Largest Canadian survey on menopause takes temperature as women enter this life stage on an unprecedented scale

    ~ Survey explores impact; reveals significant informational and treatment
    gaps facing today's generation of menopausal women ~

    TORONTO, June 19 /CNW/ - An unprecedented 2.7 million Canadian women -
one in six - will reach menopause over the next decade. Today, more women than
ever face the many disruptive symptoms that can accompany the transition
towards this major life event.(1) However, a new national survey on menopause
- the largest of its kind - reveals that challenges in patient-physician
dialogue, knowledge gaps and dissatisfaction with treatment options may be
preventing this extraordinary demographic wave from truly understanding and
managing this important stage of life.
    "The survey reinforces that menopause can have a serious impact on
quality of life and what's most concerning is women appear to be largely
unprepared for it," said Dr. Janet Dollin, President-Elect of the Federation
of Medical Women of Canada and Community Family Physician. "We have a real
opportunity to help women prepare by recognizing and managing symptoms so that
menopause can become a more positive and empowering experience."
    The survey, conducted by Leger Marketing and sponsored by Wyeth Canada in
partnership with the Federation of Medical Women of Canada shows menopause
ranks among the most major milestones in a woman's life in terms of impact on
daily life. For nearly one in three women, the survey reveals menopause has
the same or greater impact on daily lives as bearing and raising children.
    "Women of this generation are in the peak of their personal and
professional lives and are used to taking charge. We must ensure they are
prepared for menopause in the same way they have been for other significant
life stages," Dollin added.
    The survey, which polled 2,049 Canadian women over 40 and 125 general
practitioners with at least 50 per cent female patients, reveals significant
gaps in knowledge and a lack of treatment options.
    While 72 per cent of women feel knowledgeable about menopause, less than
30 per cent consider this knowledge to be very good. That number drops to less
than two in 10 for women experiencing symptoms in the early stages of
menopause. Only half of physicians consider their menopause patients to be
knowledgeable; less than one in 10 consider them very knowledgeable. Regarding
treatments for managing menopausal symptoms, nearly four in 10 physicians are
dissatisfied with current options and only half of women are satisfied.

    Embracing A New Attitude Toward Menopause

    A large proportion of female baby boomers, 58 per cent (those between the
ages of 41 and 61), are still under the average age of menopause (51),
according to Statistics Canada.(2) The first baby boomers turned 60 in 2006
and by the end of the year, almost 1,100 were celebrating this birthday each
day.(3) These female boomers are often characterized as the healthiest,
wealthiest, most active, educated and influential generation of women in
history. The survey clearly reflects this generation's positive attitude
towards aging with a majority agreeing with the statements: "As I get older, I
feel more self confident" (84 per cent); "50 is the new 40" (74 per cent);
and, "I see menopause as the beginning of an exciting phase of life" (53 per
cent).
    "There's no doubt that today's women entering menopause are intent on
enjoying the second half of life," said Dollin. "Through improved education,
dialogue and treatment options we can help this and future generations of
women welcome the transition to this new chapter in their lives."
    A wide range of symptoms were reported by 84 per cent of women in the
survey who were at some stage of menopause. Difficulty with sleep, hot
flashes, mood swings and fatigue were the most common symptoms and these
symptoms can occur long before a woman's menstrual period has stopped for
twelve months. While the average age of menopause is 51, half of the youngest
women surveyed (ages 41 to 45) reported symptoms, and for many, these symptoms
occurred frequently. The following were either experienced often or always by
this youngest group:

    
    -  Difficulty sleeping (51 per cent)
    -  Hot flashes (39 per cent)
    -  Fatigue (57.3 per cent)
    -  Insomnia (40 per cent)
    -  Night sweats (38.5 per cent)
    

    Regular mood swings were experienced by 44 per cent of this youngest age
group, which was larger than that experienced in older age groups.

    IMPACT OF SYMPTOMS ON RELATIONSHIPS, WORKPLACE

    Nearly three in ten women (27 per cent) reported menopause negatively
affected the relationship with their spouse. Of those women who cited
sleepless nights as a menopausal symptom, nearly half said they experienced
the same or more sleepless nights as when raising a newborn. For working
professional women, hot flashes interfered with work for more than half and
caused anxiety in the workplace for a quarter of respondents.
    While nearly all physicians say they proactively discuss menopause with
patients over the age of 40, only half of women say this conversation took
place. Of those women whose physicians did initiate discussions, 62 per cent
indicated this discussion happened at age 46 or later, after disruptive
symptoms may have already occurred.
    "Encouraging earlier dialogue about menopause between women and health
care professionals is very important. Women may unnecessarily be living
regularly with disruptive symptoms such as difficulty sleeping without even
realizing they are related to menopause," said Dollin.

