Menopause Flashcards
What are the definitions of:
1. Menopause
2. Premenopause (2)
3. Perimenopause
4. Climacteric
5. Early menopause
6. Premature ovarian failure
- Cessation of menstruation for >12 months. Average age 51
- -Early transition to menopause - persistent difference of > 7 days in length of cycle
-Late menopause - amenorrhoea for >60mdays - onset of perimenopausal sx - Time of onset of irregular cycles till 12 months after LMP
- Time interval between reproductive life and non reproductive life
- Early menopause <45
- Premature ovarian failure <40 (1%)
How is menopause diagnosed (4 points)
- Clinical diagnosis - retrospective
- No need to test hormone levels in suspected menopause if women has amenorrhoea from -hysterectomy/ablation/Mirena
- Consider testing hormone levels if younger than 45 and suspect early menopause = 2 x FSH >30 4-6 weeks apart
- Test hormone levels if suspecting POF = 2 x FSH > 30 4-6 weeks apart
- If testing someone over 50 the FSH >30 on one occasion is sufficient.
What are the symptoms commonly experienced with menopause and incidence (5)
- Vasomotor symptoms - night sweats, hot flushes
-40% of women aged 60-65 have VMS
-80% of women experience these symptoms
-20% are severely affected
-10% have VMS lasting >10 yrs - MSK symptoms - joint and muscle aches (80%)
-Next common after VMS - Genital symptoms
-Vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, vulval itching, prolapse - Urinary symptoms
-Urinary frequency, incontinence
-UTI, dysuria - Psychological symptoms
-Insomnia, fatigue
-Depression and anxiety, mood instability, decreased libido
-Short term memory loss
What is the proposed mechanism of hot flushes
Disruption in thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus resulting in a reduced thermoneutral zone
Due to the drop in estrogen levels which causes reduction in the thermoneutral zone by variety of possible mechanisms
Results in frequent misinterpretation that body temperature is too high
Body takes action to cool down by sweating and radiation of heat
What are the health consequences of menopause (4)
- Rapid bone loss and increased fracture risk
- Metabolic changes
-Central fat deposition
-Increased insulin resistance - Cardiovascular
-Impaired endothelial function and inflammation
-Dyslipidemia
-Increased BP
-Decreased NO synthase, increased ACEII - Cognition
-Contraversial whether loss of estrogen impacts cognition
Discuss management of menopausal symptoms
1. Behavioural measures (5)
2. Non pharmacological measures (5)
- Behavioural
-Light clothing in layers
-Small fans
-Sleep in cool room
-Exercise - may improve sleep and wellbeing. Unclear for VMS
-Diet - avoid excess etOH and caffeine - Non-pharmacological
-CBT / mindfulness/ paced respiration
-Accupuncture - no effect
-Hypnotherapy - effect
-Vaginal moisturisers, gels, lubricants
-Phytoestrogens (No better than placebo)
Discuss pharmacological management of menopausal symptoms (4)
- Herbal remedies
-Phytogenes, red clover, black cohosh
-Not shown to be effective in large RCT - Gabapentin
-Equally effective as low dose oestrogen for VMS
-Reduces VMS 31% - SNRI’s
-Effective for VMS but not as good as HRT
-Venlafaxin reduces VMS by 34%
-OK with tamoxifen - SSRI’s
-Effective for VMS but less cf HRT
-Paroxetine first line - reduces VMS by 30%, fluoxetine 24%
-Should not be used if on tamoxifen - Clonidine
-Reduces VMS by 27%. Some studies show no benefit over placebo - Hormonal
-SERMS
-Tibolone
-HRT
-Topical estrogen
Discuss tibolone in management of menopausal symptoms
-Class of medication
-Efficacy for VMS, fracture
-Impact on cancers and VTE
-When to use
-Contra-indications
- Synthetic steroid with oestrogenic, progestogenic and weak androgenic effects
- Efficacy for VMS - 35-50%
- Reduced vertebral fracture risk RR 0.55, reduction in non-vetebral fracture RR 0.74
