Update on Menopause Hormone Therapy; Current Indications and Unanswered Questions

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Women's Health
• Evidence Synthesis

Background:

• Menopause hormone therapy (MHT) is a key management option for menopausal symptoms.
• Understanding the current evidence base for MHT's efficacy and safety is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current evidence on menopause hormone therapy (MHT) for clinicians.
• To evaluate MHT's indications, efficacy, and safety, highlighting data limitations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and synthesis of pooled evidence from observational studies, RCTs, meta-analyses, and reviews.
• Focus on MHT outcomes in women with natural menopause, scrutinizing available data and identifying gaps.

Main Results:

• MHT impact varies significantly across demographics.
• Evidence supports MHT for symptom relief and potential midlife skeletal health benefits.
• Current data reveal menopause health inequalities and research gaps, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Conclusions:

• Tailored MHT use for specific indications is recommended, balancing benefits and risks through shared decision-making.
• MHT can provide symptom relief and skeletal benefits for many women.
• Further research is needed to address evidence gaps in diverse contemporary MHT user cohorts.