Gynaecology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Gynaecology, including details on pap smears, laparoscopy, ultrasound, hysteroscopy.

Propensity of gynaecologists towards osteoporosis management and treatment.

Rozenberg S, Murillo D, Gevers R, Vandromme J

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Buxelles, 322 rue Haute, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. serge.rozenberg@skynet.be

BACKGROUND: Regulation authorities have recently advised against the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a first choice treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis, modifying the past consensus. AIM: Analyse the sensibility to and prescription attitude for osteoporosis. SETTING: Survey. POPULATION: Belgian gynaecologists. METHODS: Case construction: two cases to assess whether gynaecologists are prone to detect osteoporosis, and six others to evaluate their prescription attitude for osteoporosis. RESULTS: About 80% of the physicians would prescribe a bone mineral density measurement (BMD) to a 66-year-old, non HRT user. About 60% prescribed calcium and Vitamin D when the BMD was normal, 90% would prescribe it when the BMD showed osteopenia or osteoporosis (p < 0.001). Few prescribed HRT (< 25%). Few advised SERMS for normal BMD, 19%-47% prescribed it in osteopenia or osteoporosis (p < 0.001). Few considered a biphosphonate in normal BMD, or osteopenia in the absence of risk factors, 25% considered it in osteopenia in the presence of risk factors, and 80% in osteoporosis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Most gynaecologists are aware of the osteoporosis problem. They often screen non HRT users and in the event of osteoporosis, they initiate a specific treatment, not HRT, but generally a combination of calcium, Vitamin D and biphosphonates.

Published 6 March 2006 in Maturitas, 53(4): 483-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Gynaecology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.