title: [Summary of the Dutch College of General Practitioners' (NHG) practice guideline 'The menopausal transition'].
abstract: The Dutch College of General Practitioners' (NHG) practice guideline 'The menopausal transition' provides general practitioners with guidelines for the management of menopausal symptoms in women from the age of 40 years. Patient history is vital in determining and assessing menopausal symptoms. Patient education is often sufficient to help women cope with their menopausal symptoms; medication is seldom required. Most systemic hormonal preparations increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer; these are therefore only indicated if vasomotor symptoms lead to serious limitations in daily life. Before the patient is given hormonal therapy, the cardiovascular risk profile and risk of venous thromboembolism and breast cancer should be assessed. Local hormonal treatment can be indicated for vaginal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, afdeling Richtlijnontwikkeling en Wetenschap,Utrecht, the Netherlands. c.deVries@nhg.org
authors.forename: Corlien J H
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Harriët
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eekhof
authors.forename: Henriëtte F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Opstelten
authors.forename: Jako S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burgers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic