What are the barriers in India in the treatment of menopause?
There are cultural barriers along with fears, concerns, and myths about the side effects of hormones in general. Improper compliance of patients on advice of life style changes and medication is another problem. The high cost and non-availability of full range of therapy through the country make tailoring of treatment for individual women difficult at times. Moreover, there is lack of availability of diagnostic facilities for screening and monitoring of menopausal women including those on therapy. Many times, Indian symptomatic menopausal women are subjected to hormone replacement therapy based on Western experiences. Discontinuation rate is very high among Indian women due to myths and misconceptions. Can diet influence menopause? Yes, dietary factors may play a role in estrogen production and metabolism and in symptom occurrence. Asian women, who consume less fat with more soya and beans, report less vasomotor symptoms, as compared to Caucasian women whose diet is different. What are
