|
 Women with pre- and post-menopausal symptoms, as well as their
doctors, need to remember that these common complaints are treatable
in ways that can easily improve quality of life, writes Dr. Jill
Jin.
“We created this resource based on a reader request, and I see many
patients in my own practice with these complaints, so it’s highly
relevant,” said Jin, an internist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
in Chicago, who wrote the one-page primer intended for patients.
The page discusses genitourinary syndrome of menopause, which used
to be known as atrophic vaginitis. The new term was introduced in a
2016 review article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynecology (http://bit.ly/2oDcPF4), which notes that the syndrome
affects more than half of postmenopausal women.
“I see a wide variety of patients who look up health information
online, and it’s useful to have reliable sources to direct them to
when they have questions,” Jin told Reuters Health. “There’s a lot
of false health information online, and journals such as JAMA are
great places for concise, accurate information.”
The JAMA patient resource explains that estrogen levels drop during
menopause, and the walls of the vagina become thin, dry and
inflamed. The related symptoms of burning, irritation and urinary
issues are common but can be more bothersome for some women than for
others.
Doctors can recommend both hormonal and non-hormonal treatment
options, such as over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers or
estrogen treatments administered by pill or through the skin.
“Women presume these symptoms are just signs of aging, but they can
be corrected by talking to a gynecologist or urologist,” said Sardar
Khan of Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York, a
co-author of the 2016 review.
Typically, doctors recommend trying vaginal estrogen first as a
cream, tablet or ring inserted into the vagina. This provides
estrogen to the vaginal area without circulating through the
bloodstream first, which can lower the chance of health risks
associated with hormonal treatments during menopause.
Women who have other symptoms associated with menopause, such as
night sweats, hot flashes or other whole-body problems, may need to
take estrogen treatments by a pill or skin patch, the patient
resource notes. Women who take this type of estrogen should also
take progesterone.
[to top of second column] |
Khan and his co-authors reviewed additional treatments as well,
including synthetic steroids, laser therapies, homeopathic remedies
and lifestyle modifications. Importantly, early detection and
individually-tailored treatment plans are key, the study authors
wrote.
“Women should not suffer in silence,” Khan told Reuters Health. “The
days are gone when we accept these symptoms as merely signs of
aging.”
The JAMA patient page also suggests seeking additional information
on the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website
about menopause (http://bit.ly/1Ml5Vcf ). The site features a
comprehensive FAQ section about menopause, symptoms, osteoporosis,
hormone therapy and healthy lifestyle advice.
Women should begin talking to their doctors about these symptoms in
the perimenopause period and share any concerns they have, Khan
said.
“Health providers should ask about menopause, quality of life, and
pain routinely during visits,” he added. “I’ve found it’s often up
to caregivers to make patients feel comfortable enough to open up
and talk.”
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2o4AlJT JAMA, online April 4, 2017.
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
-Lincoln-IL/2831225863)
