A Randomized Trial of Alternative Medicines for Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
Authors: Carol M. Mangione
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Editorials19 December 2006A Randomized Trial of Alternative Medicines for Vasomotor Symptoms of MenopauseCarol M. Mangione, MD, MSPHCarol M. Mangione, MD, MSPHFrom David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-145-12-200612190-00009 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Menopause occurs in women as part of normal aging. Many go through this transition with few or no symptoms, while some have substantial or even disabling symptoms (1). The vasomotor symptoms of hot flashes—sudden sensations of intense heat with sweating and flushing typically lasting 5 to10 minutes—and night sweats are the most prevalent perimenopausal symptoms (2). Vasomotor symptoms vary by race and ethnicity, and the late phases of the menopausal transition are associated with the highest frequency of these events (10% to 60%) (3).A variety of treatments has been studied in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for the management of ...References1. National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement: management of menopause-related symptoms. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:1003-13. [PMID: 15968015] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Nelson HD, Haney E, Humphrey L, Miller J, Nedrow A, Nicolaidis C, et al. Management of menopausal-related symptoms. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 120. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; March 2005. Google Scholar3. Gold EB, Colvin A, Avis N, Bromberger J, Greendale GA, Powell L, et al. Longitudinal analysis of the association between vasomotor symptoms and race/ethnicity across the menopausal transition: study of women's health across the nation. Am J Public Health. 2006;96:1226-35. [PMID: 16735636] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MacLennan A, Lester A, Moore V. Oral oestrogen replacement therapy versus placebo for hot flushes. [Cochrane Review on CD ROM]. Oxford, England: Cochrane Library, Update Software; 2002. Google Scholar5. 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] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. 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] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Nelson HD, Vesco KK, Haney E, Fu R, Nedrow A, Miller J, et al. Nonhormonal therapies for menopausal hot flashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2006;295:2057-71. [PMID: 16670414] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Newton KM, Reed SD, LaCroix AZ, Grothaus LC, Ehrlich K, Guiltinan J. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:869-79. LinkGoogle Scholar9. Upchurch DM, Chyu L. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among American women. Women's Health Issues. 2005;15:5-13. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Carol M. Mangione, MD, MSPHAffiliations: From David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: Carol M. Mangione, MD, MSPH, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 911 Broxton Plaza, Room 313, Los Angeles, CA 90095; e-mail, [email protected]ucla.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoTreatment of Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause with Black Cohosh, Multibotanicals, Soy, Hormone Therapy, or Placebo Katherine M. Newton , Susan D. Reed , Andrea Z. LaCroix , Louis C. Grothaus , Kelly Ehrlich , and Jane Guiltinan Metrics Cited byPerspective on Improving the Relevance, Rigor, and Reproducibility of Botanical Clinical Trials: Lessons Learned From Turmeric TrialsApplication of complementary and alternative therapies abroad in treatment of climacteric symptomsBreast Cancer from Oral and Transdermal Estradiol: A Cohort Study of Finnish Women 19 December 2006Volume 145, Issue 12Page: 924-925KeywordsAgingClinical trialsEstrogensHormonal therapyHormonesMenopauseObstetrics and gynecologySweat ePublished: 19 December 2006 Issue Published: 19 December 2006 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2006 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...