AMS Newsletter 24 September 2024

In this edition

• Menopause Essentials Update and IMS Congress - a reminder
• AMS applauds Senate Inquiry Report
• Updated Information Sheet: Non-hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) patch shortages September 2024

Health Professionals - join AMS for Members-only content 

• Menopause Matters
• Menopausal Migraines Webinar: archive now available
• 2023 AMS Congress presentations
• European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) Newsletter

In this edition 

Menopause Essentials Update and IMS Congress - a reminder

The IMS Congress is less than a month away, with the Pre-Congress Menopause Essentials Update the perfect curtain-raiser.  If you want to get upskilled and up-to-date on menopause management, this is the event you don't want to miss! Simply go here to register. 

See the full Scientific Program Here

The Pre-Congress Menopause Essentials Update will run on Friday, 18 October at 1.30-6pm. The program has been carefully designed to be clinically practical and globally applicable. We look forward to seeing you there so book your place here!
 

The Pre-Congress Menopause Essentials Update is an accredited RACGP CPD activity 915730. It has been approved for:

• 3 hours Educational Activity (EA)
• 1 hour Reviewing Performance (RP)

Read more (you will need to be logged in to your RACGP account to view)

The Update is also accredited by RANZCOG. It has been approved for:

• 3 hours Educational Activity (EA)
• 1 hour Outcome Measurement (OM)

Read more

Hotel Room - special rate AMS has six nights 16-22nd October 2024 available as a result of cancellation from the group booking that was a special rate of $1500 at the PanPacific Hotel.  If anyone would like this please contact Geoff@menopause.org.au.

AMS applauds Senate Inquiry Report

The Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) has welcomed the findings of the Senate Inquiry into Menopause and Perimenopause released last night.

Specifically, the AMS is delighted to see recommendations relating to increasing education of health care professionals, from student levels right up to specialists, as well as the suggestion of increased funding for the delivery of continued professional development to all medical practitioners.

AMS President Dr Sylvia Rosevear says, ‘This report highlights the importance of the work AMS carries out and how vital it is to our Doctors, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals.

We are determined to incorporate evidence-based research in training these professionals. The recommendation to continually improve our highly lauded fact sheets is valued and we’re keen to action this.’

The AMS endorses the recommendation that options be further explored to guarantee that menopausal hormone therapy is made both affordable and accessible to all women who need it, no matter their background or socio-economic status.

AMS are keen to work alongside the Australian Government on the following recommendations:

• The suggested awareness campaign on menopause and perimenopause

• A study on the economic impacts of menopause, including the impact on women’s workforce participation, and alongside this the development of workplace policies in consultation with employees; and 

• The proposal that menopause and perimenopause be included in both medical university curriculum and graduate outcomes for health professional This directly impacts and compliments the work that AMS conducts.

Dr Rosevear continues, ‘We look forward to working alongside many of the groups mentioned in the report, including the National Women’s Health Advisory council and the Department of Health and Aged Care, to allow access to robust information, and increased accessibility to medicines where appropriate.’

‘While the recommendations are welcomed, we encourage the government to work together with relevant stakeholders in the sector to see the report’s proposals through to fruition. We are prepared to deliver and expand our educational events and materials to health care professionals across the country.’ Dr Rosevear concludes.

See release online here

Updated Information Sheet: Non-hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms

Many women seek non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. This updated information sheet addresses the evidence concerning safety and efficacy of currently available non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms where they may be prescribed “off-label” (outside the specific purpose for which the drug was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration).

The key points are as follows:

• Most non-hormonal treatments only treat hot flushes and night sweats.
• There is a substantial placebo effect.
• Non-prescription remedies have generally shown no or minimal benefit.
• Fezolinetant is a neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist and treats the mechanism underlying hot flushes
• There is evidence that some antidepressants, gabapentin, and oxybutinin all reduce hot flushes.
• Clonidine is no longer recommended for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms.

See updated sheet at NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms

Dr Christina Jang
Coordinator, AMS Information and Fact Sheets 

Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) discontinuation and shortages September 2024

Australia 

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

	Expected supply due		Alternative supply under Section 19A
Dose	Estradot	Estraderm	Estramon	Estradiol Transdermal System
25 mcg	20 Jan 2025	Available	Available
37.5 mcg	16 Dec 2024		Available	Available
50 mcg	20 Jan 2025	Available	Available	Available
75 mcg	21 Oct 2024	11 Nov 2024	Available	Available
100 mcg	28 Oct 2024	Available	Available	Available

Combined patches

Dose	Estalis Sequi	Estalis Conti
50/140	Available	20 Sep 2024
50/250	Available	Available

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The AMS Guide to MHT Doses (Australia only) provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 17^th September 2024, patch availability is provided below.

Dose	Estradot	Viatris	Estraderm MX
25mcg	Low	Available	Available
50mcg	Low	Available
75mcg	Low	Available
100mcg	Low	Available

More information can be found here  

The AMS Guide to MHT Doses (New Zealand only) provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in New Zealand.

Health Professionals - join AMS for Members-only content 

Menopause Matters: Professor Athol Kent has reviewes and comments on recent journal articles.

Menopausal Migraines Webinar: archive now available

2023 AMS Congress presentations

European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) Newsletter AMS is an affiliate of EMAS. See latest copy.