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The Institute of Women's Health
Address: 8 De Montfort Street, Leicester. LE1 7GA
Telephone: 0116 255 2100
Fax: 0116 255 2100
Helpline: 0901 723 0115 calls are charged at a rate of 35p/minute. The calls are answered by a Registered Nurse
A unique charity - The Institute of Women's Health opened in June 1999. This charity emerged out of the work of the menopause clinics. It had long been recognised that there was a great need for education for women on the menopause itself, as well as the range of therapy options that are available to them. By having an accurate awareness of the potential repercussions of this normal event women are better able to make informed choices about how they wish to manage their own menopause. Up to 1999 this education had been provided by seminars held as part of a woman's clinic appointment. In order to develop the scope of educational topics and encompass a range of therapy options rather than just HRT, a property away from the hospital within the City environs was leased. This property provides a range of facilities - extensive literature in the forms of leaflets, research papers and a well stocked library. Audio and video cassettes, one to one encounters with a nurse advisor, informal seminars on a range of topics pertinent to the menopause as well as a helpline. We also endeavour to hold a number of social and fundraising events throughout the year.
The Institute is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm. Women are welcome to call by and browse through the wide range of information available in a variety of formats. Additionally they may wish to attend one of the seminars or book an appointment for a one-to-one with a nurse advisor. A helpline operates on a Monday between the hours of 10am - 2pm for those women not able to travel to the unit itself.
Additionally the Institute is a resource for Health Professionals, in that it offers study sessions as well as phone advice as required.
Gynaecology Research Unit
Address: Menopause Research Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester. LE1 7GA
Telephone: 0116 258 6937
Fax: 0116 258 6098
The Gynaecology Research Unit is a vertically integrated team of clinical scientists, laboratory scientists and technicians, whose aim is to further knowledge in the field of reproductive biology and to advance its frontiers to resolve clinical problems of current interest.
In order to address these aims the team has been active in a number of research fields, and has widely published its findings, receiving international recognition for its work. The central studies of the unit are those concerning the uterus and endometrium. To this end a programme of projects has been established which have set out to re-examine the accepted 'facts' of endometrial development and shedding. Other research has addressed the cardiovascular system and sex steroid metabolism. The menopause client population has also been instrumental in the launch of a number of new products by their participation in sponsored research trials.
To create an appropriate clinical base, in terms of post reproductive gynaecology, the unit offers general clinics for the menopausal woman as well as specific clinics which focus on issues such as post-menopausal bleeding, skin problems of the perineum and polycystic ovary.
Women attend the menopause clinics having been referred by their General Practitioner or another hospital Consultant. Prior to a clinical consultation, women complete a detailed history sheet and have a number of blood investigations. Additionally they attend an educational seminar to ensure that they are fully aware of the potential implications of their menopause on them. This educational interaction also fosters in the woman the need for her to take some responsibility for the maintenance of her quality & length of life through lifestyle changes as necessary. As well as encouraging her to be a partner, rather than a passive participant, in the decision making process at the time of her clinical consultation.
Bone Densitometry Unit
Address: Bone Densitometry Unit, Victoria Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester, LE
Telephone: 0116 258 6937
Fax: 0116 258 6098
The provision of bone mass measurement has been a natural extension to the work of the menopause clinic. A Bone Densitometry Unit was established in 1995. The facility has been provided for by research funds and maintained by a nominal charge levied to individuals who wish to have a bone density measurement carried out. Clients refer themselves for this procedure and they are given the print outs of their assessment together with a pack of information, including guidance on how to interpret the scan. The individuals also have the opportunity to attend an educative presentation about osteoporosis and the ways it presents and is managed, both by the individual as well as medically.
References of work recently published by local centre
Original Articles
- Thornton MJ, Taylor AH, Mulligan K, Al-Azzawi F, Lyon CC, O'Driscoll J, Messenger A. (2002)
Oestrogen receptor beta is the predominant oestrogen receptor in human scalp skin. Exp Dermatol 11:(in press).
- Wahab M, Thompson J, Whitehead M, Al-Azzawi F. (2002)
The effect of a change in the dose of trimegestone on the pattern of bleeding in estrogen-treated postmenopausal women: 6 months extension of a dose ranging study. Hum Reprod 17: 1386-1390.
- Al-Azzawi F, Wahab M, Thompson J, Pornel B, Hirvonen E,Ylikorkala, van der Mooren MJ, Dillon J (2001)
Acceptability and patterns of endometrial bleeding in estradiol-based HRT regimens: A comparative study of cyclical sequential combinations of trimegestone or noretrhisterone acetate. Climacteric 4: 343-354.
- Taylor AH, Pringle H, Bell SC, Al-Azzawi (2001)
Specific inhibition of estrogen receptor alpha function by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. Antisense & Nucleiec Acid Drug Development 11: 219-231.
