Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society最新文献

{"title":"Bothersome VMS associated with menopause: a survey of the impact on women and their partners in the United States.","authors":"Sheryl A Kingsberg, Mayank Ajmera, Aki Shiozawa, Marric Buessing, Janet S Kim, Taylor Renteria, Rebecca Straubing, Shayna Mancuso","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002911","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002911","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the impact of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) on women going through menopause and their partners, and the anticipated gaps in these perceptions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Noninterventional, online surveys (May-June 2024) of women with VMS in the United States and their partners. Surveys were similar, but not identical, to allow comparisons of perspectives. No personally identifiable information was collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The survey was completed by 253 matched women and partner pairs. Mean age for women was 50.7 and partners 52.2 years. Similar numbers of women (40.7%, n=103) and partners (46.3%, n=117) reported that the woman had severe VMS. Women were more likely to seek treatment for any condition; 73.5% (n=186) of women and 58.5% (n=148) of partners reported high likelihood of seeking treatment. However, 78.7% (n=199) of women reported never receiving VMS treatment. Fewer women (48.6%, n=123) than partners (67.2%, n=170) reported that the partner encouraged the woman to understand their symptoms and pursue VMS treatment. More than half of women (59.3%; n=131) and partners (50.5%; n=113) reported a ≥2-point decrease in sexual satisfaction when comparing before VMS to the present.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>VMS have the potential to reduce relationship satisfaction for women and for their partners. Although women and partners were generally aligned on the daily life impact of VMS, there were problems with communication and gaps in perception. Furthermore, most women had never received treatment for VMS. This suggests an unmet need for educational programs and highlights the importance of enhancing communication between women experiencing VMS and their health care professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149228198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural, clean, yet still allergenic: contact allergen burden in vulvar soothing products.","authors":"Leah McAleer, Olivia Negris, Melissa M Mauskar, Sydney Rivera Dixon","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002935","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To characterize the prevalence of contact allergens in over-the-counter nonhormonal vulvar soothing products and determine whether common marketing claims identify products with lower allergen burden.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional analysis of externally applied vulvar soothing products sold through major US retailers was performed. Ingredients were compared with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group 80-allergen series. Product characteristics, marketing descriptors, and allergen burden were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 65 products, 78% contained at least one allergen, and 49% contained botanical-derived allergens. Fragrance ingredients were the most common allergens (39%), followed by sodium benzoate (25%), phenoxyethanol (12%), and propylene glycol (9%). Marketing descriptors, including \"natural,\" \"hypoallergenic,\" and \"fragrance-free,\" were not associated with lower allergen burden. Twenty-eight percent of \"fragrance-free\" products contained botanical scent allergens, and all \"hypoallergenic\" products contained at least one allergen. Ointments had lower allergen burden than other vehicles (P = 0.02), while product price was not associated with allergen burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most nonhormonal vulvar soothing products contain common contact allergens despite marketing suggesting improved tolerability. These findings support ingredient-based counseling by Menopause Society Certified Practitioners and other menopause health care professionals when recommending over-the-counter vulvar products to minimize contact allergen exposure and contact dermatitis risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149228287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lifestyle factors associated with hot flash frequency and daily interference: highlighting the role of sleep quality, diet quality and physical activity.","authors":"Vidu Senith Ranatunga, Nyoman Sutarsa, Nicole Vargas, Kathleen H Miles, Suzanne Estaphan","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine associations of lifestyle and demographic factors with hot flash frequency (HFF) and hot flash-related daily interference (HFRDI) in a multicultural Australian convenience sample. The study fills an evidence gap by investigating how lifestyle factors interact with ethnicity and self-reported menopausal status in Australia's diverse population, an area with limited prior research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2024-2025 included a convenience sample of women who self-identified as being in perimenopause and postmenopause (mean age: 56.1±6.6 y). All demographic, menopause, lifestyle, medication-use, and symptom information was self-reported through the online questionnaire. