Menopause
Authors: Christine Laine
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

In the Clinic7 April 2009MenopauseChristine Laine, MD, MPH, David R. Goldmann, MD, Harold C. Sox, MD, Nananda F. Col, MD, MPP, MPH, Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD, DrPH, Carol Ewan-Whyte, PhD, and Heather Miller, PhD, MFSChristine Laine, MD, MPHSearch for more papers by this author, David R. Goldmann, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Harold C. Sox, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Nananda F. Col, MD, MPP, MPHSearch for more papers by this author, Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD, DrPHSearch for more papers by this author, Carol Ewan-Whyte, PhDSearch for more papers by this author, and Heather Miller, PhD, MFSSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-150-7-200904070-01004 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail DiagnosisManagement of symptoms and conditions associated with menopause challenges both women and their physicians. The variety of symptoms and their fluctuating nature, the effects of menopause on other conditions, and uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of available treatments contribute to the confusion. The demand for nonhormonal treatments for menopause symptoms has increased since the publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) findings (1, 2). The importance of considering patient preferences and values in addition to their symptoms and health risks further complicates care of menopausal women.What is menopause?Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle and the ...References1. Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288:321-33. [PMID: 12117397] Google Scholar2. Hersh AL, Stefanick ML, Stafford RS. National use of postmenopausal hormone therapy: annual trends and response to recent evidence. JAMA. 2004;291:47-53. [PMID: 14709575] Google Scholar3. McKinlay SM. The normal menopause transition: an overview. Maturitas. 1996;23:137-45. [PMID: 8735352] Google Scholar4. Soules MR, Sherman S, Parrott E, et al. Executive summary: Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW). Climacteric. 2001;4:267-72. 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