Consultation on draft menopause guideline
NICE (Monday 1 June) opened a public consultation on a draft clinical guideline about diagnosis and management of menopause.
Menopause is when a woman stops having menstrual periods as she is reaching the end of her natural reproductive life. The drop in the level of oestrogen, the sex hormone, can cause hot flushes, vaginal dryness and may lead to long term conditions i.e. brittle bones (osteoporosis) and cardiovascular disease.
Menopause symptoms may severely affect quality of life, requiring medical help from a GP or hospital specialist. About 80% of women experience some symptoms, which usually continue for about 4 years after her last period. For 10% of women, symptoms can last for up to 12 years.
The average menopause age in the UK is 51 but can vary widely – and premature menopause affects 1 in 100 women under 40. The age of menopause varies by ethnicity: studies found that early menopause (between 40 and 45 years of age) affected
- 3.7% of African–Americans,
- 2.9% of white,
- 2.2% of Chinese and
- 0.8% of Japanese women.
The draft guideline covers when blood tests or imaging can help diagnose menopause, and when treatments like hormone replacement therapy or other therapies should be offered.