Treatment satisfaction, unmet needs, and new treatment expectations for vasomotor symptoms due to menopause: women’s and physicians’ opinions

Summary & key facts

This US survey (Feb–Mar 2023) asked 401 women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS, e.g., hot flashes and night sweats) and 207 doctors about how satisfied they are with current VMS treatments and what they want from new treatments. Women and doctors gave higher satisfaction scores to hormone therapies than to nonhormone or over-the-counter (OTC) options. Many women said treatments were not effective enough, and many doctors said they worry about long-term safety. About three-quarters of both groups said they would consider a new nonhormonal treatment.

Key facts:

• The study surveyed 401 women with moderate to severe VMS and 207 physicians who treat VMS in the United States.
• Women’s mean treatment satisfaction scores (MS-TSQ) were: hormone therapy (HT) 62.8–67.3, non-HT 59.8–69.7, and OTC 58.0–64.9 (score ranges reported in the paper).
• Physicians rated satisfaction higher for HT (73.4–75.6) than for non-HT (55.6–62.1) or OTC treatments (49.2–54.7).
• 41.2% of women said “lack of effectiveness” was a main feature that did not meet their treatment expectations.
• 56.5% of physicians said “long-term safety concerns” were a main unmet expectation for current VMS treatments.
• About 75.8% of women and 75.9% of physicians said they would consider trying a new nonhormonal (non-HT) treatment for VMS.
• This was a noninterventional, descriptive online survey. The study was funded by Astellas Pharma, Inc., and some authors are employees or advisors of the sponsor—this may affect interpretation of results.

Abstract

Treatment satisfaction and new treatment expectations were similar but with some differences between women and physicians; the need for additional treatments for VMS was identified.

Topics

Estrogen and related hormone effects Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments Phytoestrogen effects and research

Categories

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Health Sciences Medicine

Tags

Family medicine Internal medicine Medicine Menopause Nursing Patient satisfaction Psychology Vasomotor

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression Sleep disorder Anxiety or worry Lack of energy or motivation Poor sleep Sadness or low mood