From hormone therapy to lifestyle approaches — an evidence-based overview of what's available to manage menopause symptoms.
The landscape of menopause treatment has changed significantly in recent years. Hormone therapy (HT), once widely avoided after a 2002 study raised concerns, has been substantially rehabilitated by subsequent research showing it is safe and highly effective for most women when started in the early menopause transition. Modern hormone therapy uses body-identical hormones at lower doses than were previously standard, and is available in a range of delivery methods including patches, gels, sprays, and pills.
For women who cannot or choose not to use hormones, a growing range of non-hormonal options exists — including newer medications specifically developed for menopause symptoms, certain antidepressants effective for hot flashes, and well-studied lifestyle approaches. Research suggests that a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle modification tends to produce the best outcomes. The right treatment plan is individual and should be developed in conversation with a knowledgeable healthcare provider.