Managing the menopause in general practice: a tale of pragmatism, caution, and optimism

There is a concerning message in the media currently, that all symptoms in women aged >40 years are due to oestrogen and/ or testosterone deficiency. We must question this. Primary care clinicians are well placed to know a woman's history and to provide holistic care in the context of a patient's background; these are the strengths of general practice. We highjacked the title for this editorial from a BJGP editorial on artificial intelligence (AI).1 1 While optimal AI could help women to manage the menopause transition and beyond, we should acknowledge that menopause management is an historic issue, which long predates AI, social media, and misinformation. GP education, mentorship, and support are likely to be the better solution, with human factors needed to counter the impact of menopause on quality of life and to ensure individualised care.2 2