Working women and the menopause.

Women are living longer, working more and retiring later. About 45% of the over 50-year-old workforce in virtually all forms of employment are women, all of whom will experience the menopause and its symptoms, which in some women will be mild to moderate, whilst in others they may be severe and debilitating. About half of these women will find it somewhat, or fairly difficult, to cope with their work, about half will not be affected and only about 5% will be severely compromised. Poor concentration, tiredness, poor memory, depression, feeling low, lowered confidence, sleepiness and particularly hot flushes are all cited as contributing factors. As with any longstanding health-related condition, the need for support and understanding from line management is crucial and can make a major difference to how a woman will deal with the adverse impact the menopausal symptoms may have on her productivity, her job satisfaction and her efficiency. A number of plausible strategies have been proposed that can be realistically implemented in the workplace and which could certainly make a significant difference. Careful thought, planning, consideration and effort may be required but, if instituted, they will, in the final analysis, benefit both employer and employee.

South African Menopause Society revised consensus position statement on menopausal hormone therapy, 2014.

The South African Menopause Society (SAMS) consensus position statement on menopausal hormone therapy (HT) 2014 is a revision of the SAMS Council consensus statement on menopausal HT published in the SAMJ in May 2007. Information presented in the previous statement has been re-evaluated and new evidence has been incorporated. While the recommendations pertaining to HT remain similar to those in the previous statement, the 2014 revision includes a wider range of clinical benefits for HT, the inclusion of non-hormonal alternatives such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors for the management of vasomotor symptoms, and an appraisal of bioidentical hormones and complementary medicines used for treatment of menopausal symptoms. New preparations that are likely to be more commonly used in the future are also mentioned. The revised statement emphasises that commencing HT during the 'therapeutic window of opportunity' maximises the benefit-to-risk profile of therapy in symptomatic menopausal women.

An analysis of the first 200 legal abortions at the Johannesburg General Hospital.

A retrospective study was made of the first 200 terminations of pregnancy at the Johannesburg General Hospital since the promulgation of the Abortion and Sterilization Act of 1975. The indications for termination of pregnancy, the ages, marital status and parity of the patients, the procedures and their complications are analysed. Psychiatric factors were cited in 76% of cases. Further indications were rubella infection in the first trimester of pregnancy, medical, genetic and legal factors. The use of intra- and extra-amniotic prostaglandin administration is compared.

Experience with amniocentesis at the Johannesburg Amniocentesis Clinic in 1976.

One hundred and seventy-six amniocenteses were performed in the Johannesburg Amniocentesis Clinic in 1976. These were for genetic studies, assessment of fetal lung maturity and assessment of the severity of rhesus disease. The indications for amniocentesis and the results are discussed. The overall complication rate was low. This was due to certain precautions and approaches taken, which are detailed.

A review of 50 pregnant patients with kyphoscoliosis.

An analysis of the obstetric and medical complications in 50 pregnant kyphoscoliotic patients is presented.