Abstract

Our beliefs about menopause have been challenged by a series of randomized clinical trials, including the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which have contradicted the results of observational studies which suggested hormone treatment as a “prevent all” for coronary heart disease, as well as several other common chronic diseases. The message, based on the WHI analyses to date, remains the same: while hormone treatment is the most effective way to treat vasomotor symptoms, its use for prevention of chronic disease in women over 60 is not recommended. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), seeks to better characterize the hormonal and symptom patterns of the menopause transition--the phase in which women move from reproductive age ovarian functioning to the final menstrual period--find a marker that will predict the final menstrual period, and determine factors that predict healthy aging.

Keywords: menopause, Women's Health Initiative, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, WHI, SWAN, depression

How to Cite:

Johnson, S. R., (2011) “The menopause mess”, Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2(2), 1–2. doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2154-4751.1131

Rights: Copyright © Susan R. Johnson, 2011.