News Release

Maturitas publishes new model of care for healthy menopause and aging

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Elsevier

Amsterdam, July 12, 2016 - A new position statement by the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) published in the journal Maturitas provides a holistic model of care for healthy menopause.

In the article, the researchers argue that the core team around menopausal womenshould consist of a lead clinician, specialist nurse(s) and the woman herself, supported by an interdisciplinary network of medical experts and providers of alternative/complementary medicine. Lead clinicians should provide specialist expertise that is both comprehensive and integrated for the care of midlife women. The core team should also be responsible for structuring and optimizing processes in primary and secondary care.

As the lifespan of women in developed countries continues to increase, menopause can now be considered to be a midlife event. Although not all women will experience short- or long-term problems related to menopause, the high prevalence of hot flushes and vaginal atrophy, which can last for many years, as well as osteoporosis (1 in 3 women are at risk of an osteoporotic fracture), makes caring for ageing women a key issue for health professionals.

EMAS recommends that Europe needs more specialist teams, as the number of women currently entering menopause is on the rise. Furthermore, caretakers should follow EMAS' conceptual framework for healthy menopause and ageing should be used. It is a holistic model of care covering physical, psychological and social functioning and incorporating disease and disability. It also reflects the need of midlife women to at least maintain if not improve their quality of life, which is an integral component of contemporary healthcare.

Professor Margaret Rees, Executive Director of EMAS, commented: "This straightforward model of care and health promotion for midlife women will help empower them to make positive choices for their post-reproductive health and wellbeing."

###

Notes for editors

"A model of care for healthy menopause and ageing: EMAS position statement," by Petra Stute, Iuliana Ceausu, Herman Depypere, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Alfred Mueck, Faustino R. Pérez-López, Yvonne T.van der Schouw, Levent M. Senturk, Tommaso Simoncini, John C. Stevenson, Margaret Rees (doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.06.018). It appears in Maturitas, volume 92 (2016), published by Elsevier.

Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Elsevier's Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com or +31 20 485 2492.

About the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS)

EMAS promotes the study of midlife health through its journal, congresses, schools and website and encourages the exchange of research and professional experience between members.

Using a range of activities and through its affiliates, EMAS aims to guarantee and provide the same standard of education and information throughout Europe on midlife health in both genders. Recognizing the issues arising from increased longevity the society also provides articles, patient information, web resources, and referrals for healthcare providers in the field and keeps its members up-to-date. http://www.emas-online.org

About Maturitas

Maturitas is an international multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health and beyond, publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements and guidelines. The scope encompasses all aspects of postreproductive health in both genders ranging from basic science to health and social care. http://www.maturitas.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions -- among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey -- and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

Media contact

Greyling Peoples
Elsevier
+31 20 485 3323
g.peoples@elsevier.com


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.