Updates

In 2009, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its guidelines concerning analog screening mammography [1]. Recently, Laurie Margolies has written a comprehensive critique of the USPSTF recommendation [2]. Despite the breast cancer death rate falling by 30% since 1990 and mammography receiving the major share of the credit for the decrease, the USPSTF… Read More

In a [i]post hoc[/i] analysis, an increased risk of nephrolithiasis (renal stones) has been reported amongst users of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) randomized, controlled trial [1]. A total of 10,739 postmenopausal women were included in the estrogen-alone vs. placebo trial (average follow-up 7.1 years), whereas 16,608 women composed the… Read More

A recent prospective, randomized, controlled follow-up study from Slovenia was started on February 15, 2003 and terminated on February 28, 2005 [1]. The participants answered one questionnaire before starting hormone therapy (HT) and another during follow-up visits after the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th months. The study group ([i]n[/i] = 64) attended oral presentations on… Read More

The prevention of fractures caused by fragility associated with osteoporosis requires long-term treatment and, therefore, patients must adhere to their therapy. Many factors have an influence on the decision to initiate and adhere to osteoporosis treatment. In a recently published study, Brask-Lindemann and colleagues [1] evaluated patient understanding of the results of their diagnosis by… Read More

Patient infomation leaflet: Vaginal atrophy - a change with the menopause - read more »… Read More

A recent review by Nelson and colleagues for the US Preventive Services Task Force [1] updates evidence on screening for osteoporosis since the 2002 report by the same group. The purposes of the review were to determine: the effectiveness and harms of osteoporosis screening in reducing fractures for men and postmenopausal women without known previous… Read More

Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, physical activity has been consistently shown to reduce breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. More recently, there is evidence that the risk reduction is even seen in premenopausal women [1]. However, it is still unknown whether the reduction in risk of breast cancer is similar in Asian women, as… Read More

The recently published report from Ereman and colleagues [1] was intended to summarize recent trends in breast cancer incidence, mammography screening rates and hormone therapy (HT) use in non-Hispanic, white women (NHW) ≥ 50 years old in Marin County, California. The authors state that Marin County showed an excessively high incidence of breast cancer throughout… Read More

Up to one-third of the population suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which has a female predominance with a female-to-male ratio of 2–2.5 : 1 in those who seek health care. The female predominance is less apparent in the general population, suggesting that women with IBS are more likely to seek health care for their… Read More

Although most women in the estrogen-alone (conjugated equine estrogen, CEE) arm of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) did not suffer vasomotor symptoms, the newly published study [1] followed those women ([i]n[/i] = 3496) during the active phase and then after discontinuation of trial medication at a mean 7.4 ± 1.1 years from baseline. The mean… Read More