Current concepts in the management of menopause

Age at menopause has remained relatively constant for several decades. Since a large number of Indian women experience menopause in their forties, they have a longer period of estrogen deprivation and its consequences. The menopausal transition is often associated with short term symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance and mood swings and long term consequences of estrogen deprivation which include osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and uro-genital atrophy.Increasing longevity will see more women seeking help for menopausal symptoms or other consequences of the menopause and aging. The full range of choices from lifestyle modification to non-hormonal and hormonal options should be offered to the woman. Low dose hormone therapy for the shortest duration is the most effective modality of treatment for symptomatic, recently menopausal women, below the age of 60, who do not have any contra-indications to Hormone Therapy.