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Publications & Articles If you would like to purchase any of the books on this page or listed in the further reference, please contact the RCOG Bookshop on 020 7772 6275 (fax 020 7724 5991) or email bookshop@rcog.org.uk Copies of reprints can usually be obtained on-line or through a medical library. A charge may be made. Click on the images below for larger versions.
The Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (Second Edition) Click here for more information.
Hysterectomy and HRT Click here for more information.
The Management of the Menopause Click here for more information.
Progress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
The term menopause refers specifically to the cessation of menstruation, which occurs at an average age of 51 years in developed countries. It is the most obvious manifestation of a gradual decline in ovarian function which commences about 5 years before a woman's last period. The ovaries fail because they run out of primordial tollicles. Initially, this results in increas-ingly frequent failure of ovulation, together with a compensatory increase in gonadotrophin secretion in an effort to maintain hormone levels. Despite this, hormone production declines pro-gressively. In the short term, these falling oestrogen levels commonly result in a spectrum ot unpleasant symptoms such as flushes, sweats, vaginal dryness and depression.
The term climacteric refers to this whole Involutional era which commonly spans 5 years each side of the menopause. In the long term, absolute oestrogen deficiency leads to a generalized atrophy of the skin, an accelerated rate of bone loss from the skeleton producing osteoporosis, and a rapid increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease. All of these adverse sequelae may potentially be reversed by hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Considerable controversy has begun to surround hysterectomy in the last few years.The views of some ardent feminists, in books, newspapers and on television often imply that women agreeing to hysterectomy must be unhinged. This kind of reporting conveniently ignores the vast majority of women for whom hysterectomy comes as a blessed relief from pain and discomfort suffered for many years.
This book provides a useful up-to-date overview of hysterectomy and comes at a time when surveys show that a majority of women are not being offered HRT after hysterectomy or even after oophorectomy, although it has been well known for some time that such women are at higher risk of long-term health problems such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
Adequate counselling is a theme of many of the chapters in the book which leaves the reader in no doubt that if a woman is offered a hysterectomy, she must also be counselled about the possible long-term consequences and the probable need for HRT for a few years - or many years, depending on her age at the time of the operation. It is also made clear that even in women who have had ovarian conservation there should be continuing surveillance of ovarian function and advice on HRT if appropriate.
This is a book that everyone involved in hysterectomy needs to read.This volume provides an authoritative account of the current status of the management of the menopause in clinical practice. Over 50 specially invited experts contribute detailed reviews and analyses of many of the most controversial issues in the field.
The objective of the volume is to provide physicians with a reliable, lucid and absolutely up-to-date companion to daily practive which offers a clear perspective on modern approaches to therapy.
This publication is the first in an annual series, the purpose of which is to ensure that, in a field which is developing so rapidly, the latest information is always available to practitioners in an expert but easily accesible form.
Progress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is now established as the definitive international review series in its field. Each volume includes regular and up-to-date articles on current developments, written by a carefully chosen international team of clinicians involved in research at the frontiers of the specialty. Intended for obstetricians and gynaecologists both in training and in practice, the series is consulted and referred to widely, in all parts of the world, and should feature prominently in the library and on the reference shelf of every practising clinician and clinical department of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Reviews of previous volumes confirm the reputation of the series:
'The series still has little competition and remains the definitive collection of review articles in our specialty... The editor's particular genius lies in inviting - and obtaining - timely contributions which don't date quickly, and I find myself still referring to all the previous volumes in the series.'
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology'The latest of the series. succeeds once again in directing readers either to relevant new technical developments... or to areas where it is timely to review knowledge, management routines and state of the art.'
British Journal of Hospital Medicine'...extremely good value. this book should be on all our shelves. It is easy to read and is essential for MRCOG candidates.'
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
