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Menopause
What's new
Updated 2024 BGCS/BMS guidelines for the management of menopausal symptoms after treatment of gynecological cancer .
Background
Overview
Definition
Menopause is defined as the natural biological process in women that signifies the permanent end of menstruation and fertility.
1
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of menopause is primarily related to the depletion of ovarian follicles, which leads to decreased production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal change triggers the various symptoms associated with menopause.
2
Epidemiology
The prevalence of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms differs across geographic regions: estimated at 46% in North America, 45-69% in Latin America, 74% in Europe, and 22-63% in Asia.
3
Risk factors
Several risk factors are associated with more severe menopausal symptoms. These include a history of depression, certain lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity, and undergoing premature or surgical menopause.
4
Disease course
Menopause is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. The most common symptoms include vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, genitourinary symptoms like vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, and mood changes.
2
Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis of menopause is generally favorable, the symptoms eventually subside without intervention.
2
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of menopause are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the British Menopause Society (BMS/BGCS 2024), the Canadian Urological Association (CUA 2024), the American Society of Hematology (ASH 2023), the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC 2021,2017,2014), the Endocrine Society (ES 2020,2015), the American College of Obstetricians ...
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