Available MenoNotes

• Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy: Menopause is a natural stage of life that represents the postreproductive phase and may last for one-third of a woman’s lifespan or longer. Changes in the menstrual cycle signal the start of the menopause transition and ends 1 year after the final menstrual cycle at which time a woman is menopausal. Menopause is caused by the decreased production of ovarian hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. The timing of onset, duration, and symptoms experienced during the menopause transition vary from woman to woman.

• Menopause and the Workplace: Menopause, defined as the final menstrual period, is a natural life transition experienced by half the world’s population and occurs at an average age of 52 years. People have different menopause experiences, but many can have bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats (vasomotor symptoms), mood changes, joint aches, brain fog, insomnia, and vaginal dryness, which can negatively affect productivity and performance in the workplace.   
  
• Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Hot flashes and night sweats, also called vasomotor symptoms, are feelings of warmth that can be associated with flushing and sweating. They are quite common during menopause, occurring in up to 80% of women and lasting a mean of 7 to 10 years.  

• Vaginal Dryness: The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) includes bothersome vaginal, vulvar, and urinary symptoms that can affect quality of life, sexual satisfaction, and even your relationship with your partner. Unlike hot flashes, which typically improve with time, GSM usually worsens over time without treatment. 

• Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Many women experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and other physical changes with menopause. For some women, the symptoms are mild and do not require any treatment. For others, symptoms are moderate or severe and interfere with daily activities. Menopause symptoms often improve with lifestyle changes and nonprescription remedies, but prescription therapies also are available, if needed. Deciding about whether to use hormone therapy is based on the severity of your symptoms, your personal and family health history, and your own beliefs about menopause treatments.  

• Menopause and Depression: In addition to the physical changes (hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness) that may happen as you transition into menopause, many women experience mood changes, depressive symptoms, and sometimes, severe depression during this time.  

• Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a thinning of bones caused by a decrease of bone density beginning around the time of menopause. Bone loss is particularly rapid in the 5 to 10 years around the menopause transition because of loss of estrogen. During that rapid bone loss, the delicate structure of the skeleton is damaged, weakening the bone, increasing the risk of a broken bone or fracture.  

• Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom Compounded Versus Government Approved: Many types of hormone therapy are available for you to use for your menopause symptoms. These include hormones that are manufactured to be chemically identical to the naturally occurring hormones produced by your ovaries during the reproductive years. The term bioidentical hormones has been invented by marketers and has no clear scientific meaning.  

• Menstrual Calendars: Menstrual calendars are available in English, Spanish, and French and can help you track your menstrual patterns and alert you to abnormal bleeding. 

Videos and Podcasts

The Menopause Society is proud of its comprehensive video series for women and healthcare professionals on important midlife health topics. 

View the entire video and podcast series.

Additional Resources

Link to The Menopause Guidebook.