Non-hormonal management of vasomotor symptoms of menopause

Abstract

A new treatment option for women unable to take hormone replacement therapy Up to 80% of women experience vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, during menopausal transition.1234567 These symptoms can persist for years before and after menopause, substantially impacting quality of life by impairing sleep, mood, and cognitive functioning.23456789101112 Approximately 32-46% of women describe their vasomotor symptoms as moderate to severe and would warrant treatment; studies suggest that the median total length of vasomotor symptoms is 7.4 years.4569 An effective treatment of vasomotor symptoms is hormonal therapy, but this treatment is not appropriate for everyone and only about 10% of women worldwide with vasomotor symptoms report using hormonal therapy.23561011131415 Contraindications to hormonal therapy and concerns for adverse effects with prolonged hormonal therapy use may contribute to its low use.2345679 Non-hormonal alternatives to manage vasomotor symptoms are available but these alternatives are generally considered less efficacious than hormonal therapy.6910111314 Furthermore, before 2023, paroxetine was the …