[An alternative to postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy? Selective Estrogens Receptors Modulators (SERMs)]

Abstract

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) represents the first and probably sole therapeutically approach for prevention and treatment of medical postmenopausal disease. Nevertheless, the adverse effects and the risks HRT associated, suggested, to clinical and pharmaceutical research new pharmacological treatment options. Actually a group of compounds, SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), allows a large interest. These pharmacological agents, due to their estrogen agonist/antagonist properties, are able to bind Estrogen Receptors in female target tissues (bone, brain, heart, etc) with different actions; so, by these properties, SERMs represent actually a possible alternative to HRT.