The World Menopause Congress 2014

The 14th World Menopause Congress was held in Cancun Mexico from May 1-4, 2014.

There were numerous sessions covering female sexual health in the peri and postmenopausal woman. One symposium dealt exclusively with an Androgen Update. World leaders in the field Professor Susan Davis (Australia), Dr Jan Shifren (USA) and Dr Karen Miller (USA) outlined the physiology, efficacy and range of therapeutic uses of testosterone in women. There was an overwhelming sense of frustration from speakers (and delegates) over the continued lack of access of women to approved therapeutic options for managing sexual dysfunction.

At another session Dr Wulf Utian (USA) outlined the problems with the compounding pharmacy industry in the USA and the lack of quality control, efficacy and detailed some of the misadventures with the use of compounded hormones. Dr James Simon (USA) gave an inspiring presentation on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) after menopause. He highlighted the complete imbalance in therapeutic options available to men as compared to women in the USA a situation mirrored worldwide. I encourage everyone to sign and support the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) online petition.