Abstract
Objective: Nearly one-third of American women are postmenopausal and at risk for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood disorders, and vulvovaginal atrophy. Primary healthcare providers in addition to gynecologists need to be ready to address these concerns. One area of controversy has been the role of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in the treatment of symptoms. This study sought to determine how often women seek care for menopause, their satisfaction with care, and their use of MHT. Methods: An online survey was administered to 1,509 women age 40-89. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: 81% have experienced symptoms but only 50% of women have discussed menopause with a provider and 31% do not receive information about menopause from any sources. Among those who say they need treatment, only 15% have pursued but not received it. Of those who have discussed it with their provider, 25% with symptoms were not offered treatment and 11% said their provider was not sympathetic. However, 97% said that their provider was comfortable and 97% knowledgeable. Regarding treatment, 62% reported that providers discussed MHT, 36% reported that providers recommended it, but only 6% of women are using it. Conclusions: It is encouraging that the vast majority of women who have pursued treatment are satisfied with their care. However, a quarter of women who sought treatment were not offered treatment and half of the women surveyed had never been counselled on menopause. Steps should be taken to encourage provider-initiated discussion of menopause.
Highlights
As life expectancy increases in the United States, a growing number of women is postmenopausal, making up nearly one-third of the female population based on the United States census
[1] This group is at higher risk for postmenopausal health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, which are often managed by primary healthcare providers
Of the women had to initiate the discussion. [2, 5] These studies suggest that menopausal symptoms have not been adequately addressed by healthcare professionals
Summary
As life expectancy increases in the United States, a growing number of women is postmenopausal, making up nearly one-third of the female population based on the United States census. [1] This group is at higher risk for postmenopausal health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, which are often managed by primary healthcare providers. [1] This group is at higher risk for postmenopausal health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, which are often managed by primary healthcare providers. They are at risk for vasomotor symptoms, mood disorders, and vulvovaginal atrophy that can drastically impact quality of life. [2, 5] These studies suggest that menopausal symptoms have not been adequately addressed by healthcare professionals. Following the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study that suggested an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer, the use of MHT declined significantly to reach an estimated low of 4.7% in A series of surveys in North America and Europe from to 2012 have shown that healthcare professionals are the most frequent source of information for menopausal symptoms, but a large range, from 23 to 72%, of women did not consult a healthcare professional for their symptoms. [2–
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
