Stamford, Conn: Eight internationally renowned women’s health experts, lead by Lila Nachtigall, MD, recommend over-the- counter dietary supplements among the first lines of defense in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause.

Isoflavones derived from the red clover plant, which are marketed under the brand name Promensil, were deemed as one of the dietary supplements acceptable due to its efficacy and safety in treating the symptoms of menopause as demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. These findings were presented by Nachtigall to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada at its Annual Clinical Meeting on June 19, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

“Due to a number of factors, many women have increasingly turned to alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms in recent years,” said Nachtigall, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University’s School of Medicine.

“Because of the proliferation of products, it is imperative that healthcare professionals and patients understand which ones are credible and substantiated by scientific research in terms of efficacy, safety and ancillary benefits and which ones aren’t. What’s more, there needs to be a well-defined method to using both alternative and traditional treatment methods wisely. We believe this algorithm is a conservative and effective clinical approach to achieving that.”

The algorithm prescribes a hierarchy of treatment options to be utilized over time based on whether the patient is mildly, moderately or severely symptomatic. Treatments include changes in lifestyle, including exercising, avoiding caffeine and quitting smoking among others; complementary alternative therapy using dietary supplements, particularly red clover, which is marketed under the brand name Promensil; HRT and non-HRT medicines; and regimens where several therapies are used in conjunction with one another.

The symptoms of menopause — hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and others — are caused by a decrease in the hormone estrogen. Women generally enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. This hormonal change can also contribute to loss of bone density, diminished cardiovascular health and other ailments.

In the last 10 years, more than 100 over-the-counter products for the treatment of menopause have hit the shelves, and use of these botanicals by midlife and older women has increased 380 percent, the largest of any other demographic, according to a study in the January issue of Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society.

“The algorithm is a good guide for clinicians even though most menopausal women don’t fit into tight categories,” said Susan Wysocki, RNC, NP, FAANP, a co-author of the algorithm and president of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. “There are women who have menopausal symptoms who would rather skip the alternatives and use hormone therapy to be guaranteed relief. There are other women with more severe symptoms who would rather try alternatives first before they go to hormone therapy. The bottom- line is when they try an alternative treatment they should try one that has been clinically tested.”

The algorithm treatment method represents the first time scientists have come to a consensus suggesting dietary supplements as among the first lines of defense in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause.

For more information on the algorithm treatment method, visit www.promensil.com.

Novogen, Ltd., is the world leader in research and development of isoflavones for human health. Isoflavones derived from the red clover plant, marketed under the brand name Promensil, have been clinically proven safe and effective in treating the symptoms of menopause and improving cardiovascular and bone health.

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