Non-estrogen Option for Menopause

Study Results Show Novel Menopause Drug May Benefit Millions of Women

By Kelli Miller Stacy
WebMD Health News

May 23, 2008 -- New research results show that a non-estrogen drug called Ophena significantly improves symptoms of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse in postmenopausal women, raising hopes of an alterative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, or dyspareunia, are two common symptoms of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy -- thinning of the tissue and lining of the vulva and vagina. It affects up to 40% of postmenopausal women in the U.S.

"For millions of postmenopausal women, the symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy represent a serious health issue that can have a profound negative impact on quality of life," James A. Simon, MD, CCD, FACOG, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University, says in a news release.

Over-the-counter non-hormonal lubricants and moisturizers are available to help with symptoms, but the most effective treatments for vulvovaginal atrophy contain the hormone estrogen. Estrogen replacement therapy has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Ophena is a type of drug called a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Pivotal clinical trial results presented this week at the 12th World Congress on the Menopause in Madrid, Spain, show that women who took Ophena tablets for 12 weeks had significant improvements in symptom scores of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. The study involved 826 postmenopausal women at 80 different medical centers across the U.S. who were randomly assigned to one of two doses of Ophena or a placebo.

"These study results indicate that Ophena has the potential to be the first non-estrogen treatment option that provides a clear clinical benefit. We are working to advance the development program for Ophena to make this important therapy available to all women who would benefit from it," Robert Zerbe, MD, president and chief executive officer of QuatRx, says in the news release.

The researchers say the drug appears to be safe and generally well tolerated.

Test predicts when menopause will begin

The Daily Telegraph

October 31, 2008 01:40am

Tick tock ... new tests could tell women how many years they are away from menopause, offering them a 'roadmap' to their reproductive life.

NEW tests could tell women how many years they are away from menopause, offering them a "roadmap" to their reproductive life.

For the first time, overseas scientists believe they have developed a blueprint to accurately predict when a woman's reproductive cycle is likely to end by testing hormone levels in blood.

But Australian experts yesterday said the test gave "false hope".

They said there was still no conclusive way of measuring when a woman would begin menopause.

The University of Michigan studied changes in hormones FSH and inhibin B, which stimulate eggs, in more than 600 women over 14 years.

It found hormones dropped significantly five years before menopause, meaning she was also at her least fertile.

Scientists also tested another 50 women each year for changes in the hormone AMH, which is already used as a predictor of fertility.

Researcher Maryfran Sowers said the results could help women choosing to have later-in-life babies.

"The information provides a roadmap as to how fast women are progressing through the different elements of their reproductive life," Ms Sowers said yesterday.

Related Coverage

• Reproductive tourism a growing worryNEWS.com.au, 25 Jul 2008
• Reader's Comments: From burly woman to heavily pregnant manNEWS.com.au,
• Fertility 'roadmap' for womenAdelaide Now, 31 Oct 2008
• Key to women's ticking clockCourier Mail, 31 Oct 2008
• Map out your baby timetableDaily Telegraph, 31 Oct 2008

"We finally have numbers from enough women evaluated over a long time period to describe the reproductive ageing process."

The hormone AMH fell to a very low or non-measurable level five years prior to the final menstrual period.

But IVF Australia chairman Michael Chapman said doctors already used a similar test measuring AMH to predict a woman's fertility.

"The measurement of these hormones has been done for the last 10 years," he said. "We have recognised that AMH is a marker of predicting the number of eggs in ovaries.

"Our experience is, it might be that the ovaries are running short of eggs but it doesn't mean that menopause is due to start in the next one or five years. Menopause could still be years off."

Similar studies have been conducted in Australia but are yet to produce conclusive results.

Mother-of-two Jodie Earnshaw, 39, said a test to predict menopause would help women make choices. "I think a test like this would be good for women aged in their early 30s," she said.

Would you take the test? Let me know

Menopause and Sleep

Here is an interesting video on Menopause and sleep.

Talks about how much sleep you really need and the new treatments for menopause to help you get some zzz's



Sue

Psoriasis Treatment

Up to 1 in 5 people will suffer from the effects of Psoriasis at some point in their lives

If you are one of them, before to check out our psoriasis treatment page full of helpful information

Great Video On Menopause

Menopause Information Series #3 - Treating Menopause

So, what are your options for managing your menopause and its symptoms?

Over the next few posts I will go into more detail into your options, these include:

Diet
Vitamins, Minerals & Herbs
Stop Smoking
Exercise
Natural Treatments

Stay Tuned for more over the coming week

Sue

Menopause Information Series #2 - Menopause Symptoms

How do you know if you have menopause? What type of things constitute a menopause symptom?

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can cause many different symptoms and almost no 2 women are the same. Menopause Symptoms can include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats;
• aches and pains;
• vaginal dryness;
  
• tiredness;
• irritability;
• headaches;
• reduced sex drive
• difficulty sleeping;
• bloating;
• depression
• and many more

Not to say that the above symptoms are necessarily menopause, but if you are experiencing one or more of these consistently then it is probably time to consult your health care professional or look at a natural menopause treatment option.