Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- amenorrhoea
- irregular menstrual cycle
- hot flushes and night sweats
- vaginal symptoms
- mood changes
Other diagnostic factors
- sleep disturbance
- mild memory impairment
- heavy menstrual bleeding
Risk factors
- age 40 to 60 years
- cancer treatment
- smoking
- ovarian surgery
- mother's age at the menopause
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- serum estradiol
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Clinical Director Women and Sexual Health
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Scotland
UK
Disclosures
HC declares that she has received sponsorship, educational grants, speaker fees, funding for attendance at meetings, and advisory board fees from several pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical companies, which supports the running and development of Menopause Matters Ltd.
Consultant Gynaecologist
Clinical Lead for Menopause Service
King's College Hospital NHS Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
HH declares that he has acted in an advisory capacity for Bayer. HH received a research grant to support a clinical trial and support to attend academic conferences from Besins.
Independence Park Medical Services
Anchorage
AK
Disclosures
BWF is a consultant for Advance Medical and Kevin Trangle Associates and is on the Speakers Bureau for Abbvie.
Dr Heather Currie, Dr Haitham Hamoda, and Dr Bradford W. Fenton would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Rebekah Wang-Cheng, a previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
RWC declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
VA
Disclosures
NGOC declares that she has no competing interests.
Internist
Daniel Island
SC
Disclosures
CS declares that she has no competing interests.
Consultant
Honorary Senior Lecturer and Clinical Director
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Norwich
UK
Disclosures
EM declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Columbia University in New York Medical Center
New York
NY
Disclosures
MW has received research funding from Ferring and Pfizer Wyeth; has acted as an advisory board consultant for Pfizer Wyeth, QuatRx, and Yoplait; and is on the speakers' bureau of Amgen, Upsher Smith, and Warner Chilcott. MW is also an author of a reference cited in this topic.
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