A 40-year-old woman with hot flushes, tearfulness and low libido could be going through early menopause. But there might be other explanations for her symptoms, and a careful history and investigation are essential to ensure that she receives the right treatment.
Is there really an alternative to HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, but bad publicity means that women ask about other options. This article outlines practical steps to help to minimise mild symptoms, and assesses the evidence for complementary and prescribed alternatives to HRT.
Hitting the treatment target in osteoporosis
For too long a Cinderella condition, osteoporosis has only recently been included in the GP contract as a Directed Enhanced Service. This article explains how the new FRAX tool can help practices to individualise risk assessment and target treatment to the patients most at risk.
A new pathway to progress in continence care
All too many women with urinary incontinence are referred to secondary care when they could be assessed and successfully treated by their GP, practice nurse or local primary care continence advisor. This article explains how one PCT introduced a local pathway that has changed professional behaviour, and proved popular with both professionals and patients.
Back to Basics: Pre-menstrual syndrome
Preventing unplanned pregnancy: no lottery with LARCs
Despite NICE guidelines, long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) remain little used in the UK, but this looks set to change with their inclusion in this year’s new Quality and Outcomes Framework contraception indicators. The author reviews the currently available LARCs, and discusses how to tailor choice to the needs and preferences of each woman.
Nurses lead the way: achieving new QOF contraceptive targets
In order to comply with NICE guidance and achieve new QOF indicators, general practices must offer women a choice of contraception, including long-acting reversible methods. But practices may struggle if GPs have not maintained their competencies in fitting these devices. The author explains how nurse-led clinics can both enhance services for women and help practices achieve targets.
Improving bowel control: the primary care approach
A woman with faecal incontinence may have suffered for years before she finds the courage to ask for help. Such consultations can be a challenge for both patient and professional. But sensitive, careful assessment and simple, conservative measures will often improve bowel control and restore the patient’s quality of life
Back to Basics: Heavy menstrual bleeding
Viewpoint
In our Contraception and Sexual Health service, we continue to receive a small but steady stream of GP referrals requesting a change of intrauterine device (IUCD) or intrauterine system (IUS) for women with actinomyces-like organisms (ALOs) on their cervical smear report. All of the women have been asymptomatic and happy with their IUCD/IUS. It is time that we cleared up continuing confusion about the implications of colonisation with ALOs to protect women from unnecessary and potentially harmful changes of contraceptive device.
The 60-year-old woman who is unwilling to stop HRT
While many women are anxious about starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT), practitioners who regularly see and advise women about menopause increasingly have to address the issue of when to stop HRT. Is there a time when HRT suddenly becomes dangerous? If so, at what age? 58? 60? 70? And what about the woman who is adamant she does not want to stop?
Sponsored Feature: Heralding the ultimate cholesterol lowering plan (UCLP) – the renaissance of dietary management of raised cholesterol
Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects over 2.8 million people and is the main cause of death in the UK.1,2 CHD is also economically damaging, imposing a huge annual burden, with healthcare costs estimated to be around £3.3 billion.2 Two-thirds of the population could reduce their risk significantly by lowering their cholesterol levels – the main modifiable risk factor. The Ultimate Cholesterol Lowering Plan (UCLP) is a revolutionary approach that provides the nation with a truly realistic and achievable dietary plan that can significantly reduce the current CHD epidemic.
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