The use of non-hormonal medications for the correction of menopausal disorders: before, instead or together with menopausal hormone therapy

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.210

Tabeeva G.I., Smetnik А.А., Ermakova E.I.
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

The cessation of ovarian function is one of the most significant periods for the female organism. The stage of menopausal transition is already marked by vasomotor symptoms (VMS), sleep disorders, psycho-emotional changes, decreased metabolism and vaginal dryness. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is most effective for relieving these symptoms. However, there are groups of women who should consider using alternative methods of their correction. These patients include women who do not want to take MHT, who have absolute contraindications or some relative contraindications to MHT when the expected risks become more significant than the benefits, who experience side effects after taking MHT, who have examination before being prescribed MHT or when they have to stop taking MHT, who have mild menopausal syndrome, who want to reduce the symptoms of hypoestrogenism during the treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. The article also highlights the possibility of using alternative methods of treatment in addition to MHT when the latter is not effective for vasomotor symptoms: during the first weeks of taking MHT; when it is impossible or not desirable to increase the dose of MHT, for example, in case of adverse effects after increasing the dose of MHT; when there are relative contraindications to MHT; when VMS are not completely controlled despite general satisfaction with the dosage of MHT; when the dose of hormones decreases while the woman’s age and duration of postmenopausal period increase.
Conclusion: The analysis of the literature showed that it is possible to consider soy isoflavones as an effective plant-based remedy for these categories of women. A successful combination of soy isoflavones with other plant components, trace elements and vitamins in the form of the supplement Estrovel can also be used to correct the psycho-emotional condition and neurovegetative changes. According to research data, it can prevent metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases in women in the postmenopausal period as well as in the phase of menopausal transition.

Authors’ contributions: Tabeeva G.I., Smetnik A.A., Ermakova E.A. – analysis of the literature, writing the text, editing the article.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was carried out with the support of Acino Rus LLC.
For citation: Tabeeva G.I., Smetnik А.А., Ermakova E.I.
The use of non-hormonal medications for the correction of menopausal disorders:
before, instead or together with menopausal hormone therapy.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (9): 192-198 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.210

menopause

vasomotor menopausal symptoms

menopausal syndrome

menopausal hormone therapy

estrogen deficiency

menopausal transition

perimenopause

soy isoflavones

phytoestrogens

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 28.08.2023

Accepted 07.09.2023

Gyuzal I. Tabeeva, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, scientific secretary of the Russian Society of specialists in gynecological endocrinology and menopause,
+7(495)-531-44-44, g_tabeeva@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1498-6520, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ak. Oparina str., 4.
Antonina A. Smetnik, PhD, Head of the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, President of the Russian Society of specialists in gynecological endocrinology and menopause, +7(495)-531-44-44,
a_smetnik@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0627-3902, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ak. Oparina str., 4.
Elena I. Ermakova, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Vice-president of the Russian Society of specialists in gynecological endocrinology and menopause, +7(916)848-37-46, e_ermakova@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6629-051X, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ak. Oparina str., 4.

The use of non-hormonal medications for the correction of menopausal disorders: before, instead or together with menopausal hormone therapy

Tabeeva G.I., Smetnik А.А., Ermakova E.I.

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