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ABSTRACT: Objectives
The negative publicity about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has led to increased use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) for menopausal symptom relief. We report on the prevalence and predictors of CAM/NPI among UK postmenopausal women.Method
Postmenopausal women aged 50-74 years were invited to participate in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). A total of 202?638 women were recruited and completed a baseline questionnaire. Of these, 136 020 were sent a postal follow-up-questionnaire between September 2006 and May 2009 which included ever-use of CAM/NPI for menopausal symptom relief. Both questionnaires included MHT use.Results
A total of 88?430 (65.0%) women returned a completed follow-up-questionnaire; 22?206 (25.1%) reported ever-use of one or more CAM/NPI. Highest use was reported for herbal therapies (43.8%; 9725/22?206), vitamins (42.6%; 9458/22?206), lifestyle approaches (32.1%; 7137/22?206) and phytoestrogens (21.6%; 4802/22?206). Older women reported less ever-use of herbal therapies, vitamins and phytoestrogens. Lifestyle approaches, aromatherapy/reflexology/acupuncture and homeopathy were similar across age groups. Higher education, Black ethnicity, MHT or previous oral contraceptive pill use were associated with higher CAM/NPI use. Women assessed as being less hopeful about their future were less likely to use CAM/NPI.Conclusion
One in four postmenopausal women reported ever-use of CAM therapies/NPI for menopausal symptom relief, with lower use reported by older women. Higher levels of education and previous MHT use were positive predictors of CAM/NPI use. UKCTOCS Trial registration: ISRCTN22488978.
SUBMITTER: Gentry-Maharaj A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5448394 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Gentry-Maharaj A A Karpinskyj C C Glazer C C Burnell M M Bailey K K Apostolidou S S Ryan A A Lanceley A A Fraser L L Jacobs I I Hunter M S MS Menon U U
Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society 20170322 3
<h4>Objectives</h4>The negative publicity about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has led to increased use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) for menopausal symptom relief. We report on the prevalence and predictors of CAM/NPI among UK postmenopausal women.<h4>Method</h4>Postmenopausal women aged 50-74 years were invited to participate in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). A total of 202 638 women were recrui ...[more]