Amsterdam, May 12, 2016 - A new position statement by the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) published in the journal Maturitas provides a pathway with the latest post-reproductive health strategies, with the aim of optimizing care at an international scale. The pathway will assist healthcare professionals to provide up-to-date evidenced-based information so that women seeking advice about menopausal health should not suffer in silence and be able to make informed choices.
Menopause can cause disruptive symptoms in women, who usually enter this phase in their late 40s or early 50s. Life expectancy continues to rise, and it has been estimated that by 2025, there will be 1.1 billion postmenopausal women worldwide.* Menopausal women run the risk of conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, dementia and sarcopenia. As a result, entering the menopause can be considered as an opportunity to address musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, smoking, alcohol use and cancer screening.
EMAS recommends that assessment should be holistic and include menopausal symptoms, personal and family history, cardiovascular and osteoporotic risk factors as well as gynaecological and breast health. Strategies to maintain postreproductive health include optimising diet and lifestyle, menopausal hormone therapy and non-estrogen-based options for climacteric symptoms and skeletal conservation.
'This easy-to-follow care pathway will help all health professionals provide a personalised approach to postreproductive health and inform women of the strategies available to them during menopause', Prof Margaret Rees, EMAS Executive Director.
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The complete pathway can be found in 'Maintaining postreproductive health: a care pathway from the EuropeanMenopause and Andropause Society (EMAS),' by Eleni Armeni, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Iuliana Ceausu, Herman Depypere, Alfred Mueck, Faustino R. Pérez-López, Yvonne T.van der Schouw, Levent M. Senturk, Tommaso Simoncini, John C. Stevenson, Petra Stute, Margaret Rees (doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.013). It is published in Maturitas, volume 89 (2016), published by Elsevier.
Notes for editors
Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Elsevier's Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com or +31 20 485 2492.
About the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS)
EMAS promotes the study of midlife health through its journal, congresses, schools and website and encourages the exchange of research and professional experience between members.
Using a range of activities and through its affiliates, EMAS aims to guarantee and provide the same standard of education and information throughout Europe on midlife health in both genders. Recognizing the issues arising from increased longevity the society also provides articles, patient information, web resources, and referrals for healthcare providers in the field and keeps its members up-to-date. http://www.emas-online.org
About Maturitas
Maturitas is an international multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health and beyond, publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements and guidelines. The scope encompasses all aspects of postreproductive health in both genders ranging from basic science to health and social care. http://www.maturitas.org
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions -- among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey -- and publishes more than 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 33,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com
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Journal
Maturitas