- Risk for breast cancer unclear. May increase so avoid in women with Hx Breast cancer
Increased risk stroke 2.2 if >60
No impact VTE and CHD
Concern over breast cancer recurrence - Use when >12 months post menopausal as can cause irregular bleeding
Can use with or without uterus
Less PVB cf MHT - Contra-indicated in breast cancer survivors
How should menopausal symptoms be managed in those with breast cancer (4 points)
- HRT contraindicated generally
-HABITS trial shows increased recurrence - Treatment options
-Lifestyle, non-pharmacological, SSRI,SNRI, Clonadine, Gabapentin - Avoid tibolone
- Treatment should be individualised
How does estrogen protect against osteoporosis
-4 mechanisms
E2 receptors are in bone
-Estrogen inhibits osteoclast action and increases osteoclast apoptosis
-Estrogen extends osteoblast lifespan and increase osteoblast proliferation
-Increases intestinal calcium reabsorption
-Protects bone from PTH which drives bone reabsorption
Describe the demographics of osteoporosis
-Incidence in over 50yrs
-Age of maximum bone density
-Time of maximum bone loss
-Risk factors
- 50%
- 30-35
- Rapid decline in bone density directly after menopause
-1-2% loss per annum - Risk factors
-Age, gender (f), late menarche, early menopause, post menopause, diet low in vit D and calcium, ethnicity, low BMI, heavy EtOH use, smoking, medications, inactive lifestyle
Describe how bone density should be monitored
- Use FRAX score to determine high risk of fracture. If score high risk then opt for DEXA scan
- DEXA scan gives two values
T score compares BMD with women in 30’s
-Osteoporisis =< -2.5
Z score compares BMD with women same age
-Osteoporosis = < -2.5
-No evidence to use ongoing scanning to monitor treatment
What is the management for osteoporosis
-Non pharmacological - 7
-Pharmacological - 4
- Management non-pharmacological
-Maintain wt >60kg, Exercise
-Avoid steroids
-Avoid smoking and reduce etOH use (<2 standard drinks / day), reduce caffeine intake
-Calcium 1000mcg /day; Vit D >10mcg / day from diet/sups - Pharmacological
-Bisphosphonates - first line
-PO alendronate + calcium +/- Vit D
-Zoledronate IV infusion annually
-Tibolone
-Increases BMD but unclear if decreases fracture risk
-SERMS
-Tamoxifen - reduces risk of fracture by 32%
-Raloxifen - reduces risk of fracture by 55%
-HRT - not recommended first line but may be considered if <10 yrs PM and other options contra-indicated (Effect same as bisphosophnates)
-reduces hip fractures by 40%
-Reduces fractures at all sites
Discuss tamoxifen
-Class of medication
-Effect of specific tissue (6)
-Management for
-Screening
-If symptomatic
-Pregnancy
- Selective estrogen receptor modulator - SERM
- Effect on tissue
-Anti estrogenic effects on breast
-Acts on uterus, vagina, ovaries, blood and bone
-Increased risk of VTE
-Increased risk of cystic hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma (RR = 4 in post menopausal women. Risk increases with duration of use, 1.6% at 5yrs, 3.1 at 5-14yrs)
-Increased risk benign cystic hyperplasia and polyps
-Increased risk ovulation induction in premenopausal women - Management
-Screening for endometrial changes in aSx women not recommended
-Incidental finding of thickened ET management = controversial. Consider other risk factors for hyperplasia / cancer
-Unclear if LNG-IUS for prevention
-If Sx screen with USS + endometrial Bx
-If atypical hyperplasia on Bx consult with oncologist about management (switch or stop)
-Use contraception to avoid pregnancy.
-Use in pregnancy can increase risk of congenital abnormalities
Discuss Post menopausal bleeding
-Definition
-Incidence
-Causes - 6 with frequency (%)
- New PVB after 1 yr amenorrhoea
- Incidence 4-11%. 90% of time benign cause
- Causes:
-Atrophy 60-80%
-HRT - 15-25%
-Polyps 2-12%
-Endometrial hyperplasia - 10%
-Cervical cancer <1%
-Infection - rare