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Best Practice & Research. Clinical... May 2022With life expectancy for women on the rise, most women will experience menopausal transition and spend a significant number of years of their life in the menopausal... (Review)
Review
With life expectancy for women on the rise, most women will experience menopausal transition and spend a significant number of years of their life in the menopausal phase. Menopausal transition involves a myriad of physical, endocrine, and psychological changes which are influenced by ethnic, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. Every woman's experience of the menopausal transition is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to the management of symptoms does not work. An understanding of the pathophysiology and severity of menopausal symptoms and the benefits and risks associated with both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments is important when individualising treatment options for menopausal symptoms.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause
PubMed: 35382992
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.03.003 -
The Medical Clinics of North America May 2015Women generally spend the last third of their lifetime in menopause, after their reproductive years have ended. During menopause, women experience a variety of... (Review)
Review
Women generally spend the last third of their lifetime in menopause, after their reproductive years have ended. During menopause, women experience a variety of predictable symptoms and conditions related to changes in sex hormone levels and aging. The menopausal transition precedes menopause by several years and is usually characterized by irregularity of the menstrual cycle and by hot flashes and night sweats. After menopause, genitourinary symptoms predominate, including vulvovaginal atrophy and dryness and lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia. Hormonal treatment is effective for vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms, but the understanding of its impact on cardiovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, and depression continues to evolve.
Topics: Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Female Urogenital Diseases; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause
PubMed: 25841598
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Sep 2019Although American women spend approximately 30% to 40% of their lives in menopause, a state defined by the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries, obstetricians... (Review)
Review
Although American women spend approximately 30% to 40% of their lives in menopause, a state defined by the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries, obstetricians and gynecologists in North America receive little formal education about menopausal health. Hormonal therapy has been available for more than 75 years; however, controversies surrounding its use have impacted training of care providers in all specialties. This article offers updates on care for menopausal women, focusing on symptomatology and health issues that arise related to the decline in all reproductive hormones. Lifestyle adaptations and nonmedical approaches, and nonhormonal and hormonal medications are discussed.
Topics: Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Healthy Aging; Hot Flashes; Humans; Libido; Life Style; Menopause; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Women's Health
PubMed: 31378291
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2019.04.008 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of... Sep 2015The menopause transition is associated with various symptoms, which can interact to produce morbidity. Vasomotor symptoms are the most commonly reported, but vaginal... (Review)
Review
The menopause transition is associated with various symptoms, which can interact to produce morbidity. Vasomotor symptoms are the most commonly reported, but vaginal dryness/dyspareunia, sleep difficulties and adverse mood changes have all been shown to worsen as women approach menopause. For postmenopausal women changes in cognition are more likely to be related to aging and not to hormones. This article reviews the symptoms of hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms), vaginal dryness/dyspareunia, adverse mood, poor sleep/insomnia, and cognitive complaints, describing their epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. This article thus reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these common menopausal symptoms.
Topics: Aging; Cognition; Depression; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause
PubMed: 26316239
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... May 2022Menopause is a major life event that can affect women in several ways. Its onset marks the end of the reproductive life cycle, and its impact can be both short and long... (Review)
Review
Menopause is a major life event that can affect women in several ways. Its onset marks the end of the reproductive life cycle, and its impact can be both short and long term. Menopause is often a gradual process, preceded by a transitional period known as perimenopause. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51. The clinical manifestations of menopause result from the eventual exhaustion of oocytes within the ovaries. This leads to a chronic hypo-estrogenic state, which in the short term causes menopausal symptoms and over a long term, has an impact on bone and cardiovascular health. There has been a steep drop in the prescription of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative Study and the Million Women Study. It is currently estimated that approximately a million women in the UK are taking HRT for control of their menopausal symptoms. This review summarises the current recommendations for HRT use in menopausal women. The benefits of HRT in improving the symptoms of menopause are discussed as well as the potential role of HRT in managing long-term sequelae is covered. Evidence pertaining to the potential risks associated with HRT is also be reviewed.
Topics: Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Menopause; Perimenopause; Women's Health
PubMed: 35000809
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2021.12.001 -
Journal of Evidence-based Integrative... 2019Menopause is associated with problematic symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and declines in cognitive... (Review)
Review
Menopause is associated with problematic symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and declines in cognitive functioning. Many women seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for symptom management. This article critically reviews the existing literature on CAM treatments most commonly used for menopausal symptoms. Electronic searches were conducted to identify relevant, English-language literature published through March 2017. Results indicate that mind and body practices may be of benefit in reducing stress and bothersomeness of some menopausal symptoms. In particular, hypnosis is a mind-body intervention that has consistently shown to have a clinically significant effect on reducing hot flashes. Evidence is mixed in regard to the efficacy of natural products and there are some safety concerns. Health care providers should consider the evidence on CAM in providing an integrative health approach to menopausal symptom management.
