Introduction & module overview
Introduction and module overview
There are concerns held by many in healthcare that the menopause can cause significant upset in many women but is poorly recognised and undertreated. This module will help pharmacists and their teams to identify those women with symptoms related to the menopause and provides guidance on how best to manage these symptoms.
Key facts
- The average age of menopause diagnosis in the UK is 51 years although this varies by ethnicity
- It is estimated that 20 per cent of UK women have had a hysterectomy and, although the ovaries may be preserved, the menopause is often earlier than normal in these cases
- Menopausal symptoms typically last from five to seven years, but some women continue to experience them for up to 10-15 years
- Hot flushes and night sweats are the most commonly reported symptoms of the menopause
- Hot flushes can be related to drugs that affect vascular reactivity, such as some antihypertensives, and to antidepressants when prescribed at high doses