Menopause Mini-AKT

MENOPAUSAL LOW MOOD A 48 year-old woman presents to your GP surgery with low mood and loss of libido. This is causing a strain on her marriage and her husband complains that she has been "snappy" all the time in spite of sleeping quite well at night. Her periods have become more irregular, with the last one some 4 months ago. She is usually very upbeat and still goes to work as a receptionist in a business firm and enjoys her daily walks. What is your most appropriate management?

HOT FLUSHES A 51 year-old female multi-regional drug representative attends your clinic complaining of poor sleep as she feels unbearably hot and sweaty in spite of leaving the window ajar. As she has not seen her period for 8 months and has not been in a relationship for 5 years, she feels that this is her menopause but states that she does not want HRT as her mother had developed breast cancer at the age of 44 years and her 53 year-old cousin was recently also diagnosed with breast cancer, having taken HRT. She denies smoking or alcohol and does regular weight training in the gym to keep toned. Which one recommendation is the most appropriate for her?

NON-HRT THERAPY A 46 year-old woman who has been having hot flashes and irregular periods over the past 6 months comes to see you over concerns of recent low mood and anxiety. She is not keen to start medication and asks you if yoga would be helpful. You promise to look into it and get back to her. You come across a relevant meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (Cramer, et al, 2012) and look at the forest plot comparing the short term effect on psychological menopausal symptoms of yoga to that of exercise or no intervention. From this study, what can you conclude?

PERIMENOPAUSAL CONTRACEPTION A 48 year-old sexually active woman who has completed her family attends your clinic on her birthday and inquires whether her 4 year-old Mirena IUS should be removed since she thinks that she may be going through the "changes" as she has been experiencing troublesome hot flushes, mood swings, fatigue and dryness "down below". Apart from initial spotting, she has never had a period since she had the IUS inserted. Which of the following are viable options for her?

MENOPAUSAL MANAGEMENT You undertake a telephone consultation with a 49 y.o. woman in your surgery who has been shielding from COVID-19 indoors in her apartment for the past 4 months. She is worried that her cervical screening appointment has been canceled. She also reports that she has been having vaginal dryness with itching, tiredness, hot flushes and night sweats which have now become unbearable in spite of having lighter sleep wear. Her last period was 7 months ago. Her past medical history is significant for polymyalgia rheumatica for which she takes 10 mg prednisolone for the past 6 months and depression for which she has been taking 40 mg fluoxetine for the past 2 years. Which of the following recommendations should you make?

RECURRENT MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS A 55 year-old female office secretary, who is new to your surgery, stopped her sequential combined hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) 4 months ago which she had been having since the age of 48 years. She now requests recommencement of HRT for a recurrence of daily hot flushes and agitation affecting her work. She has become embarrassed with excessive sweating in spite of increased antiperspirant use. Apart from a couple spots of blood on her underwear last week, she has stopped having monthly bleeds since stopping HRT. Her cervical screening 2 months ago tested negative for HPV. She has an active history of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for the past 30 years but has found herself smoking even more because of her anxiety. Urinalysis was normal. What is the single most important management plan?

VULVAL ITCHING What is the treatment of choice for this 56 year-old post-menopausal woman who is complaining of increased vulval burning and itching and dyspaerunia? She denies any bleeding or vaginal discharge. Her last period was over 4 years ago.