Counseling the menopausal patient

The menopausal patient needs someone in whom she has confidence--preferably her family physician or obstetrician-gynecologist--to take the time to explain the changes of menopause, answer questions, and allay fears. Misconceptions concerning physical, emotional, and sexual effects should be corrected, and the advantages and disadvantages of hormone therapy should be discussed. Sympathetic counseling and proper medical supervision can guide women comfortably through the troubled waters of the menopause and into the safe harbor of the postmenopausal years.