Managing the menopause: practical choices faced in primary care

Over the last 10 years, the management of the menopause has changed dramatically following the controversy surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Non-drug options have become increasingly popular with women and this has presented new challenges to us as their physicians. This report includes insights into how women feel about their menopause management, in particular their need to make an informed decision about their menopause management. This will ensure that they are committed to the option selected. Non-drug options should be viewed as a different approach to HRT, not as a substitute, and they should be recommended specifically to ensure that quality is assured. A guide is included as to how to select non-drug options, in particular for the phytoestrogen supplement products. Our role as physicians is to offer our patients the best possible choices to manage their health, and this should now include non-drug options that have been well-researched in terms of efficacy and safety.