Does the menopausal status of female gynecologists affect their prescription of menopausal hormone therapy?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether menopausal status and symptoms among female gynecologists would influence their clinical behavior related to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).


METHODS
Female gynecologists of 11 Latin American countries were requested to fill out the Menopause Rating Scale and a questionnaire containing personal information and that related to MHT use.


RESULTS
A total of 818 gynecologists accepted to participate (86.4%). Overall, the mean age was 45.0 ± 10.7 years, 32.2% were postmenopausal, and 17.6% worked in an academic position; 81.8% reported that they would use MHT if they have symptoms, regardless of menopausal status. Academic gynecologists favor personal MHT use at a higher rate (p = 0.04) and have a higher MHT prescription rate as compared to non-academic ones (p = 0.0001). The same trend was observed among post- as compared to premenopausal ones (p = 0.01) and among those who had hysterectomy alone as compared to those experiencing natural menopause (p = 0.002). The presence of menopausal symptoms did not influence their MHT prescription. Current use of MHT and alternative therapy was higher among post- than premenopausal gynecologists (both, p = 0.0001) and among those who had undergone hysterectomy than those experiencing natural menopause. A 38.5% perceived breast cancer as the main risk related to MHT, and a high proportion prescribed non-hormonal drugs (86.4%) or alternative therapies (84.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Most female gynecologists in this survey would use MHT if menopausal symptoms were present. Postmenopausal physicians use MHT and prescribe it to their symptomatic patients at a higher rate than premenopausal physicians.
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Vallejo
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Witis
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Ojeda
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Mostajo
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Morera
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Meruvia
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Martino
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Lima
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Espinoza
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Castillo
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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B
Campostrini
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Danckers
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;|b Departamento de Medicina Interna Sur, Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago de Chile , Chile ;
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JE
Blümel
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Tserotas
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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H
Sánchez
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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C
Salinas
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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J
Saavedra
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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JA
Rojas
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Onatra
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
A
A
Monterrosa
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Montaño
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Martínez
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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E
González
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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Gómez
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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A
Calle
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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G
Broutin
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
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A
Bencosme
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
E
E
Arteaga
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;
F
F
Ayala
a Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC) ;|c Institute of Biomedicine, Research Area for Women's Health, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas , Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil , Guayaquil , Ecuador.
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Chedraui
D000328:Adult; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Beliefs; female gynecologists; menopausal hormone therapy; perceptions; prescription