Patient guide · Menopause
Menopause: what good care looks like
Menopause symptoms are treatable, and for many women FDA-approved hormone therapy is safe and effective. Here is what the evidence says and what to avoid.
What menopause is, in plain language
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What the current guidelines recommend
The main guideline is 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The Menopause Society. **
The treatments, and why each one is recommended
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What guideline-based care looks like at a visit
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Red flags that a clinician is not following the guidelines
- Compounded “bioidentical” hormones or hormone pellets sold as safer or custom
- Saliva or blood hormone “balancing” tests to set doses
- Supplements sold as treatment
- Refusing to discuss FDA-approved hormone therapy because of outdated fears
Why choosing a guideline-based clinician matters
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Questions to ask your doctor
- Which guideline do you follow for menopause, and what year is it from?
- Which of the recommended treatments am I on, and if not, why not?
- What targets are we aiming for, and how will we track them?
- What should make me call you before my next visit?
- Do you sell any supplements or compounded medicines? (A guideline-based clinic does not.)
Find a vetted menopause specialist near you
Every menopause specialist on DoctorDirectory.ai is license-verified, board-certified, and has signed a dated attestation to these guidelines. No patient reviews or star ratings, just facts you can check.
The guidelines behind this guide
Summaries in plain language, with links to the official documents and PDFs.
The Menopause Society · 2023
Subscription may be requiredThe 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
- For women who cannot or prefer not to use hormones: cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, certain antidepressants, gabapentin, oxybutynin, and fezolinetant are supported.
- Not recommended because the evidence does not show benefit: supplements such as black cohosh, soy isoflavones, and cannabinoids, plus paced breathing, chiropractic, and 'cooling' techniques.
Read the guidelinedoi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002200The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS) · 2022
Subscription may be requiredThe 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
- Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats and prevents bone loss.
- For healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, benefits outweigh risks for most.
- Dose, type, and route should be individualized; there is no set time limit if benefits continue.
- Compounded 'bioidentical' hormones and pellets are not recommended; FDA-approved products, including bioidentical estradiol and progesterone, are.
Read the guidelinedoi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002028
Find a vetted menopause specialist near you
Every menopause specialist listed has a verified license, board certifications on record, and a dated attestation to these guidelines. No reviews, no ratings.