Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Angioedema
- Swelling under the skin, often of the face, lips or throat; the hereditary form can be triggered by oestrogen.
- Anticoagulant
- A medicine that thins the blood to treat or prevent clots.
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
- An immune condition that makes blood more likely to clot.
- Aromatase inhibitor
- A tablet used after some breast cancers that lowers oestrogen levels.
- Body mass index (BMI)
- A measure of weight relative to height, used to judge whether weight is in a healthy range.
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer genes 1 and 2)
- Genes that, when altered, greatly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS)
- The UK professional society for specialists in cancers of the female reproductive organs.
- British Menopause Society (BMS)
- The UK specialist society for healthcare professionals working in menopause care, which publishes clinical guidance.
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- The standard UK reference on medicines, doses and interactions.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Contraindication
- A reason a medicine should not be used for a particular person.
- Data Protection Act 2018
- The UK law, alongside the UK General Data Protection Regulation, governing how personal information is handled.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong that causes, or could cause, significant harm.
- Endometrial hyperplasia
- Thickening of the womb lining that can occur with unopposed oestrogen and can progress to cancer.
- Enzyme-inducing medicine
- A medicine that makes the liver break down other medicines faster, making them less effective.
- Equality Act 2010
- The law protecting people from discrimination because of characteristics such as sex, gender reassignment, age and disability.
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- The regulator of doctors in the UK.
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- The regulator of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain.
- General practitioner (GP)
- The patient's family doctor.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations setting the fundamental standards that registered care providers must meet.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Medicines that replace the hormones, mainly oestrogen, that fall during the menopause.
- Hypertriglyceridaemia
- A high level of a type of fat called triglyceride in the blood.
- Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS)
- A hormonal coil placed in the womb; the 52 mg device can protect the womb lining during HRT.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The UK regulator of medicines and medical devices, which runs the Yellow Card scheme.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- The body that publishes national clinical guidance in England.
- NICE CG164
- NICE guidance on familial breast cancer, including how to classify risk from family history and when to refer.
- NICE NG136
- NICE guidance on diagnosing and managing high blood pressure in adults.
- NICE NG23
- NICE guidance on identifying and managing the menopause.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- The regulator of nurses and midwives in the UK.
- Off-label
- Using a licensed medicine in a way not covered by its licence, such as in a condition its SmPC lists as a contraindication.
- Oophorectomy
- Surgical removal of the ovaries.
- Porphyria
- A group of rare inherited disorders affecting how the body makes haem, which some medicines can trigger.
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
- Loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40.
- Progestogen
- A hormone given with oestrogen to protect the womb lining; includes micronised progesterone and synthetic types.
- Records Management Code of Practice (2023)
- National guidance on how long health and care records are kept and how they are managed.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- A written step-by-step instruction for carrying out a task consistently and safely.
- Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
- The official document describing how a medicine should be used, including its contraindications and interactions.
- Thrombophilia
- A condition that increases the tendency of blood to clot.
- Transdermal
- Given through the skin, for example as a patch, gel or spray.
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- A temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve; a warning sign of stroke.
- UK Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG)
- A UK professional group for cancer genetics specialists that publishes guidance.
- UK General Data Protection Regulation
- The UK's main data protection law.
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- A blood clot in a vein, such as in the leg or lung.
- Yellow Card scheme
- The MHRA system for reporting suspected side effects of medicines.