Primary Care Needs Training on Menopausal Issues, Treatment Options, says Women's Midlife Health Expert

"We need training about menopause for medical students, residents, physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and family medicine and internal medicine clinicians because the fear of using hormone therapy that developed after the initial results of the Women's Health Initiative in more than 10 years ago, still affects decisions on treatment for menopause."

Findings of the pivotal OASIS 1 and OASIS 2 phase 3 clinical trials of elinzanetant showed statistically significant reductions in the frequency and severity of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause, with participants reporting relief within the first week of treatment, lead investigator JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, told Patient Care® in a recent interview.

Dr Pinkerton emphasized the essential role that primary care clinicians play in supporting women's health and the need for earlier and more comprehensive education to improve that care. She also detailed the range of symptoms associated with menopause and explained how treatment with the nonhormonal elinzanetant can be supplemented for optimal postmenopausal health.

JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, is professor of obstetrics and gynecology and division director Midlife Health at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr Pinkerton is the national lead for the elinzanetant clinical development program, including the phase 3 OASIS 1 and OASIS 2 trials.