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New menopause guidelines clarify treatment options
New clinical guidelines clarify when menopausal hormone therapy is used instead of other medicines and address options for people with a history of breast cancer.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has developed a new set of clinical guidelines to make navigating treatment for menopausal symptoms easier.
The guidelines clarify when menopausal hormone therapy is used rather than other medicines. They also address the treatment options available to people who have a history of breast cancer.
Guideline development group chair Catriona Melville said the aim was to cut through conflicting information and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations that clinicians can discuss with their patients.
The guidance covers women aged 40 and older. Its scope includes hot flushes and night sweats, as well as vaginal dryness and a frequent need to urinate.
Management of bone density, joint pain, libido, depression and anxiety falls outside the guidelines' scope.
The guidelines list possible options for different menopausal symptoms, including menopausal hormone therapy, acupuncture and hypnosis. They rank the available evidence for treatment options on a scale from very low to high.