Cognitive behaviour therapy should be offered to women with severe menopausal symptoms, according to guidance issued today.
The treatment reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms and may help with sleep problems, according to draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
It will also benefit trans men and non-binary people registered female at birth, NICE said.
NICE said the opportunity to have therapy should be part of conversations between patients and clinicians at the same time as they set out the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy. NICE is also calling for more research on overall health outcomes from the use of HRT.
The evidence for therapy has improved since the last guideline on menopause in 2015, NICE said.
The guidance also sets out how genitourinary symptoms can be managed, suggesting a choice of vaginal oestrogen.
NICE chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Benger said: “The impact of menopause symptoms on quality of life can vary hugely. It is important that healthcare practitioners take a personalised approach when discussing treatments, using evidence-based information tailored to individuals’ circumstances.
“Today’s draft guideline recommends more treatment options for managing menopause symptoms as well as enabling a wider understanding of the risks and benefits of HRT so anyone going through menopause can choose the best care to suit them.”
Professor Gillian Baird, who chaired a menopause guideline committee, said: “This update includes important evidence based information to help both women and healthcare practitioners during their discussions about the best treatment to manage their symptoms. This gives women more choice and enables them to make informed decisions for their personal circumstances.”
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