Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, signalling the end of her reproductive years and bringing about a range of hormonal and physiological changes. Despite it being a common and natural biological process, menopause even now, is widely misunderstood leading to inadequate care for women experiencing its effects. Yet, understanding menopause is crucial for healthcare professionals when it comes to prescribing medication safely.
Understanding menopause
Clinicians should have a good knowledge of the range of side effects associated with menopause to allow them to make more accurate diagnoses, that way, symptoms can be effectively alleviated and potential health risks due to suboptimal prescribing can be avoided.
A fundamental understanding of the most commonly prescribed drugs, drug interactions and side effects during menopause can help challenge the one size fits all ideology that often blankets the diagnosis given to women. This allows practitioners to better navigate the complexities of treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal alternatives, and lifestyle interventions so they can select the right course of treatment for their patients.
Developing novel resources to improve prescribing in menopause
While there is a growing awareness for better understanding of this important area of women’s health, there is still a pressing need for more comprehensive resources which provide improved education about prescribing and medication review during menopause.
In a bid to help bridge this knowledge gap, BPS Assessment in partnership with the British Menopause Society and with funding from The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), have developed an assessment resource to help healthcare professionals assess their knowledge of prescribing in menopause. This resource aims to equip practitioners with the information to make more informed decisions when prescribing, and the knock-on effects of prescribing particular medications.
By equipping healthcare professionals with more information and practical resources, we hope to improve prescribing competency in this important area, where physicians take into account individual needs, risks, and preferences. Moreover, comprehensive resources will help to foster a deeper understanding of non-pharmacological interventions, lifestyle modifications, and holistic approaches.
By investing in better education for healthcare professionals, we can enhance the quality of care provided to women during menopause and empower them to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Find out more
Ready to level up your knowledge of prescribing in menopause? Take our menopause assessment now for free. Simply create an account on the BPS Assessment’s Learner portal and get started in a few clicks!
