Abstract: Menopause varies among women in the context of signs, symptoms, and related health concerns. Myriad interventions are available to provide safe and effective treatment for menopausal symptoms; however, the risks must be considered by both women and their health care providers as they assess the burdens of a woman’s symptoms and how much risk she is willing to accept to alleviate them. This monograph provides up-to-date information to aid clinicians in identifying women for whom hormone therapy is suitable and those for whom it is inappropriate. Also, it provides detailed information regarding other options, including lifestyle modifications, complementary and alternative medicine, and existing and recently approved nonhormonal prescription drugs for vasomotor symptoms, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and osteoporosis.

Hormone Therapy and Alternative Therapies for Menopause, Clinical Updates in Women’s Health Care, Jan Shifren MD, Julia Schlam Edelman, MD, Isaac Schiff, MD. © October, 2015 ACOG. (a monograph for medical providers)