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Alternative therapies for postmenopausal women
1Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
International Journal of Fertility and Women'S Medicine
|November 11, 2005
Summary
Postmenopausal women often use alternative therapies alongside conventional medicine without informing their doctors. While many options lack long-term safety and efficacy data, soy phytoestrogens show promise for specific populations.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Pharmacology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Postmenopausal women frequently utilize alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms and conditions.
- A significant proportion use herbal remedies or high-dose vitamins concurrently with prescription medications, often without physician disclosure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review existing research on alternative therapies for menopausal complaints.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of various botanical and non-botanical treatments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of over 130 studies.
- Focused review on phytoestrogens (especially soy), hot flush therapies, and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer.
- Inclusion of unconventional treatments like estriol and dehydroepiandrosterone.
Main Results:
- The overall evidence for many alternative therapies in menopause management is limited or negative.
- Phytoestrogens, particularly from soy, show potential, especially in women who produce equol.
- Limited long-term safety and efficacy data exist for most reviewed alternative therapies.
Conclusions:
- Most alternative therapies lack robust evidence for long-term safety and efficacy in postmenopausal women.
- Soy protein containing phytoestrogens warrants further investigation, particularly for women capable of endogenous equol production.
- Physician awareness and patient disclosure regarding alternative therapy use are crucial for safe and effective menopausal care.