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More women choosing alternative medicine to treat menopausal symptoms
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More women are turning to complementary and alternative medicine to treat their menopausal symptoms without first consulting a clinician, according to research in Menopause, and a leading menopause group is calling on clinicians to take a more active role in educating patients about the various therapies.
In a longitudinal data analysis of Australian women, researchers found that women with menopause-related symptoms were more likely to use self-prescribed complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), but were not more likely to consult a CAM practitioner.
The news follows the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) formally recommending that hormone therapy be considered for women over age 65 years, citing recent research on longer-lasting menopausal symptoms and a lack of effective treatment alternatives.
HT, including oral and transdermal estrogens, remains on the list of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for women over the age of 65 years, more commonly known as the Beers list. In a statement announcing its position, NAMS noted that HT should instead be designated as a treatment to “use with caution,” a new category added to the list in 2012.
Commonly used CAM practitioners include massage therapists, herbalists, chiropractors, osteopaths and acupuncturists. CAM supplements include vitamins, herbal medicines, aromatherapy oils or Chinese medicine.
While there is debate over the effectiveness of CAM, the main concern is that women turn to the alternative therapies without first consulting with a clinician, according to a NAMS press release highlighting the study. The researchers suggest that health care providers — in particular family medicine practitioners — help patients considering CAM to better understand their choices. NAMS formally recommends that health care providers ask their midlife patients about CAM use and utilize available resources to guide them regarding the efficacy and safety of available treatments.
“There is still much to be learned in the CAM arena, and women need to understand that just because something appears natural does not necessarily mean it is without risk, especially for certain populations,” Wulf Utian, MD, PhD, medical director for NAMS, said in a press release. “In the meantime, this study does a good job of alerting clinicians to the growing interest in CAM alternatives and of the critical role of health providers in helping educate patients on the potential risks and benefits of all options.”– by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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