Women's Health Considerations for Lipid Management
May 2015
in “
Cardiology Clinics
”
TLDR The conclusion is that managing cholesterol is important for women, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with PCOS, and involves regular screening and careful treatment choices.
The document from 2015 highlights the importance of managing dyslipidemia in women, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It recommends screening for dyslipidemia before or early in pregnancy and monitoring lipid levels each trimester, with diet, exercise, and possibly glycemic control as management strategies. For women with familial hyperlipidemia, a complete lipid profile assessment is advised during each trimester, and postpartum follow-up is crucial. The document also addresses the long-term cardiovascular risks associated with pregnancy complications and PCOS, recommending lipid and diabetes screening for women with PCOS. It discusses the impact of contraceptive choices on lipid levels, noting the thrombotic risks of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and the need for careful selection of lipid-lowering agents due to teratogenic risks. Additionally, it covers the lipid changes during menopause and the considerations for hormone therapy (HT), advising against prescribing HT for cardiovascular purposes and emphasizing the need for individual risk assessment and more research to improve decision-making for HT.
