This is a copy of the handout given during a recent presentation by Dr. Mikulics where she discussed the “5 myths of female health”
The painting is “Primavera”, 1478 by Sandro Botticelli
1, Statins Prevent Heart Disease
Information published by an independent group of doctors and scientists have found that in patients with no pre- existing heart disease who took statins for 5 years, no lives were saved!
For every 104 persons who took statins, 1 heart attack was prevented (1.6%) and for every 154 users 1 stroke was prevented (0.37%).
The INTERHEART study, published in the Lancet in 2004 followed 30,000people and found that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90% of all heart disease.
2, Calcium Causes an Increase in CVD
High total calcium intake was associated with a decreased risk of incident atherosclerosis, over long term follow up, particularly if achieved without supplement use and instead through calcium rich foods. However, calcium supplement use may increase the risk for incident coronary artery calcification.
3, Thermography is Safer than Mammogram
There are currently no studies proving this. Regular screening with mammograms has been shown to lower risk of mortality from breast cancer. The radiation dose from mammography is extremely low – less than flying in an airplane. 3D mammos are more likely to detect a true breast cancer than 2D, conventional mammos.
4. Hormone Replacement causes cancer and strokes
Data from Europe in addition to long term follow up from the Women’s Health Initiative study show that for menopausal women who are younger than age 60 (or within 10 years of the onset of their menopause) there was a HT associated protection against CHD mortality and a reduced risk of breast cancer (in estrogen only users).
5, The FDA Recently Approved a Female Viagra
Bothersome low libido, also known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder or HSDD, represents the most common sexual dysfunction in women.
The FDA approved flibanserin (Addyi) to treat HSDD in premenopausal women on August 18, 2015. This medication is the first drug approved specifically to treat sexual dysfunction in women prior to menopause.[4,5]
Women and clinicians should be aware of several practical issues relevant to the use of flibanserin (1,2,5)
~However, overall, compared with placebo, flibanserin increased the number of satisfying sexual events (SSEs) by only 0.5 to one per month.
- Unlike the rapid effects of medications for male erectile dysfunction, the benefits of flibanserin in reducing HSDD are observed only after the first 4 weeks of daily treatment, with results peaking at 8 weeks. Flibanserin is not known to affect sexual arousal or orgasmic function.
- To reduce side effects which include drowsiness, low blood pressure, and fainting, the medication should be taken at night. Alcohol consumption can increase these risks.
- Only prescribers and pharmacists certified through a special course will be able to prescribe and dispense flibanserin.
- A new drug, bremelanotide is being studied in premenopausal women. It works by binding to the melanocortin receptors in the brain which affect sexual cues and desire. It is an autoinjector and the effects last for 10-12 hours.
References
1. Newman D. Statin drugs for 5 years for heart disease prevention (without known heart disease).NNT.http://www.thennt.com/nnt/statins-for-heart-disease-prevention-without-prior-heart-disease/.Updated July 17,2015.
2. Anderson JJ, Kruszka B Delaney JA, et al Calcium Intake from diet and supplements and the risk of coronary artery calcification and its progression among older adults. J Am Heart Assoc. Pii: e003815.
3. Manson JE, et al Menopausal hormone therapy and health outcomes during the intervention and extended post stopping phases of the WOMEN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE RANDOMIZED TRIALS. JAMA. 2013;310(13):1353-1368.Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Shumel B, Hanes V, Garcia M Jr, Sand M. Efficacy and safety of flibanserin in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: results of the SNOWDROP trial. Menopause. 2014;21:633-640. Abstract
4. Katz M, DeRogatis LR, Ackerman R, et al; BEGONIA trial investigators. Efficacy of flibanserin in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: results from the BEGONIA trial. J Sex Med. 2013;10:1807-1815. Abstract
5. FDA approves first treatment for sexual desire disorder. FDA News Release. August 18, 2015.http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm458734.htm Accessed August 19, 2015.
6. Robert Lowes. ‘Female Viagra’ foes denounce PR campaign to win FDA approval. Medscape Medical News. August 10, 2015. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/849326 Accessed August 19, 2015.
7. Simon JA. Flibanserin is poised for FDA approval. But why this drug? And why now? OBG Management. 2015;27:6-11.