[Efficacy of hop [Humuluslupulus L.] on early menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial]

Nowadays, because of the concern about risks of hormone-therapy, many physicians and women prefer phyto-estrogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Hop is a plant with potent phyto-estrogenic ingredients. However, its effect on the symptoms has been evaluated only in one clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hop [Humuluslupulus L.] in the treatment of early menopausal symptoms and hot flashes [primary outcomes]. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial, 60 perimenopausal women were randomly assigned to two equal groups [n=30]. One group received hop tablets, 500 mg/day and other group received placebo tablets 500 mg/day, for 90 days. Early menopausal symptoms were assessed by means of Greene Scale [0-63] before and at the 4[th], 8[th] and 12[th] weeks after intervention. ANOVA was used for data analysis. There was no loss to follow-up during the 12 weeks of intervention. The mean Greene total score was significantly lower in the hop group in comparison to the placebo group at the 4[th] [adjusted difference: -8.3, 95% confidence interval: -9.7 to -6.9],8[th] [-14.6, -16.5 to -12.7] and 12[th] [-18.2, -20.5 to -16.0] weeks after intervention. No side effects were reported in this study. Hop effectively reduced the early menopausal symptoms and the number of hot flushes in perimenopausal women. Therefore, phytoestrogens can be used for the treatment of climacteric symptoms in the perimenopausal women

Determining appropriate strategies for improving women's health promoting behaviours: using the nominal group technique

Women's health constitutes a major aspect of development in societies and is considered a health-related priority. The aim of the present study was to determine appropriate strategies for improving health promoting behaviours in women of reproductive age in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Using the nominal group technique, a panel discussion was held in October 2011 with 12 health specialists who were selected through purposive sampling. In the first round, panel members generated 81 strategies; after eliminating irrelevant items and merging items with similar concepts, 44 strategies remained. After group discussion and voting, the following 4 items had the highest scores: improving physical activity, with a social support approach; empowering women; promoting and improving men's role in women's health; and promoting social support. The strategies presented in this study may be utilized by policy-makers, managers and health care providers to improve women's health promoting behaviours, and thus contribute to their wellbeing