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Management of menopause

By Dr Karen Magraith and Dr Christina Jang: 

Menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and, for most women, the benefits of symptom control outweigh the potential harms of therapy.

The article is available free online from the Australian Prescriber, Issue 3 October 2023

Article Summary

During perimenopause and after menopause, women may experience diverse symptoms.

All women require a comprehensive assessment of their current health and risks for future disease, appropriate screening, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. It can be offered to symptomatic patients with no contraindications following an individualised discussion about the risk of harms versus benefits.

Menopausal hormone therapy is recommended for women with premature ovarian insufficiency (menopause occurring before 40 years of age) regardless of symptoms, unless contraindicated.

Nonhormonal medications may improve symptoms for women who have contraindications to, or do not wish to take, menopausal hormone therapy.

See article online here

Download PDF copy here

Reference

Magraith K, Jang C. Management of menopause. Aust Prescr 2023;46:48–53.https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2023.014

About the authors

Dr Karen Magraith BMBS FRACGPDr Karen Magraith BMBS FRACGP

Past-President AMS

Karen Magraith graduated from Flinders University and spent 6 years in Darwin before returning to Adelaide, where she worked until 2007. She currently works in general practice in Hobart, where she is involved in registrar training. She has had a longstanding interest in women's health and has been a member of AMS since 2004.

Karen recognises that most menopause medicine occurs in general practice, where the GP is in a unique position to manage the medical, gynaecological and psychosocial issues in an integrated way.

Karen is keen to promote the role of the AMS in educating and supporting a wide variety of GPs, to enable them to provide high quality health care to women.   

Dr Christina Jang MBBS MD FRACP

Dr Christina Jang MBBS MD FRACPPresident-Elect AMS

Dr Christina Jang graduated MBBS from Monash University in 1994. She undertook advanced training in Endocrinology in Melbourne and received her FRACP in 2004. She received an NHMRC Scholarship to carry out studies towards her Doctor of Medicine which was conferred in 2008.   

She has undertaken research in the area of women’s health and won the Young Investigator Award at the Australasian Menopause Foundation in 2003. 

She is a consultant endocrinologist at The Mater Hospital Brisbane and Greenslopes Private Hospital, and honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland.  She has a clinical interest in female reproductive endocrinology.

Content created October 2023