Medical Body Issues New Guidelines For Menopause Treatment

New guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) highlight the importance of personalised treatment for menopausal symptoms, improving women’s quality of life and ending the stigma surrounding menopause.

The guidelines, published in the November 2026 issue of the scientific journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, come weeks after World Menopause Day, observed annually on October 18, and renew the focus on women’s health and wellbeing.

Sophia Kalantaridou, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), President of the Hellenic Society of Family Planning, Contraception and Reproductive Health, and Vice-President of the Hellenic Society of Climacteric and Menopause, says the new guidelines emphasise individualised approaches to symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and mood changes, which can significantly affect women’s daily lives.

A Natural Transition with Significant Challenges

Menopause represents a natural stage in every woman’s life. However, as life expectancy increases, women may now spend up to 40% of their lives after menopause.

According to Kalantaridou, hormonal fluctuations during this period can trigger a range of physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood swings and difficulty concentrating.

Health conditions such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease also become more common during this stage of life.

“Menopause typically occurs around the age of 50–51. However, approximately 12% of women experience it before the age of 45, while around 3.5% develop premature ovarian insufficiency before the age of 40,” she says.

More than one billion women worldwide are now over 50, and a significant proportion experience severe menopausal symptoms.

Despite this, menopause remains a taboo subject, with many women suffering in silence without seeking appropriate medical support.

New Evidence on Menopause Treatment

International recognition of the need for more effective management of menopausal symptoms continues to grow, Kalantaridou notes.

She points to a significant development in November 2025, when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to remove certain serious boxed warnings from the labelling of specific menopause hormone therapy products.

The warnings, which manufacturers had included on hormone therapy products since 2003, covered potential risks including cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and dementia.

“This development reflects the need to reassess scientific evidence and evaluate the benefits and risks of hormone therapy on an individual basis,” she says.

The United States has also announced the establishment of a new Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health, aimed at advancing research into women’s health throughout every stage of life, with particular emphasis on menopause.

Under the new ACOG guidelines, doctors should base menopause treatment on each woman’s individual needs, taking into account relevant medical indications, contraindications and personal medical history.

Available options include both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies to manage hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and mood changes.

The guidelines also recognise the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy, physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle incorporating a balanced diet.

The Importance of Open Dialogue

Professor Kalantaridou emphasises that every woman transitioning from reproductive age to menopause should have access to the support she needs through appropriate pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

“The most meaningful change, however, extends beyond advances in treatment options. It also involves fostering a culture of open dialogue, information and understanding,” she says.

“Menopause should not be treated as a period during which women must silently endure symptoms that affect their daily lives and wellbeing.”

(Source: AMNA)

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