PHILADELPHIA, Oct 18, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Estrogen hormone therapy is the most commonly prescribed treatment for menopause by U.S. reproductive healthcare providers.

And while 98 percent of such healthcare providers offer estrogen hormone therapy, 78 percent also prescribe vaginal lubricants and 77 percent recommend exercise, a survey released in Philadelphia by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine showed.

The society conducted an online survey of 556 reproductive health from the United States and abroad to assess reproductive health professionals interactions with current patients who are experiencing menopausal symptoms and to evaluate the need for better education on the latest treatment options, common misconceptions and ways to address commonly asked questions.

The survey found that nearly 100 percent of reproductive health experts agree patients are confused about menopausal treatments and 73 percent say they spend the majority of their time counseling patients about the best treatment.

Only a fourth of professionals say patients ask about bioidenticals, a kind of hormone replacement therapy that claims to offer an absolutely identical hormone to what a woman's body provides. It is often marketed as superior to drug companies' synthetic hormone substitutes.

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