Top

Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports

Published in:

10-10-2024 | Menopause | Review

Unspoken and Untaught: Addressing the Gap in Menopause Education

Authors: Jill Liss, Arina Chesnokova, Jennifer T. Allen

Published in: Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports | Issue 4/2024

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review evaluates the current state of menopause education in medical training, assesses recent findings on the subject, and proposes strategies for enhancing and standardizing menopause curricula. It aims to address the state of existing education and recommend improvements for undergraduate and graduate medical education.

Recent Findings

Recent studies reveal significant deficiencies in menopause education across medical training programs. Allen et al. (2023) conducted a needs assessment of menopause education in US ObGyn residency programs, highlighting substantial gaps and the necessity for standardized curricula. Christmas (2023) emphasizes the urgency of standardizing menopause education in residency programs to address these deficiencies. Vesco et al. (2024) demonstrate the benefits of a multispecialty menopause curriculum in improving resident knowledge and preparedness for managing menopause. Allen (2024) further explores effective education methods tailored to the needs of current medical trainees, reinforcing the call for comprehensive menopause training.

Summary

The review underscores the critical need for a structured and standardized approach to menopause education. Effective strategies include integrating menopause content across all medical disciplines, developing standardized residency curricula, and enhancing clinical skills through dedicated menopause clinics and advanced educational technologies. Promoting evidence-based practices, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring ongoing professional development are crucial for improving menopause education. Addressing these gaps will better prepare healthcare providers to manage menopause effectively, improving patient care and bridging the educational divide.

Levy B, Simon JA. A contemporary view of menopausal hormone therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000005553.CrossRefPubMed

Faubion SS, Shufelt C. The Menopause Management Vacuum. Cancer J. 2022;28(3):191–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000594.CrossRefPubMed

Obstetrics A. o. P. o. G. a. (2019). APGO Medical Student Educational objectives (11th ed. ed.): APGO.

Gynecology C. o. R. E. i. O. a. (2022). CREOG educational objectives: core curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology (13th ed. ed.): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Christianson MS, Ducie JA, Altman K, Khafagy AM, Shen W. Menopause education: needs assessment of American obstetrics and gynecology residents. Menopause. 2013;20(11):1120–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0b013e31828ced7f.CrossRefPubMed

Kling JM, MacLaughlin KL, Schnatz PF, Crandall CJ, Skinner LJ, Stuenkel CA, et al. Menopause Management Knowledge in Postgraduate Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology residents: a cross-sectional survey. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019;94(2):242–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.08.033.CrossRefPubMed

Allen JT, Laks S, Zahler-Miller C, Rungruang BJ, Braun K, Goldstein SR, et al. Needs assessment of menopause education in United States obstetrics and gynecology residency training programs. Menopause. 2023;30(10):1002–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002234.CrossRefPubMed

Dominus S. (2023). Women Have Been Misled About Menopause.

Cimons M. No need to fear menopause hormone drugs. finds major women’s health study; 2024.

10.

Vesco KK, Brooks NB, Francisco MC, Leo MC, Anderson TM, Kalter M, et al. Resident training to optimize patient-focused menopause management: a multispecialty menopause curriculum to enhance knowledge and preparedness. Menopause. 2024;31(2):93–100. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002291.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Allen JT. Effective menopause education methods: addressing the needs of current medical trainees. Menopause. 2024;31(2):89–90. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002308.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Anderson GL, Limacher M, Assaf AR, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black H, et al. Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004;291(14):1701–12. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.14.1701.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, LaCroix AZ, Kooperberg C, Stefanick ML, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288(3):321–33. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.3.321.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Hersh AL, Stefanick ML, Stafford RS. National use of postmenopausal hormone therapy: annual trends and response to recent evidence. JAMA. 2004;291(1):47–53. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.1.47.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Sprague BL, Trentham-Dietz A, Cronin KA. A sustained decline in postmenopausal hormone use: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2010. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(3):595–603. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e318265df42.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

16.

Barbaglia G, Macia F, Comas M, Sala M, del Mar Vernet M, Casamitjana M, et al. Trends in hormone therapy use before and after publication of the women’s Health Initiative trial: 10 years of follow-up. Menopause. 2009;16(5):1061–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e3181a02b44.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Design of the Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and observational study. The Women’s Health Initiative Study Group. Control Clin Trials. 1998;19(1):61–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-2456(97)00078-0.CrossRef

18.

Sarrel P, Portman D, Lefebvre P, Lafeuille MH, Grittner AM, Fortier J, et al. Incremental direct and indirect costs of untreated vasomotor symptoms. Menopause. 2015;22(3):260–6. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000320.CrossRefPubMed

19.

The Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society Advisory, P. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of the North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022;29(7):767–94. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002028.CrossRef

20.

Chesnokova A, Williams MS, Schachter M, Harness A, Kalipersad E, Schapira N. M (2024). Exploring Menopausal Care Delivery: The Intersection of Insurance, Race, and Hormone Therapy Use. Paper presented at the The Menopause Society, Chicago, Illinois 2024.

21.

Chesnokova A, Williams SM, Abernathy M. A (2024). Mapping Menopause Care: Distribution and Accessibility of Menopause Society Certified Practitionersin the U.S. Paper presented at the The Menopause Society.

22.

Menopause Society practitioner database. (2024). https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx

23.

(2020). Jackson LM, Parker RM, Mattison DR, editors. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: A Review of Safety, Effectiveness, and Use. Washington (DC).

24.

Insights FM. I. Hormone Replacement Therapy Market Outlook 2024 to 2034 (2024). (8/1/2024 ed.).

25.

Williams M, Richard-Davis G, Williams PL, Christensen L, Ward E, Schrager S. A review of African American women’s experiences in menopause. Menopause. 2022;29(11):1331–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002060.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Harlow SD, Burnett-Bowie SM, Greendale GA, Avis NE, Reeves AN, Richards TR, et al. Correction: disparities in Reproductive aging and Midlife Health between Black and White women: the study of women’s Health across the Nation (SWAN). Womens Midlife Health. 2022;8(1):10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40695-022-00082-x.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

27.

Christianson MS, Washington CI, Stewart KI, Shen W. Effectiveness of a 2-year menopause medicine curriculum for obstetrics and gynecology residents. Menopause. 2016;23(3):275–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000000531.CrossRefPubMed

28.

Shinnick JK, Raker C, Hampton BS, Eger R. Randomized crossover study investigating resident retention of menopause-related knowledge after completion of learning modules. Menopause. 2020;27(1):95–101. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000001417.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Christmas M. It is time to standardize menopause curriculum in residency. Menopause. 2023;30(10):993–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002247.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Williams M. Culturally responsive care for menopausal women. Maturitas. 2024;185:107995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.107995.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Jiang X, Sab S, Diamen S, Schnatz PF. Menopausal medicine clinic: an innovative approach to enhancing the effectiveness of medical education. Menopause. 2012;19(10):1092–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e3182507406.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Thomas PA, Thomas PA, Kern DE, Hughes MT, Tackett SA, Chen BY. (2022). Curriculum development for medical education: a six-step approach (Fourth edition. ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Title: Unspoken and Untaught: Addressing the Gap in Menopause Education
Authors: Jill Liss
Arina Chesnokova
Jennifer T. Allen
Publication date: 10-10-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Menopause
Published in: Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports / Issue 4/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2161-3303
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-024-00404-y

Adenomyosis and Obstetrical Outcome: a Narrative Mini-Review of the Latest Evidence

Infertility
Uterine Fibroids and Endometrial Lesions (T. Tulandi, Section Editor)

Transcervical Fibroid Ablation (TFA): Current Status and New Developments

Open Access
Hysterectomy
Review

Factors Associated with Access, Utilization, and Living Experiences of Labor and Delivery Care among Black Women in the US: A Scoping Review

REVIEW

Neuro-Oncological Management of Gliomas in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Glioma
Review

Keynote series | Spotlight on menopause

Menopause
Video Series

Menopause can have a significant impact on the body, with effects ranging beyond the endocrine and reproductive systems. Learn about the systemic effects of menopause, so you can help patients in your clinics through the transition.

Prof. Martha Hickey

Dr. Claudia Barth

Dr. Samar El Khoudary

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Watch now

Podcast | Sexual health in older age

Springer Medicine

Unspoken and Untaught: Addressing the Gap in Menopause Education

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recent Findings

Summary

Other articles of this Issue 4/2024

Adenomyosis and Obstetrical Outcome: a Narrative Mini-Review of the Latest Evidence

Transcervical Fibroid Ablation (TFA): Current Status and New Developments

Factors Associated with Access, Utilization, and Living Experiences of Labor and Delivery Care among Black Women in the US: A Scoping Review

Neuro-Oncological Management of Gliomas in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Keynote series | Spotlight on menopause

Podcast | Sexual health in older age

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recent Findings

Summary

Please log in to get access to this content

Adenomyosis and Obstetrical Outcome: a Narrative Mini-Review of the Latest Evidence

Transcervical Fibroid Ablation (TFA): Current Status and New Developments

Factors Associated with Access, Utilization, and Living Experiences of Labor and Delivery Care among Black Women in the US: A Scoping Review

Neuro-Oncological Management of Gliomas in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Keynote series | Spotlight on menopause