Menopause treatment is shifting. Here's how.

Key Points:

• Recent reviews of hormone therapy for menopause reflect new data and drug developments, aiming to provide high-quality treatment recommendations despite the complexity of the review process.
• Hormone therapy, which replaces declining estrogen and sometimes adds progesterone, is considered safe and often the first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms, especially for women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset.
• For women who cannot take hormones, alternatives include antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and newly approved nonhormonal neurokinin receptor antagonists targeting hot flashes, though these may not alleviate all symptoms.
• There is currently an estrogen patch shortage, with experts advising patients to switch temporarily to other forms such as pills or sprays, and to consult specialists with menopause expertise if needed.
• Testosterone and peptide treatments are increasingly requested but lack strong evidence or FDA approval for menopause, leading clinicians to caution against off-label or unregulated use without clear benefits.