Topics: Complementary Therapies; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Mind-Body Therapies
PubMed: 30868921
DOI: 10.1177/2515690X19829380 -
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology Sep 2021Perimenopause and menopause are a time of great transition for women-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Symptoms of the menopause transition and beyond impact women... (Review)
Review
Perimenopause and menopause are a time of great transition for women-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Symptoms of the menopause transition and beyond impact women worldwide. Unfortunately, physician knowledge and comfort with addressing menopausal concerns vary greatly, limiting the support physicians provide to women in need. This review aims to increase physician understanding of the epidemiology, physiology, symptomology, and treatment options available for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Our goal is to empower physicians to educate and treat their patients to reduce the negative impact of perimenopausal changes and enhance overall well-being for women.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause; Perimenopause
PubMed: 34323232
DOI: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000639 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Aug 2023Most women worldwide experience menopausal symptoms during the menopause transition or postmenopause. Vasomotor symptoms are most pronounced during the first four to... (Review)
Review
Most women worldwide experience menopausal symptoms during the menopause transition or postmenopause. Vasomotor symptoms are most pronounced during the first four to seven years but can persist for more than a decade, and genitourinary symptoms tend to be progressive. Although the hallmark symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, and genitourinary discomfort, other common symptoms and conditions are mood fluctuations, cognitive changes, low sexual desire, bone loss, increase in abdominal fat, and adverse changes in metabolic health. These symptoms and signs can occur in any combination or sequence, and the link to menopause may even be elusive. Estrogen based hormonal therapies are the most effective treatments for many of the symptoms and, in the absence of contraindications to treatment, have a generally favorable benefit:risk ratio for women below age 60 and within 10 years of the onset of menopause. Non-hormonal treatment options are also available. Although a symptom driven treatment approach with individualized decision making can improve health and quality of life for midlife women, menopausal symptoms remain substantially undertreated by healthcare providers.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Perimenopause; Quality of Life; Sweating; Menopause; Hot Flashes
PubMed: 37553173
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072612 -
Work (Reading, Mass.) 2022Menopause is part of working women's lives. In Western countries, labour market patterns are changing rapidly: women's labour participation has increased, the percentage... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Menopause is part of working women's lives. In Western countries, labour market patterns are changing rapidly: women's labour participation has increased, the percentage of full-time working women is rising, and retirement age is increasing.
OBJECTIVE
This narrative literature study aims to provide an insight in the state of the art in the literature about the relationship between menopause, work and health and to identify knowledge gaps as input for further research.
METHODS
The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE and ScienceDirect. The final set includes 36 academic articles, 27 additional articles related to the topic and 6 additional sources.
RESULTS
Research on menopause, work and health is scarce. Results are grouped thematically as follows: Menopause and (1) a lack of recognising; (2) sickness absence and costs; (3) work ability; (4) job characteristics; (5) psychosocial and cultural factors; (6) health; (7) mental health, and (8) coping and interventions. Work ability of women with severe menopausal complaints may be negatively affected.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to taboo, menopause remains unrecognised and unaddressed within an organisational context. New theoretical and methodological approaches towards research on menopause, work and health are required in order to match the variety of the work contexts world-wide.
Topics: Employment; Female; Humans; Menopause; Mental Health; Narration; Workplace
PubMed: 35570508
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205214 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Dec 2018Although more than 80% of women experience some degree of psychological or physical symptoms around menopause, both women and clinicians have misconceptions about how... (Review)
Review
Although more than 80% of women experience some degree of psychological or physical symptoms around menopause, both women and clinicians have misconceptions about how hormonal changes relate to menopausal symptoms and psychological conditions. Recently, several large-scale, longitudinal studies have been conducted to better characterize symptoms and changes that occur around menopause. This article offers current evidence for symptoms that occur in the early menopause transition, including vasomotor symptoms, mood changes, sleep problems, and changes in sexual functioning.
Topics: Affect; Aging; Depression; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Reproductive Health; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep Wake Disorders; Women's Health
PubMed: 30401544
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.002