Why menopause is relevant to the rheumatologist
November 2021
in “
Lara D. Veeken
”
TLDR Menopause can cause musculoskeletal pain and affect rheumatic conditions, so rheumatologists should recognize its symptoms for better patient care.
The document discussed the relevance of menopause to rheumatologists, highlighting that menopause can lead to various symptoms, including musculoskeletal pain, which affects 50% of women at menopause. It emphasized that fluctuating estrogen levels during menopause can cause symptoms often misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression, leading to inappropriate treatments. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was noted as potentially transformative for symptom relief, although more research was needed to support its use for musculoskeletal symptoms. The document also mentioned that menopause could affect disease activity in rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and stressed the importance of rheumatologists recognizing menopause symptoms to provide holistic patient care.
