Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Menopause

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Persistent confusion surrounds hormone therapy (HT) risks and benefits since the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) findings in 2002.
• Growing patient and provider motivation to find effective, nonhormonal alternatives for menopause symptom management.
• Increased popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches in the last decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy and safety of botanical medicines as alternatives to HT for menopause symptoms.
• To assess the current landscape of botanicals used for menopause symptom relief.
• To compare the effectiveness of available botanicals with HT for vasomotor symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on botanical medicines for menopause.
• Analysis of data on the efficacy and safety of commonly used botanicals.
• Comparison of botanical effectiveness against hormone therapy for symptom management.

Main Results:

• A wide array of botanical medicines are available as alternatives to HT.
• Data documenting the efficacy and safety of these botanicals remain limited.
• No currently available botanical is as effective as HT in managing vasomotor symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Botanical medicines are a popular alternative for menopause symptom management.
• Limited evidence exists regarding the efficacy and safety of many botanicals.
• Hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms of menopause.