Title
Does the menopausal status of female gynecologists affect their prescription of menopausal hormone therapy?
Date Issued
03 July 2016
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Vallejo M.S.
Witis S.
Mostajo D.
Morera F.
Meruvia N.
Martino M.
Lima S.
Espinoza M.T.
Castillo O.
Campostrini B.
Danckers L.
Blümel J.E.
Tserotas K.
Sánchez H.
Salinas C.
Saavedra J.
Rojas J.A.
Onatra W.
Monterrosa A.
Montaño A.
Martínez J.
González E.
Gómez G.
Calle A.
Broutin G.
Bencosme A.
Arteaga E.
Ayala F.
Chedraui P.
Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC)
Publisher(s)
Taylor and Francis Ltd
Abstract
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate whether menopausal status and symptoms among female gynecologists would influence their clinical behavior related to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Methods: Female gynecologists of 11 Latin American countries were requested to fill out the Menopause Rating Scale and a questionnaire containing personal information and that related to MHT use. Results: A total of 818 gynecologists accepted to participate (86.4%). Overall, the mean age was 45.0 ± 10.7 years, 32.2% were postmenopausal, and 17.6% worked in an academic position; 81.8% reported that they would use MHT if they have symptoms, regardless of menopausal status. Academic gynecologists favor personal MHT use at a higher rate (p = 0.04) and have a higher MHT prescription rate as compared to non-academic ones (p = 0.0001). The same trend was observed among post- as compared to premenopausal ones (p = 0.01) and among those who had hysterectomy alone as compared to those experiencing natural menopause (p = 0.002). The presence of menopausal symptoms did not influence their MHT prescription. Current use of MHT and alternative therapy was higher among post- than premenopausal gynecologists (both, p = 0.0001) and among those who had undergone hysterectomy than those experiencing natural menopause. A 38.5% perceived breast cancer as the main risk related to MHT, and a high proportion prescribed non-hormonal drugs (86.4%) or alternative therapies (84.5%). Conclusion: Most female gynecologists in this survey would use MHT if menopausal symptoms were present. Postmenopausal physicians use MHT and prescribe it to their symptomatic patients at a higher rate than premenopausal physicians.
Start page
387
End page
392
Volume
19
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Obstetricia, Ginecología
Salud pública, Salud ambiental
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84975253275
PubMed ID
Source
Climacteric
ISSN of the container
13697137
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus