Best Practice in Care for the Menopausal Patient: 14 Years after the Women's Health Initiative- Initial and subsequent findings from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) resulted in confusion regarding the safety and efficacy of menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Additional studies and reanalysis of the WHI findings over the past 14 years have brought management of menopausal symptoms back to the forefront in women’s health. This interactive activity is designed to update primary care and women’s health providers on the most current evidence-based practices in managing menopausal symptoms and evaluating individualized benefits vs risks of patients based on personal and family history. A review of the WHI will be included as well as an examination of FDA and off-label MHT pharmacologic therapeutic options. Other topics included non pharmacologic symptom management choices and non-hormonal agents that are guideline-based for women who either don’t want to take hormonal agents or who cannot take MHT.
Identify key conclusions of the preliminary and subsequent findings of the WHI as reported by the Principal Investigators of the study.
Describe reporting components from the WHI conclusions that factored into misinterpretations into the analysis of risks and benefits associated with use of hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.
Discuss the short- and long-term consequences to menopausal women, especially in younger women who are likely to be more symptomatic, if clinicians do not explore the severity of menopausal transition in their aging female patients.
Discuss evidence-based hormone therapy guidelines issued from renowned health organizations for treatment and management of various symptoms and comorbidities associated with menopausal transition.
Apply risk benefits to the clinical case studies presented to determine best practice decisions in recommending pharmacological vs non-pharmacological therapeutic options for management of menopausal transition.1.25 Free CEUs for Advanced Practice Nurses which includes 1.25 Free Pharmacology Hours