    Treatment Dissatisfaction Underscores Need for Non-Hormonal Options

    Physicians cited hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) as the most
recommended treatment for managing the symptoms of menopausal women, but
virtually all believe there is a need for more proven non-hormonal therapies.
Seven in 10 women agree. While reasons vary, female physicians cite reluctance
among women to take HRT as the number one reason that more non-hormonal
therapies backed by evidence are required. Seven in 10 doctors are
apprehensive about naturopathic therapies largely because of the lack of
quality research and evidence supporting their safety and efficacy.
    Three in 10 physicians admit they have not been provided with enough
counsel and treatment options related to menopause to adequately provide
alternatives to their patients. "Given how the menopause landscape has changed
in recent years, there's clearly a demand for evidence-based research and
treatment options that both women and health care professionals can have
confidence in," said Dollin.

    About Menopause

    Menopause is part of a woman's natural aging process and is defined as
the permanent cessation of menstruation for a period of 12 months.(4) There
are three phases: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause
refers to the time leading up to menopause; menopause is reached when a woman
has her last menstrual period; and, postmenopause begins when a woman has
reached menopause.(5) Menopausal symptoms can happen over several years.

    About the Survey

    This is the largest survey ever conducted to assess the attitudes and
beliefs of Canadian women and general practitioners about menopause. Conducted
by Leger Marketing between January 18 and February 2, 2007, the two national
polls surveyed 2,049 Canadian women age 41 and older who have never had breast
cancer or a hysterectomy, and 125 general practitioners who have at least 50
per cent female patients with either an equal number of patients over the age
of 35, or a majority over the age of 35. The objective of the survey was to
assess differences and similarities in attitudes and practices towards
menopause care. For the poll of women, results from a sample of this size can
be considered accurate to +/-2.16 per cent, 19 times out of 20, and for the
poll of physicians, accuracy is +/-8.77 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The poll
of women was conducted through an online survey while the physicians answered
a telephone survey.
    The survey was sponsored by Wyeth Canada in partnership with the
Federation of Medical Women of Canada.

    About the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC)

    The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) is a national
organization committed to the professional, social and personal advancement of
women physicians and to the promotion of the well-being of women both in the
medical profession and in society at large.

    About Wyeth Canada

    Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) is one of the world's largest research-driven
pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the
discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals,
vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve
the quality of life for people worldwide.
    Wyeth Canada (www.wyeth.ca), an affiliate of Wyeth, employs over 1,700
people across the country with a commercial head office in Markham, Ontario
and manufacturing and R&D facilities in Montréal, Québec. It markets leading
products in the areas of women's health care, neuroscience, musculoskeletal
therapy, transplantation and immunology, hemophilia and vaccines.


    
    VIDEO B-ROLL AVAILABLE VIA SATELLITE:

    Date of feed:         Tuesday June 19, 2007
    Time of feed:         10:00AM ET - 10:30AM ET
                          2:00PM ET - 2:30PM ET
    Co-ordinates:         Anik F2 C
                          Transponder 3B
                          Audio subcarrier 6.2 and 6.8
                          Downlink frequency 3820 vertical
    TOC                   CFA TX 1

    On-Demand Coordinates/URL:
    http://cnw.pondeserver.com/story_details.asp?fn=109

    B-roll footage includes: Comments in English and French from Dr. Janet
                             Dollin, women-on-the-street interviews -
                             perspectives on menopause (English), Dr. Dollin
                             consulting with a female patient, Dr. Dollin
                             walking through workplace, woman exercising in
                             gym and woman seeking menopause information
                             online.

    ----------------------
    (1) Population Projections for Provinces and Territories, 2001 - 2026,
        Canada, 2001 - 2051, Statistics Canada.
    (2) 2006 Statistics Canada Census.
    (3) Canada's Population by age and sex. The Daily. October 26, 2006.
        (Accessed October 26, 2006)
        http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061026/d061026b.htm.
    (4) The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. Canadian
        Consensuses Conference on Menopause, 2006 Update. J Obstet Gynaecol
        Camn 2006; 28 (Special Edition): S1-112. Available:
        http://www.sogc.org/guidelines/public/171E-CONS-February2006.pdf
        (accessed October 17, 2006).
    (5) The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. The
        Journalist's Menopause Handbook. February 2006. 1-23.
    

For further information: or to schedule an interview with a representative from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, please contact: Daniela Ferri, Edelman, Tel: [phone] ext. 272, [email protected]