Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-07-24DOI: 10.1177/20533691241266863
Anupa Shah, Katie Barber
{"title":"Community Gynaecology Service Oxfordshire: How a local women's health hub improved access to menopause care.","authors":"Anupa Shah, Katie Barber","doi":"10.1177/20533691241266863","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241266863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Women's Health Strategy 2022 aims to improve access to Women's Healthcare needs, with menopause care being a key component to optimise. This strategy encourages the 'expansion of women's health hubs around the country and other models of \"one-stop clinics,\" bringing essential women's services together to support women'.<sup>1</sup> A service evaluation was completed at a local women's health hub in Oxfordshire to review referrals for specialist menopause care. The hub managed 75.1% (970/1291) of referrals in-house at the point of triage. Of these 970 menopause consultations, 10.7% (104/970) were referred onwards for secondary care management, with the remainder 89.3% (866/970) managed within the women's health hub. The service evaluation shows successful application of a local women's health hub in improving access to menopause care.</p>","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"195-198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141753370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-06-14DOI: 10.1177/20533691241261749
Hannah Olivia Davies
{"title":"A local audit evaluating bone health in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea secondary to an eating disorder and a review of the application of hormone therapy in this clinical setting.","authors":"Hannah Olivia Davies","doi":"10.1177/20533691241261749","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241261749","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is widely known that estrogen has a fundamental role to play in skeletal homeostasis. In the most reductionist sense, the action of estrogen can be surmised as anti-resorptive. Estrogen prevents the break-down of bone. It therefore follows that estrogen deficiency states, such as the menopause and functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA), are often characterised by increased bone remodelling and disrupted skeletal homeostasis. FHA is the cessation of menstruation secondary to abnormal signalling between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland due to deficient pulsatile secretion of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). Functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea is frequently a consequence of women suffering with eating disorders. The development of FHA secondary to eating disorders is an evolutionary adaptive response to chronic metabolic energy deficiency. Fundamentally, preservation of life is biologically prioritised over dispensable physiological process such as reproduction. Consequently, the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis fails, which disrupts menstrual function and ovulation, culminating in a state of estrogen deficiency. One of the most important and long-lasting deleterious consequences of FHA is disrupted skeletal homeostasis and bone loss. Estrogen replacement, most commonly in the form of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), is advised for women with an early menopause to prevent bone loss. Arguably, estrogen replacement should also be utilised in the context of FHA. However, the optimum estrogen regime for women with FHA remains under-researched and so management is not evidence-based.</p>","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"182-189"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141318945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1177/20533691241279983
{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: Evaluation of symptoms, using a questionnaire, in a research setting, before and after treatment\".","authors":"","doi":"10.1177/20533691241279983","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241279983","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"NP1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142074536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-09-11DOI: 10.1177/20533691241281359
Edward Morris, Heather Currie
{"title":"Learn from the past: Protect the future.","authors":"Edward Morris, Heather Currie","doi":"10.1177/20533691241281359","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241281359","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"141-142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142300588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-05-16DOI: 10.1177/20533691241240552
Liz Horrocks, Debra Holloway, Janice Rymer, Deborah Bruce
{"title":"Quality improvement project - Reducing the inadvertent prescribing of unopposed estrogen in primary care Dr Liz Horrocks Banstead PCN.","authors":"Liz Horrocks, Debra Holloway, Janice Rymer, Deborah Bruce","doi":"10.1177/20533691241240552","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241240552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the project was to reduce the risk of patients using the estrogen only part of their hormone replacement therapy (HRT) inadvertently in Banstead PCN. Although understanding about the risk of unopposed estrogen is well understood by prescribers, there are numerous flash points where this exposure can occur which was highlighted by several cases encountered during a study period of 3 months.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Cases encountered revealed numerous reasons for this exposure which were split into three areas: Prescribing factors, dispensing checks and patient understanding.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Quality improvement suggestions were tailored to the factors involved. IT system changes to EMIS, our main computer software provider, were proposed to enable safer prescribing. Following discussion with key stakeholders, increased education for pharmacists was proposed alongside an alert sticker system at the dispensing end point. Patient understanding and education for all parties was delivered through various routes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The IT system alterations required are complex and still awaited. Funding was obtained and stickers distributed. The results from a re-audit from this intervention are awaited. Interim education measures at an individual level were meantime explored and the impact of them assessed. Patient education and the role of social media were explored. I produced a short video which was circulated to doctors with the plan to distribute via other clinician social media accounts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A key discovery through this study is that many of the flash points identified can be difficult to detect and many are not measurable. The increasing number of HRT prescriptions, time pressures in primary care and the known risk from using unopposed estrogen of endometrial cancer means these changes are of potential great value.</p>","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"190-194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140946383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thai postmenopausal woman's view in genitourinary syndrome of menopause.","authors":"Pattra Wongapai, Titima Jirasawas, Patsama Vichinsartvichai","doi":"10.1177/20533691241254701","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241254701","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To determine the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and their awareness, attitudes, and perception of this issue.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Using a specifically designed questionnaire, interviews were performed on 500 Thai postmenopausal women who attended at Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, from August 2021 to April 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the 500 participants was 60.39 ± 8.12 years. The prevalence of GSM was 47.2%. The common symptoms affected by GSM were vaginal dryness (38.5%), urinary urgency (24.6%), dyspareunia (13.6%), vaginal irritation (10.2%), vaginal burning (7.2%), and dysuria (5.9%). One-half of the women were uncomfortable talking about GSM. Three-quarters who did not reveal GSM symptoms believed that the problem was a part of aging. Only 20.3% of women who suffer from symptoms consulted a health care provider (HCP). Of the women who had been prescribed treatment, 84.6% of these women reported better quality of life.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>GSM is a meaningful decrement in quality of life. Most Thai postmenopausal women who had symptoms believed that the problem was the aging process. Awareness of GSM and available treatment would be a further benefit.</p>","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"157-165"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140960821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Post reproductive healthPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-02-23DOI: 10.1177/20533691241235273
David Wasley, Samantha Gailey
{"title":"Menopause and the role of physical activity - The views and knowledge of women aged 40-65.","authors":"David Wasley, Samantha Gailey","doi":"10.1177/20533691241235273","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20533691241235273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menopause marks the end of female reproductive capacity. It is defined as the point after cessation of the menstrual cycle for 12 months (Nursat et al., 2008). Awareness about menopause has increased over the last decade, yet studies have shown that women still lack knowledge regarding the subject. Likewise, awareness of women between the age of 40-65 on the potential role of physical activity prior to and during menopause in women is unclear. Women (<i>n</i> = 162) aged 40-65 years completed a survey rating their knowledge, answered fact-based questions and reported their experiences of menopause. Their levels of, and beliefs on, the role physical activity on symptoms and menopause associated disease risk were also collected. Women reported their confidence in their current knowledge level at 67% reflecting 37% higher rating than an estimate of their knowledge 10 years ago. Their factual knowledge score was 56%. Knowledge was primarily gained through friends and family and almost half (46%) had not spoken to a healthcare professional. Frustration was expressed with lack of knowledge and support of healthcare and others. Women using HRT (44%) had mixed attitudes towards its role. A high proportion were active and felt that physical activity can help manage symptoms and impact long-term health consequences of menopause. Menopause education strategies for women, healthcare professionals and others need to be improved. Lack of education may be causing women to struggle and feel negatively towards this life stage. Physical activity was viewed positively for the symptoms and a treatment during menopause and long-term health.</p>","PeriodicalId":52104,"journal":{"name":"Post reproductive health","volume":" ","pages":"77-84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11188563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139941236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}