Vivian Lewis1. 1. University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. vivian_lewis@urmc.rochester.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is currently a gap in treatment options for menopausal symptoms and a need for comprehensive therapies that are safe and effective for postmenopausal women. This review discusses challenges in the management of menopausal symptoms and the effect of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study findings on current treatment patterns. It also examines present and future therapies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using Medline, the Cochrane Database, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute WHI website with the following search terms: primary care, menopause, vasomotor symptoms, hormone therapy, osteoporosis, and vaginal atrophy. Searches were limited to articles published between 1995 and 2009. RESULTS: Comprehensive therapies that target several aspects of menopause, such as vasomotor symptoms and chronic disease prevention, are currently hormone based. These hormone-based approaches are considered more effective than currently available nonhormonal therapies for the relief of menopausal symptoms. However, hormone therapy is not recommended for women at high risk for venous thromboembolic events, cardiovascular disease, and/or breast cancer. A need exists for novel therapies that mitigate menopausal symptoms, provide protection from osteoporosis, and encourage patient compliance without promoting cancer, heart disease, or stroke. Emerging modalities and strategies, such as the tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC), Org 50081, MF101, and desvenlafaxine, may provide improved options for postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Several new menopausal therapies that may help to address the ongoing unmet need for safe and effective therapies for postmenopausal women are currently in development. In particular, the TSEC, which provides the benefits of both a selective estrogen receptor modulator and conjugated estrogens with an improved tolerability profile, may offer advantages over currently available treatment options. Limitations of this review include the narrow search criteria and limited search period.
OBJECTIVE: There is currently a gap in treatment options for menopausal symptoms and a need for comprehensive therapies that are safe and effective for postmenopausal women. This review discusses challenges in the management of menopausal symptoms and the effect of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study findings on current treatment patterns. It also examines present and future therapies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using Medline, the Cochrane Database, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute WHI website with the following search terms: primary care, menopause, vasomotor symptoms, hormone therapy, osteoporosis, and vaginal atrophy. Searches were limited to articles published between 1995 and 2009. RESULTS: Comprehensive therapies that target several aspects of menopause, such as vasomotor symptoms and chronic disease prevention, are currently hormone based. These hormone-based approaches are considered more effective than currently available nonhormonal therapies for the relief of menopausal symptoms. However, hormone therapy is not recommended for women at high risk for venous thromboembolic events, cardiovascular disease, and/or breast cancer. A need exists for novel therapies that mitigate menopausal symptoms, provide protection from osteoporosis, and encourage patient compliance without promoting cancer, heart disease, or stroke. Emerging modalities and strategies, such as the tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC), Org 50081, MF101, and desvenlafaxine, may provide improved options for postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Several new menopausal therapies that may help to address the ongoing unmet need for safe and effective therapies for postmenopausal women are currently in development. In particular, the TSEC, which provides the benefits of both a selective estrogen receptor modulator and conjugated estrogens with an improved tolerability profile, may offer advantages over currently available treatment options. Limitations of this review include the narrow search criteria and limited search period.
Authors: Karen Nakano; Ellen Pinnow; Jodi A Flaws; John D Sorkin; Lisa Gallicchio Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2012-01-27 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Kathleen Lang; Ivy M Alexander; James Simon; Matthew Sussman; Iris Lin; Joseph Menzin; Mark Friedman; David Dutwin; Andrew G Bushmakin; Maia Thrift-Perry; Corrado Altomare; Ming-Ann Hsu Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Rebekah A Burich; Neelima Rakesh Mehta; Gregory T Wurz; Jamie Lee McCall; Brittany E Greenberg; Katie E Bell; Stephen M Griffey; Michael W DeGregorio Journal: Menopause Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Matthew Sussman; Jeffrey Trocio; Craig Best; Sebastian Mirkin; Andrew G Bushmakin; Robert Yood; Mark Friedman; Joseph Menzin; Michael Louie Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2015-08-13 Impact factor: 2.809