MenopauseA pragmatic approach to the management of menopause By Sondra Forsyth KEY POINTSMenopausal symptoms can occur for as long as 10 years before the last menstrual period and are associated with substantial morbidity and negative impacts on quality of life.Menopausal hormone therapy is indicated as first-line treatment of vasomotor symptoms, and is a safe treatment option for patients with no contraindications.Though less effective, nonhormonal treatments also exist to treat vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances.It is critical that clinicians inquire about symptoms during the menopause transition and discuss treatment options with their patients.Menopause is defined as 1 year of amenorrhea caused by declining ovarian reserve or as the onset of vasomotor symptoms in people with iatrogenic amenorrhea. It is preceded by perimenopause or the menopause transition, which can last for as long as 10 years. Although many treatments exist for menopausal symptoms, fears around the risks of menopausal hormone therapy and lack of knowledge regarding treatment options often impede patients from receiving treatment. In this review, we summarize the evidence for treating menopausal symptoms and discuss their risks and benefits to help guide clinicians to evaluate and treat patients during the menopausal transition (Box 1).Box 1: Evidence used in this reviewWe searched PubMed from inception until April 2022 using the term “menopause” with keywords “symptoms,” “diagnosis” and “treatment.” We also reviewed relevant articles from the reference lists of selected articles. Selected articles included a combination of systematic reviews, practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials and cohort studies.What is the prevalence and impact of menopausal symptoms?The median age of menopause is 51 years, which has remained consistent over the last century, despite a trend toward an earlier age of menarche.1,2 “Symptoms of menopause often start during the perimenopausal period, even as early as 10 years before the last menstrual period.1,3 Globally, 1.0%–3.7% of women experience premature ovarian insufficiency, which leads to menopause before age 40 years and has a variety of causes, including chromosomal abnormalities, autoimmune processes, cancer treatment, surgery or idiopathic etiologies.4Menopausal symptoms are variable and reflect a complex interaction between biological, psychological and social factors. Vasomotor symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, night sweats) are the most commonly reported and may affect as many as 80% of women.5 Most vasomotor symptoms persist for fewer than 7 years after the final menstrual period; however, 25% of women may experience flushing for as long as 10 years, and 10% have these symptoms for more than 10 years.6 In addition, vasomotor symptoms have been shown to independently predict increased cardiovascular risk, bone loss and high bone turnover.7,8A higher burden of menopausal symptoms is associated with decreased mental and physical quality of life.9 The transition into menopause, irrespective of symptoms, has also been associated with decreased health-related quality of life.10 Symptoms can substantially affect work productivity, as well as health care use and costs.9,11,12How is menopause diagnosed?For people older than 45 years who have symptoms of menopause or amenorrhea, a work-up with laboratory tests and imaging is not indicated unless symptoms are suggestive of an alternative diagnosis. Pregnancy should be ruled out among sexually active patients who are not using contraception.For patients younger than 45 years who present with irregular or absent menstrual cycles, clinicians should order follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, although FSH levels vary considerably during perimenopause.13 Endocrine disorders should be ruled out as causes of secondary amenorrhea (e.g., hyperprolactinemia, hypothyroidism), as well as pregnancy (Table 1). For patients younger than 40 years who present with irregular cycles and menopausal symptoms, clinicians should conduct a complete work-up for secondary amenorrhea, including a FSH and serum estradiol.View inlineView popupTable 1:Investigations for secondary amenorrhea when indicated for patients younger than 45 years For patients with vasomotor symptoms that are atypical, more frequent than would be expected or associated with other symptoms not usual in menopause, alternative diagnoses should be considered — such as carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, and hematologic or solid organ malignant diseases — and investigated accordingly (Table 2).View inlineView popupTable 2:Red flags and secondary work-up to consider for menopausal patients with vasomotor symptoms How should troubling symptoms be treated?Menopausal hormonal therapySeveral international societies, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the North American Menopause Society, recommend menopausal hormone therapy as the first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms for both menopausal and perimenopausal patients.14,15 The estrogen component of menopausal hormone therapy reduces bothersome menopausal symptoms, while the progestin protects the endometrium from hyperplasia and reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. Treatment with combined estrogen and progestin regimens (or estrogen alone, in patients who have had a hysterectomy) reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats by around 75%.16 In Canada, systemic estrogens are available in oral form, or as a transdermal patch or gel; vaginal formulations exist in the form of creams, vaginal tablets or an insertable ring. Transdermal estrogen formulations bypass the first-pass effect of the liver and may be safer than other formulations with regard to stroke and clot risk.14 Progestins are available as both synthetic progestins and micronized progesterone, and come in the form of oral pills, transdermal systems (in combination with estrogen) and an intrauterine device (Table 3).View inlineView popupTable 3:Systemic menopausal hormone therapy products available in Canada Newer, single-dose combination treatments like tissue selective estrogen complexes (TSECs; e.g., conjugated estrogen and bazodoxifene) and selective tissue estrogen activity regulators (e.g., tibolone) can also be used as first-line treatments in place of traditional combination estrogen–progestin products. Tibolone carries similar risks to standard menopausal hormone therapy. 17 Although TSECs have similar adverse effects as menopausal hormone therapy, they are associated with less break-through bleeding and mastalgia; however, they have been unavailable in Canada since 2020 because of a packaging problem that has recently been resolved.In the absence of contraindications, menopausal hormone therapy is the treatment of choice for patients within 10 years of their final menstrual period or, if this is unknown, younger than 60 years (Table 4).14,16 Standard doses of menopausal hormone therapy for patients of average menopausal age are included in Table 3; doses for patients with premature ovarian insufficiency should be higher.18 Duration of treatment after starting menopausal hormone therapy is no longer limited to 5 years, but rather is individualized, where the safest regimen is used at the appropriate doses to control symptoms.15 For patients with premature ovarian insufficiency, hormone replacement should continue until the average age of menopause, irrespective of symptom burden and in absence of contraindications.View inlineView popupTable 4:Contraindications to systemic menopausal hormone therapy14 In Canada, no product for testosterone treatment has been approved or recommended for menopausal symptoms, but the International Menopause Society has a position statement regarding the off-label treatment of menopausal hypoactive sexual desire.19Nonhormonal therapiesAlthough less effective than menopausal hormone therapy,17 nonhormonal options should be considered if menopausal hormone therapy is not appropriate because of contraindications or patient preference.14 Options include certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), gabapentinoids, clonidine and oxybutynin (Table 5). Gabapentionoids are particularly useful when taken at night to help alleviate nocturnal symptoms. A newer class, still awaiting approval, is the neurokinin-3 receptor antagonist, which acts to stabilize the temperature control centre in the hypothalamus. 20 Although some herbal supplements have been associated with improvement in menopausal symptoms, a review of nonpharmacologic treatments is beyond the scope of this article; the topic was recently reviewed in a menopause practice guideline by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.14View inlineView popupTable 5:Nonhormonal menopausal treatments and suggested doses14 What are the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy?BenefitsMenopausal hormone therapy can improve vasomotor symptoms by as much as 90% in patients with moderate-to-severe hot flushes.21 It also improves sleep quality22 and mood disturbances. 23,24 Although systemic menopausal hormone therapy may also alleviate genitourinary syndrome of menopause, patients being treated primarily for this issue can be treated with lubricants, moisturizers, vaginal estrogens or oral selective estrogen receptor modulators alone.Despite early concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events with menopausal hormone therapy after the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial,25 increasing evidence shows a possible reduction in coronary artery disease (CAD) with menopausal hormone therapy among younger menopausal patients, specifically those who start menopausal hormone therapy before age 60 years or within 10 years of menopause.26–30 Data from both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies consistently show that menopausal hormone therapy is associated with a reduction in CAD events among these patients; menopausal hormone therapy should therefore be preferentially started during these time windows.29 A reduction in overall mortality among patients who begin menopausal hormone therapy before age 60 years has also been reported.27,31The metabolic benefits of menopausal hormone therapy include an improvement in lipid profile (increase in high-density lipoprotein, decrease in low-density lipoprotein, decrease in lipoprotein [a]), although oral estrogen may also increase triglyceride levels.32 Some studies suggest an improvement in insulin sensitivity