Menopause

ABSTRACT

Menopause can lead to poor quality of life and health problems and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The health goals of postmenopausal women are to maintain optimal physical, psychological, and social well-being by treating short-term and long-term health problems related to menopause and correcting risk factors for chronic diseases related to aging. The menopausal transition is an excellent opportunity for a general health assessment including assessment of chronic diseases and cancer screening. Recommendations from scientific societies clarify that initiation of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is appropriate for symptomatic women without contraindications when they are in the early postmenopausal period (i.e., age <60 years or within 10 years of menopause onset). The decreasing rate of MHT use and/or its premature discontinuation may lead to an increased prevalence of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Primary care physicians should be able to provide symptomatic women with the right information about the benefits and risks of MHT and recommend MHT without any underlying fear.