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, menopause status, and symptom outcomes were self-reported. Diet quality, physical activity, and sleep were assessed using an adapted Global Diet Quality Score, an International Physical Activity Questionnaire-based measure, and a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Menopause status was self-reported, and duration in that status was recorded; Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) +10 informed the terminology but was not used to assign specific reproductive-aging substages. Outcomes included HFF and HFRDI. Ordinal logistic models estimated adjusted associations controlling for age, menopause status/duration, and ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sleep quality was the strongest correlate of HFF and HFRDI. For HFF, each one-category worsening in sleep quality was associated with higher odds of being in a higher frequency category (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.44; P=0.001); older age was inversely associated (aOR=0.42; P=0.002). For HFRDI, poorer sleep was strongly associated with greater interference (aOR=4.93; P<0.001). Ethnicity was not associated with frequency (P=0.687) but was associated with daily interference (aOR=2.66; P=0.037). Diet quality showed a nonsignificant inverse association for daily interference (P=0.077). Physical activity showed a small, nonsignificant tendency toward higher frequency (P=0.135).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings suggest the importance of routine sleep quality for symptom burden and may inform lifestyle-focused approaches to symptom management.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149228368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unmasking the midnight thief: how menopausal vasomotor symptoms shape aging women's brain health.","authors":"Céline Bouchard","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002945","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149228292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Menopausal hormone therapy combined with antiresorptive therapy for skeletal outcomes in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.","authors":"Xiaochun Wang, Xiaorong Hu, Jianhong Chen","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002924","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>Postmenopausal bone loss is a major contributor to osteoporosis, fracture-related morbidity, loss of independence, and mortality. Although systemic menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), antiresorptive therapy, and combination regimens improve bone mineral density (BMD), their comparative skeletal benefits and safety profiles remain incompletely defined.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The study aims to compare the therapeutic and preventive skeletal effects of systemic MHT, antiresorptive therapy, and combined MHT plus antiresorptive therapy on site-specific BMD, fracture outcomes, and selected safety outcomes in postmenopausal women.</p><p><strong>Evidence review: </strong>PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception until April 14, 2026, for randomized controlled trials evaluating systemic MHT, bisphosphonate therapy, calcitonin therapy, or MHT combined with antiresorptive therapy in postmenopausal women. Eligible comparators included placebo, no active bone-specific therapy, or another eligible randomized treatment arm. Study selection and data extraction were performed using predefined eligibility criteria and standardized extraction forms. Treatment effects were synthesized using frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Sixteen randomized controlled trials, including 2,861 postmenopausal women, were included. Compared with control, all active treatment nodes were associated with greater increases in lumbar spine BMD. The largest estimates were observed for MHT plus calcitonin therapy (mean difference [MD], 12.24%; 95% CI, 7.46-17.01) and MHT plus bisphosphonate therapy (MD, 9.71%; 95% CI, 6.99-12.42), although calcitonin-based estimates were informed by limited evidence. Across hip-region outcomes, MHT plus bisphosphonate therapy showed the most favorable BMD profile, including at the femoral neck (MD, 4.87%; 95% CI, 2.66-7.07) and femoral trochanter (MD, 6.65%; 95% CI, 5.12-8.17). MHT alone and MHT plus bisphosphonate therapy were associated with higher risks of mastalgia and vaginal spotting or bleeding. MHT plus bisphosphonate therapy was associated with a lower risk of any fracture compared with control (risk ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.93), but fracture events were sparse and were often not prespecified efficacy outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and relevance: </strong>In postmenopausal women, systemic MHT, bisphosphonate therapy, and their combination improved BMD compared with control. Combination MHT plus bisphosphonate therapy showed the most favorable hip-region BMD profile; however, current evidence is insufficient to establish superior fracture prevention or long-term safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantitative assessment of neurokinin receptor antagonists in menopausal hot flashes: a model-based meta-analysis.","authors":"Shuting Wang, Yinghua Lv, Junchao Chen, Juan Yang, Ling Xu, Jihan Huang, Fang Yin, Qingshan Zheng, Lujin Li","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002909","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002909","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists (NK3-RAs) represent a novel class of nonhormone agents for the treatment of hot flashes in women with menopause.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to quantitatively evaluate treatment efficacy by developing a pharmacodynamic model and to assess the clinical value of the intervention by indirect comparisons with hormone and nonhormone therapies using previously published model-based meta-analysis data.