- Doren M, Al-Azzawi F, Donnez J, Van der Mooren MJ, Villero J, Gompel A (2001)
Therapeutic value and long-term safety of pulsed estrogen therapy. Maturitas 38: S23-30.
- Akkad A, Al-Azzawi F (2001)
Changes in serum vascular endothelial growth factor following initiation of estrogen replacement after hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 80:554-558.
- Wahab M, Thompson J, Al-Azzawi F. (2000)
Effect of different cyclical sequential progestins.on endometrial vascularity in postmenopausal women compared to the natural cycle: a morphometric analysis. Hum Reprod 15: 2075-2081.
- Thornton MJ, Taylor AH, Mulligan K, Al-Azzawi F (2000)
Oestrogen receptor beta is not present in the pilosebaceous unit of Red Deer skinduring the non-breeding season. Horm Res 54:259-262.
- Al-Azzawi F, Wahab M, London N. (2000)
The prevalence of Ki 67 and oestrogen receptor beta antigens in the carotid arteries with atheromatous plaques compared with controls. Eur J Cancer ; 36: 106-107.
- Hodson, J, Thompson J, Al-Azzawi F (2000)
Headache at menopause and in hormone replacement therapy users. Climacteric 3: 119-124.
- Taylor AH, Al-Azzawi F (2000)
Immunolocalisation of oestrogen receptor beta in human tissues. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 24: 145-155.
- Gardner FJE, Konje JC, Abrams KR, Brown LJR, Khanna S, Al-Azzawi F, Bell SC, Taylor, DJ (2000)
Endometrial protection from tamoxifen-stimulated changes by a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet 356: 1711-1717.
- Wahab M., Thompson J., Al-Azzawi F. (2000)
The effect of sub-mucous fibroids on the dose-dependent modulation of uterine bleeding by trimegestone in postmenopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy. BrJObstetGynaecol 104:329-334.
- Wahab M, Thompson J, Al-Azzawi F.(2000)
Increased vascularity in norethisterone-based hormone replacement therapy compared with the natural cycle. Eur J Cancer 36: 105-106.
- Habiba M., Bell SC, Al-Azzawi F.(2000)
The effect of hormone replacement therapy on the immuno-reactive levels in the endometrium of oestrogen and progesterone receptor, heat shock protein 27, and human ? lactoglobulin.Hum Reprod 15: 36-42.
- Al-Azzawi F, Wahab M, Thompson J, Thompson W, Whitehead M. (1999)
Acceptability and patterns of uterine bleeding in sequential trimegestone-based HRT: A dose-ranging study. Hum. Reprod 14:636-641.
- Wahab M, Thompson J, Al-Azzawi F. (1999)
Endometrial histomorphometry of trimegestone-based sequential hormone replacement therapy : a weighted comparison with the endometrium of the natural cycle. Hum. Reprod 14: 2609-18.
- Habiba M., Bell SC, Al-Azzawi F. (1999)
The effect of HRT on the number and the proliferation index of endometrial leucocytes. Hum Reprod 14 : 3088-94.
- Al-Azzawi F., Wahab M, Habiba M, Akkad A, Mason T (1999)
A clinical and metabolic study of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy compared to tibolone. Obstet Gynecol 93:258-264.
- Wahab M., Thompson J., F. Al-Azzawi. (1999)
The distribution of endometrial leucocytes and their proliferation markers in trimegestone treated postmenopausal women compared to the endometrium of the natural cycle : A dose ranging study. Hum. Reprod 14:1201-1206.
- Habiba M., James R, Bell SC, Al-Azzawi F. (1999)
Identification of cycle modulated 200kDa endometrial antigen by a monoclonal antibody LDS60. J Immunol Methods 227:65-73.
Invited Reviews
- Al-Azzawi F. (2001)
The Menopause and its management in perspective. Postgraduate Medical Journal 77: 292-304.
- Wahab M, Al-Azzawi F (2001)
Hormone Replacement therapy and Gynaecology. Contemporary Clinical Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1:263-70.
- Wahab M, Al-Azzawi F (2001)
Trimegestone: Expanding therapeutic choices for the treatment of the menopause. Expert Opinionon investigational drugs 10 (9), 1737-1744.
Books
- Atlas of Childbirth and Obstetric Techniques, Wolfe Medical Publications. (1990).
This book has been translated into German, Spanish, and Turkish languages, and sold 35,000 copies.
- and Obstetric Techniques, Harcourt Brace (1998).
Second Edition.
- HRT and the Endometrium, Parthenon publishing. (2001).
Editorial Activity
- Editor of the "CME journal in Gynæcology" launched in September 1998.
- Member of the Editorial Board of the "Menopause Review" the official journal of the European Federation Menopause Society.
- Member of the Editorial Board of the "The Climacteric" the official journal of the International Menopause Society.
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Local Information
The Team