Managing the menopause what to do now.

Abstract

* 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.