Menopause in rheumatology: what is important for gynecologist to know?

Panevin T.S., Smetnik A.A.

1) V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, Ministry of Science and Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; 2) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Most rheumatic diseases are characterized by sexual dimorphism, while the greatest numbers of patients are women at the rheumatologist’s office. Moreover, rheumatic and other diseases are typified by a certain age of their onset, and a number of rheumatic diseases develop in peri- and postmenopause. On the other hand, it is known that the course of many rheumatic diseases can be variable with a woman’s reproductive status change: the onset of pregnancy or menopause. Finally, the traditional therapy (menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)) used to relieve menopausal symptoms may not be prescribed in rheumatic diseases in some cases for no reasonable reason. This publication considers the most pressing issues of menopause and menopausal syndrome, according to the authors’ opinion, in patients with various rheumatic diseases, which can be useful for a gynecologist in everyday practice.
Conclusion: Extensive experience in using MHT for various rheumatic diseases has been currently accumulated. Undoubtedly, MHT should not be considered as a component of the treatment of rheumatic diseases; however, a rheumatic disease must not deem as an absolute contraindication to MHT either. The final decision on the prescription of MHT in difficult situations should be made collectively with the participation of a rheumatologist, a gynecologist, and a patient who is well aware of benefits and risks.

Authors' contributions: Panevin T.S. – concept, search work, writing the text; Smetnik A.A. – writing, editing the text; final approval of the manuscript.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: Search and analytical work was done without financial support.
For citation: Panevin T.S., Smetnik A.A.
Menopause in rheumatology: what is important for gynecologist to know?
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (8): 30-37 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.140

Keywords

menopause
menopausal hormone therapy
rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritis
gout
systemic connective tissue diseases

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Received 01.06.2023

Accepted 24.07.2023

About the Authors

Taras S. Panevin, Ph.D., Endocrinologist, Researcher at the Department of Inflammatory Joint Diseases, V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, +7(914)207-43-67, tarasel@list.ru, 115522, Russia, Moscow, Kashirskoye Shosse, 34A.
Antonina A. Smetnik, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, V.I. Kulakov NMRC for OG&P, Ministry of Health of Russia, asmetnik@gmail.com, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.

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