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Multimedia News Release - Concern, Confusion Over Treatment of Symptoms of Menopause

Posted on: Monday, 29 August 2005, 12:00 CDT

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A report released today suggests that many women may be suffering unnecessarily from the symptoms of menopause due to concern and confusion about various forms of treatment and an overall lack of communication with their healthcare providers.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/novogen/22573 /

"Because of negative headlines about hormone replacement therapy, conflicting reports on the safety and efficacy of natural alternatives, and a lack of dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals, many women are reticent to do anything about their symptoms," said Lila Nachtigall, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University's School of Medicine. "As a result, many are suffering unnecessarily and potentially doing themselves more long-term harm in the process."

The report is based on a survey of 1,140 women, 45 to 55 years old, conducted in the first half of 2005 by AccuData America. Novogen, the world leader in isoflavone research and makers of Promensil, a dietary supplement for the treatment of symptoms of menopause, sponsored the survey.

Of the women surveyed, 78 percent considered HRT dangerous or were unsure about its safety. Regarding natural alternatives, 96 percent were aware of the availability of these products over the counter; however, more than half (59%) never asked a healthcare professional about using them despite the fact that the majority surveyed identified physicians and nurse practitioners as their primary source for healthcare advice. When asked why, nearly a third (31%) said it was because their physician was not open to, or would not approve of, alternative treatments; more than one in five (23%) said it was because they were going to forgo any type of treatment and "tough it out." In fact, 69 percent of women said they had used neither HRT nor natural alternatives to alleviate their symptoms of menopause.

A related study in the January 2005 issue of The Journal of the North American Menopause Society revealed that only 10 to 25 percent of women seek treatment from their healthcare provider for the symptoms of menopause and, although use of dietary supplements by women 40 to 60 years of age has grown by 380 percent in the last decade, 70 percent do not tell clinicians about their use.

Declining levels of estrogen at menopause often give rise to symptoms that may include sleeplessness, night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings and others. The long-term effects of decreased estrogen include bone loss and increased risk of heart disease.

"There is a definite need out there for increased dialogue between healthcare professionals and their patients, particularly for those women who choose to 'tough it out,'" said Nachtigall who is the primary author of an algorithm, or systematic method, for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause. The algorithm promotes lifestyle changes and dietary supplements, particularly those made from the red clover plant marketed under the brand name Promensil, as among the first lines of defense in treating symptoms. It is hoped that the algorithm will also help open the lines of communication between healthcare professionals and their patients.

"Some women who choose no treatment option at all may be putting their bodies at risk for the negative ancillary effects from the stress and anxiety caused by menopause symptoms as well as long term post-menopausal health issues, including osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease," said Nachtigall.

Women in the survey, when asked about their greatest health concerns, listed items associated with heart disease first followed by breast cancer. Of only moderate concern was osteoporosis, despite statistics from the National Osteoporosis Foundation that show one in two women age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her remaining lifetime.

Promensil has been clinically proven to help maintain bone health as well as having key benefits in cholesterol and breast health and arterial compliance with no side effects or safety concerns. When given a choice between a product that only alleviated the symptoms of menopause and a treatment that also promoted other areas of health, women in the survey overwhelmingly chose the latter (84 percent).

AccuData America, a PRIMIS Company, is the largest independent provider of multi-sourced compiled marketing and related data analysis services. Founded in 1990, it currently employs more than 130 data consultants who have real- time access to the major marketing information databases.

Novogen is the world leader in research and development of isoflavones and human health. Isoflavones derived from the red clover plant, marketed by Novogen under the brand name Promensil, have been clinically proven safe and effective in treating the symptoms of menopause and improving cardiovascular and bone health.

Phenoxodiol*, the Company's leading anti-cancer compound, has received Fast Track designation for recurrent ovarian cancer as well as for hormone refractory prostate cancer from the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. The rights to commercialize this drug are licensed to the Company's majority owned subsidiary, Marshall Edwards, Inc., (Nasdaq: MSHL; LSE-AIM: MSHL). More information can be found at http://www.novogen.com/ and http://www.marshalledwardsinc.com/ .

*Phenoxodiol is an investigational drug and, as such, is not marketed

in the United States.

NOTE EDITORS: Related Documents -Promensil Fact SheetClinician's Guide: The Use of Red Clover IsoflavonesImage: Red Clover PlantImage: Lifestyle Changes Help Too

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/novogen/22573

Novogen

CONTACT: Paul O'Rourke, APR of Pipitone Group, +1-412-321-0879,phoneporourke@pipitonegroup.com, for Novogen

Web site: http://www.promensil.com/http://www.novogen.com/http://www.marshalledwardsinc.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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