Cynthia Pearson, National Women's Health Network, 514 Tenth Street, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20004, 202-347-1140, cpearson@womenshealthnetwork.org

Women approaching and experiencing menopause have been the target for decades of messages from drug companies and health care providers who view menopause as a disease. The Women's Health Initiative results raised serious questions in the minds of the millions of women throughout the United States who were taking menopause hormone therapy. In addition to the initial concerns about whether to continue taking hormones women want to know how to protect themselves in the future from drug companies and doctors promoting new "miracle drugs" for menopause. Advertisements and promotion campaigns for menopause therapies, including nonhormonal drug options and complementary and alternative medicine products (such as herbs and so-called natural hormones), have increased dramatically since the WHI news. This presentation will address the tools and information women need to make decisions about these alternatives to hormone therapy that claim to address problems associated with menopause. It will also help women who are concerned about menopause and hormone therapy to evaluate and separate the myths from the facts.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

(
• outline questions that will help women evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs and alternative products for menopause; (
• describe what is known and not known about the risks and benefits of menopause hormone therapy; (
• understand the need for critical thinking and skepticism about menopause products that promise youth in a pill.

Keywords: Menopause, Consumer Protection

Related Web page: www.nwhn.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.