Depression Around Menopause Often Goes Undetected

New research suggests a high number of women experience symptoms of depression during perimenopause yet the mental health issue is not detected and as a consequence, untreated. Read PsychCentral article here

First-ever guidelines for detecting, treating perimenopausal depression

Clinicians and scientists have published the first-ever guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression simultaneously in the journal Menopause and the Journal of Women's Health. Read ScienceDaily article here

Guidance on menopause and the workplace

The Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) has produced guidance on menopause and the workplace. It pulls together the latest information on how menopause affects some women at work.

The guidance is aimed at women going through menopause and offers employers practical guidance on how to improve workplace environments for them.

RCOG statement on hormone therapy use for menopause

Hormone therapy use up to 7 years among postmenopausal women was not associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular, cancer, or all causes for nearly 2 decades of follow up, a new analysis shows.The results from the Women's Health Initiative trial are published in JAMA.

Nurse specialist in menopause

The Royal College of Nursing has published this document on the role of the nurse specialist in managing and supporting women with menopause.

Menopause Quality Standard

New Quality Standard from NICE on menopause.

Oestrogen deficiency symptoms in postmenopausal women: conjugated oestrogens and bazedoxifene acetate

New Evidence Summary from NICE:

In a randomised controlled trial (RCT; n=332), at week 12, conjugated oestrogens and bazedoxifene 0.45 mg/20 mg statistically significantly reduced the average daily number of moderate and severe hot flushes from baseline compared with placebo. In another RCT (n=664) in women with vulvar or vaginal atrophy, at week 12, there were statistically significant improvements compared with placebo in some but not all primary outcomes in the conjugated oestrogens and bazedoxifene 0.45 mg/20 mg group. Statistically significant improvements in certain elements of quality of life compared with placebo were seen in both RCTs. However, no active comparator was included, making it difficult to establish the effectiveness of conjugated oestrogens and bazedoxifene 0.45 mg/20 mg compared with existing treatments. Because of the small number of women exposed and short duration of exposure, the available safety data do not allow for assessment of whether the incidence of rare but important adverse events including cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, venous thromboembolism or cancer (including breast or ovarian cancer) are increased in women taking conjugated oestrogens and bazedoxifene compared with placebo, or other treatments.

Endometrial biopsy in women taking warfarin

Answer to the question, What evidence is there to differ management in patients with postmenopausal bleeding who need an outpatient biopsy but are on warfarin?, posted to the RCOG Query Bank.

Postmenopausal thick endometrium

Answer to question, 'Are there guidelines for the management of a postmenopausal patient who has the incidental finding of thickened endometrium on ultrasound (i.e. a patient without complaint of bleeding or discharge)?' added to the RCOG Query Bank.