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality constantly look for research updates. But this evidence does you little good as a consumer if you don’t understand it. We translate the findings of clinical research into information that you can use to make decisions here.

Beyond that, your best bets for reliable evidence-based information are web sites from the federal government, nonprofit organizations, medical specialty groups and university-based medical centers. Here are my top recommendations for sites you can trust:

Healthfinder (www.healthfinder.gov). This is a one-stop shopping source for information from all of the above-mentioned groups.

Health Information Resource Database (www.health.gov). This database includes 1,400 organizations and government offices that provide health information upon request; you can also call 800/336-4797.

MEDLINEplus (medlineplus.gov). This site pulls information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on more than 650 health topics. It includes the latest health headlines as well.

Whatever information you find, talk to your healthcare providers to make sense of the facts that you gather. As I often say, “Questions are the answer.” The conversation you have with your clinician will help you put what you read into the context of your health condition and potential treatments. If you’ve read an article that sounds like it might be relevant, don’t be shy—bring it to your next office visit and ask!