Menopause Wise

by Dr. James A. Simon

The report from the University of Toronto is welcome news following all the adverse -- even hysterical -- publicity on the risks that hormone therapy may have on breast cancer. This news will be particularly important to the many women who have family histories riddled with breast cancer and who carry the BRCA1 mutation. These women often undergo preemptive surgery for ovarian cancer prophylaxsis (oophorectomy) and/or bilateral mastectomy to avoid becoming yet another breast cancer statistic in their families.

A less expensive version of the female condom (FC) was recently approved by the FDA. Will this increase the use of this contraceptive form, which offers several important benefits for women?

Male condoms have played an important role in global HIV prevention over the past few decades. In recent years, women have become increasingly vulnerable to HIV, especially in highly afflicted sub-Saharan Africa. Since women are not always able to insist on the use of male condoms, there is a great global need for affordable and accessible woman-controlled barrier methods that provide dual protection against unintended pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.

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