This is a handout I produced for the American Academy of Family Physicians Annual Scientific Assembly that was held in San Diego, CA, September 19 and 20, 2008. My desire in making this information freely available is to help women who are wrestling with menopausal symptoms, and who are considering natural medications, to make wise decisions in conjunction with their personal healthcare professional.

More Information:

MedPage is reporting a study showing that hormone therapy in midlife has been associated with reduced women’s risk of developing dementia in old age. Compared with controls and after adjusting for other risk factors, women who only used hormone replacement at midlife (age 40 – 55) had a decreased risk of dementia by about 24% versus a 46% increase in risk among women who only took hormones late in life.

My Take?

MedScape is reporting that the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has updated its guidelines on postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and issued a position statement published in the July/August issue of Menopause. Recent data suggest that the benefit-risk ratio for HT is favorable near menopause but decreases with aging and time since menopause in previously untreated women.

My Take?

Here are my comments on some of today’s health headlines:

FDA Approves Spray-On Estrogen to Treat Menopause

The FDA has approved a form of spray-on estrogen called Evamist, which contains estrodial in ethanol.

Evamist is sprayed on the inside of a woman’s forearm, dries clear in one minute, and is said to be slowly released over a 24-hour period. Supposedly, it cannot be washed off and it won’t transfer to other people.