Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Women’s health
Managing the menopause: what to do now
Abstract
The recent Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study has not significantly changed how women with menopausal problems should be managed or informed. The cornerstone of management remains the comprehensive evaluation of the individual woman, including a careful history and examination, a risk–benefit analysis and lifestyle advice coupled with accurate information regarding her therapeutic options.
Key Points
- The findings of the Women’s Health Initiative study have not significantly changed how women with menopausal symptoms should be managed or informed.
- Menopause medicine is growing more complex, and pharmacotherapeutic options are broad and not always necessary.
- Lifestyle evaluation and advice remains the cornerstone of advice for the mid-life woman.
- Each individual woman must undergo a careful assessment and a risk–benefit analysis before she is prescribed hormone therapy (HT).
- The two specific indications for the use of HT are menopausal symptoms and significant bone loss.
- HT is not recommended for either primary or secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.
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