</p><p><strong>Evidence review: </strong>PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched through October 30, 2025, for placebo-controlled randomized trials evaluating NK3-RAs in menopausal women with hot flashes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Data were analyzed using a maximum drug effect model. Develop a time-effect model to characterize the changes in the pure effect of the drug over time after accounting for the placebo response.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>These studies evaluated two NK3-RAs: fezolinetant and elinzanetant. Both agents demonstrated a rapid onset of action, with efficacy reaching a plateau shortly after initiation, and exhibited clear dose-response relationships. When the dose of fezolinetant was increased from 15 to 180 mg, the reduction in hot flash frequency increased from 10.2% to 33.4%; similarly, increasing the dose of elinzanetant from 40 to 300 mg also demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in hot flash symptoms. At the recommended doses, fezolinetant (45 mg) and elinzanetant (120 mg) achieved reductions of 20.6% and 19.6%, respectively. Model-based indirect comparisons using previously published efficacy estimates suggested that these effects were greater than those reported for paroxetine (14.8%) and corresponded to ∼52% and 49% of the effect observed with estradiol at 12 weeks. Placebo responses in NK3-RA trials were higher than those reported in other non-hormone therapy studies and were comparable to those observed in hormone therapy trials. The larger overall treatment effects observed in NK3-RA studies may have been influenced, in part, by the elevated placebo responses reported in these trials.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and relevance: </strong>Fezolinetant (45 mg) and elinzanetant (120 mg) demonstrated comparable efficacy for menopausal hot flashes. Model-based indirect comparisons provided clinical context for interpreting their efficacy relative to other hormone and nonhormone therapies. This study provides quantitative evidence to inform medication selection and pharmacoeconomic evaluations in women with menopausal hot flashes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Premature menopause and risk of type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women: findings from the Women's Health Initiative.","authors":"Yu Du, Erin S LeBlanc, Aladdin H Shadyab, Longjian Liu, Hailey R Banack, Robert A Wild, Nazmus Saquib, Cassandra N Spracklen, Christina Ludema, Juhua Luo","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002907","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002907","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The association between premature menopause (age below 40 y) and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not fully understood. Sex hormone fluctuation due to ovarian function, hormone therapy (HT), and menopause-related changes in body composition may likely modify or mediate this relationship, which is the focus of this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included 136,759 postmenopausal women aged 50-70 years from the Women's Health Initiative. Menopausal age and type (natural vs. surgery-associated) were determined using self-reported reproductive history, surgeries, menopausal symptoms, and postmenopausal HT use. T2D incidence was determined through self-reported initiation of diabetes treatment. Multivariable Cox models assessed the association between premature menopause and T2D, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, reproductive, and health-related factors. Interaction terms were used to evaluate effect modification by HT use. Mediation analysis quantified the contribution of body mass index (BMI) to this association.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Premature menopause (n=13,230; 9.7%) was associated with a higher risk of T2D compared with menopause at ages 50-54 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.16). Among women with natural menopause, HT use modified the relationship between premature menopause and T2D (Pinteraction=0.047). Elevated risks were observed among women who never used HT (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.08-1.42) or used estrogen plus progestogen (HR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.09-1.68), but not among estrogen-only users. BMI mediated (indirect effect: 27.9%; 95% CI: 19.0%-45.8%) of the association.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Premature menopause was modestly associated with an increased T2D risk; this association varied by HT use and was partially mediated by BMI.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effectiveness of physical activity interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Simone Saidel, Rebecca Hardy, Lexi He, Roopal Desai, Kate Robinson, Aimee Spector","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>Women in the menopause transition (MT) commonly experience mood disturbances, anxiety, cognitive complaints, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Yet access to pharmacological or psychological treatments may be limited or unsuitable for some. Identifying and accessing non-pharmacological interventions is therefore an important clinical and public health priority.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) interventions for improving depression, anxiety, mood, cognition, stress, and QoL in women during the MT.</p><p><strong>Evidence review: </strong>A systematic search of Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL was conducted from inception to April 2025. RCTs including women aged 40-65 years in peri and early postmenopause were eligible. PA interventions were compared with alternative PA or treatment as usual. Outcomes were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, with subgroup analyses by menopausal stage (peri and early postmenopause) and intervention types (aerobic-based [ABI] and mind-body [MBI]). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Twelve RCTs involving 1,003 women were included. PA significantly improved depression (g=-1.37, 95% CI [-1.96 to -0.79], mood (g= 0.84, 95% CI [0.40-1.29]), psychological QoL (g=0.66, 95% CI [0.19-1.13]), and overall QoL (g=1.10, 95% CI [0.32-1.88]). Significant reductions in depression were found in both perimenopause (g=-1.57, 95% CI [-2.58 to -0.56]) and early postmenopause (g=-1.14, 95% CI [-1.48 to -0.79]), with other outcomes improving in early postmenopausal women. ABIs improved (g=-1.07, 95% CI [-1.35 to -0.78]), mood (g=1.05, 95% CI [0.52-1.58]), and overall QoL (g=1.41, 95% CI [0.12-2.69]), whereas MBIs improved psychological QoL (g=0.80, 95% CI [0.43-1.16]). Sensitivity analyses largely supported these findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and relevance: </strong>PA may seem to improve depression, mood, and QoL in women in the MT. Both ABIs and MBIs may be beneficial, supporting the integration of PA into clinical care for menopausal women. Further high-quality trials with clearer menopause staging are needed to strengthen the evidence base.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of adherence to a Mediterranean diet on body weight in postmenopausal women: a systematic review.","authors":"Lorena Araujo Silva Dias, João Victor Silva Correia, Igor Oliveira","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002922","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002922","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is characterized by high consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish, and adherence has been recognized as a strategy for improving metabolic health. The postmenopausal period is associated with a decline in estrogen levels, contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk, weight gain, and reduced quality of life.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the efficacy of adherence to the MedDiet on weight loss in postmenopausal women.</p><p><strong>Evidence review: </strong>A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies published up to January 2026. Search terms included \"Mediterranean diet,\" \"postmenopausal women,\" and \"postmenopausal.\" Randomized controlled trials and observational studies relating to the MedDiet and postmenopausal women were included. Screening, data extraction and analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the inclusion and exclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Three studies (two randomized controlled trials and one observational), including 282 participants, were analyzed. The studies differed in design, intervention protocols, participant characteristics, and follow-up duration. Thus, these methodological and clinical differences were considered when interpreting the findings and may have contributed to the heterogeneity observed in the studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and relevance: </strong>The different design, limited number of studies and their small sample sizes may have limited the strength of evidence, making the detection of long-term benefits difficult. In qualitative synthesis, the included studies showed mixed findings, with no consistent superiority of MedDiet across weight, fat mass, or lean mass outcomes. MedDiet counseling alone, without explicit energy restriction or other structured weight-management strategies, should not be assumed to produce clinically meaningful reductions in body weight or fat mass.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends of menopausal hormone therapy across Canadian provinces in 2018-2023.","authors":"Armin Farahvash, Jessica Riad, Lara Ali, Shanzeh Chaudhry, Mina Tadrous, Iliana C Lega","doi":"10.1097/GME.0000000000002925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002925","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is guideline-recommended as the first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms in women without contraindications. Despite this, use of MHT remains low with persistent concerns about safety following the Women's Health Initiative. Contemporary population-level data on the trends of MHT use in Canada over the years, as well as differences across provinces, are limited. This study examines recent trends and interprovincial variation in MHT expenditure among Canadian provinces.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective time-series study of MHT dispensing trends across Canadian provinces (December 2017-November 2023) using IQVIA CompuScript. Use was standardized to defined daily dose (DDD) as set by the World Health Organization. The purchasing data is shown as DDD per 1000 women per day, normalized by provincial population of women aged 45-65 years for oral, transdermal, and vaginal MHT.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>National MHT use increased from 59.1 to 83.4 DDD/1000 women/day during the study period. Growth was driven by vaginal (14.9-29.2) and transdermal MHT (18.4-26.8) formulations, while use of oral MHT remained stable (25.8-27.3). In 2023, Quebec had the highest rate of MHT dispensing at 162 DDD/1000 women/day, followed by British Columbia and Nova Scotia (84.3 and 83.1 DDD/1000 women/day, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MHT use in Canada is increasing but remains modest and variable across formulations and provinces. Markedly higher use of MHT in Quebec may be partly explained by a more comprehensive drug coverage. Our findings highlight gaps in uptake of guideline-recommended therapy and provide a foundation for future research and policy considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18435,"journal":{"name":"Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}