Search

A 54-year-old woman presents with low libido, diminished arousal, and anorgasmia. She had undergone a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at 49 years of age owing to menorrhagia and a family history of ovarian cancer. She has been using transdermal estradiol patches and topical vaginal estradiol and has no meno-pausal symptoms or dyspareunia. She is in a loving relationship with no major life stressors, does not have depression, and takes no other medication. All other clinical characteristics, including her weight and blood pressure, are normal. She has recently become aware that there may be treatment options for low libido and would like to discuss these with you. How would you respond? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Climacteric is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Blood concentrations of testosterone and estrone tend to increase in women aged ≥70 years, whereas concentrations of their precursor hormone dehydroepiandrosterone decline. It is unknown whether these changes influence physical function. We investigated whether concentrations of these hormones were associated with grip strength and self-reported physical function in community-dwelling older women. Methods A total of 9 179 Australian women, aged ≥70 years, were recruited to the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. Sex hormones were measured in Sex Hormones in Older Women, an ASPREE substudy, by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in 6 358 women. The associations between hormone concentrations and physical function (handgrip strength and self-reported physical function assessed by SF-12v2 physical component summary [PCS]) were examined using multiple linear regression. Results The median age of the 5,447 participants was 74.0 (interquartile range 71.7–77.6) years. Testosterone concentrations above the lowest quartile were associated with less decline in grip strength (mean –1.39 [95% CI –1.54 to –1.24] vs –1.75 [–2.00 to –1.50] kg, p  = .02), and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations above the lowest quartile were associated with less decline in grip strength (–1.39 [–1.54 to –1.25] vs –1.82 [–2.11 to –1.55] kg, p  = .007) and PCS scores (–1.49 [–1.80 to –1.17] vs –2.33 [–2.93 to –1.72], p  = .02) over 4 years, compared with those in the respective lowest quartile. Conclusions Low endogenous concentrations of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were associated the greatest likelihood of physical function decline in community-based women aged ≥70 years. Further studies are warranted to determine whether testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone therapy prevent functional decline in this at-risk group using sensitive measures of muscle strength and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause is a natural and universal experience for women between the ages of 45 and 55, marking a new phase in their lives. While menopause is not a disease, the biological changes that occur during this time can greatly impact a woman's quality of life and overall health. With more women living longer and experiencing menopause, it is important to prioritize women's health and well-being during this stage. The International Menopause Society (IMS) aims to promote and support access to best-practice healthcare for women during their menopause transition and post-reproductive years. The narrative surrounding menopause is highly individualized, and women should have personalized care options that are evidence-based and tailored to their needs. There are contrasting views on menopause in the media, which can leave women confused and disempowered. It is important to strike a balance in providing accurate information and empowering women to make informed decisions about their health. The IMS is committed to disseminating balanced, evidence-based information on menopause care to healthcare professionals and women worldwide. [Extracted from the article]