and, perhaps, a reduction in risk of diabetes.33–35 For both lipid and insulin sensitivity, the benefits are seen primarily with oral estrogen therapy rather than transdermal formulations, given their hepatic first-pass effects.Menopausal hormone therapy has been consistently associated with a reduction in the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures.25,36,37 The WHI study provided the best evidence on fracture risk reduction with menopausal hormone therapy, reporting a 34% reduction in hip fractures, a 34% reduction in vertebral fractures and a 23% reduction in other osteoporotic fractures among women who took hormone therapy compared with those who did not.25 Although menopausal hormone therapy is not recommended by most osteoporosis guidelines as a primary treatment, it should be considered as a second-line treatment in symptomatic menopausal patients.38RisksAlthough many RCTs and observational studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer with menopausal hormone therapy, these findings need to be interpreted carefully in the context of the individual patient. The WHI first reported that patients treated with combined menopausal hormone therapy had an increased risk of invasive breast cancer (hazard ratio 1.2).39 However, the attributable risk is much lower among people aged 50–59 years or among those who start treatment within the first 10 years of menopause, for whom the additional risk of breast cancer is estimated at 3 additional cases for every 1000 women who use combined menopausal hormone therapy for 5 years.40 In the WHI 20-year follow-up study, patients on conjugated estrogen alone showed a lower risk of breast cancer than those on placebo. Other studies also showed a lower risk of breast cancer among those on estrogen alone, compared with those on combined menopausal hormone therapy,41,42 with synthetic progestins conferring a higher risk of breast cancer than micronized progesterone.43 In patients with additional risk factors for breast cancer (e.g., family history, obesity, alcohol intake), the lowest effective dose of micronized progesterone or no progestin should be considered, if appropriate (i.e., TSEC or estrogen alone).Although early RCT data suggested an increased risk of ischemic stroke among patients on menopausal hormone therapy (odds ratio 1.29), more recent data suggest that this risk is primarily among older patients (aged > 60 yr) who start menopausal hormone therapy after the 10 years following the onset of menopause. 44 For those younger than 60 years, the absolute risk of stroke from standard dose hormone therapy is about 2 additional strokes per 10 000 person-years of use. With regard to venous thromboembolic events, the WHI reported a twofold increased risk with hormone therapy, with the risk highest in the first year of use and with higher doses.25 The reported absolute risk was 2–10 cases per 1000 users with short-term use (< 2 yr) and up to 28 cases per 1000 users with long-term use (> 7 yr).45 Most recent studies show a lower risk of venous thromboembolic events with transdermal estrogen formulations compared with oral treatments.46–48What are the considerations for starting menopausal hormone therapy?For average-aged menopausal or perimenopausal patients with no contraindications for menopausal hormone therapy and no specific individual risk factors, no specific hormone regimen is preferred for menopause management. When starting a patient on menopausal hormone therapy, clinicians should consider the patient’s individual risk of disease (e.g., breast cancer, venous thrombolic events, stroke), preferred mode of delivery (oral v. transdermal, combination v. separate dosing), need for uterine protection and cost. Patients with risk factors for specific diseases like breast cancer should be offered an individualized regimen (e.g., the TSEC, conjugated estrogen alone, combination therapy with cyclic progesterone). Similarly, a patient at risk for venous thromboembolic events should be offered low-dose transdermal therapy.Common adverse effects of menopausal hormone therapy include vaginal bleeding, mastalgia and headache. Unexpected vaginal bleeding is the most common adverse event with menopausal hormone therapy. Investigations for endometrial hyperplasia or cancer should be performed (i.e., ultrasonography, endometrial sampling) if the bleeding persists beyond 4–6 months, or in a patient with risk factors for endometrial cancer. It is not necessary to cease use of menopausal hormone therapy while investigations are ongoing. Options for decreasing unexpected vaginal bleeding include sequential progestin dosing (i.e., 12–14 days of the month); use of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, tibolone or the TSEC (when available); or, in rare cases, hysterectomy. Evaluation of the endometrium with ultrasonography and histologic sampling, and titration of the dose of estrogen or progestin based on thickness and histologic phase, can be performed with or without referral to a gynecologist based on the comfort of the managing physician.Mastalgia is a common estrogenic adverse effect and can raise concerns regarding breast cancer. It will usually improve over the first 3–4 months of treatment. Approaches to managing mastalgia include minimizing estrogen to the lowest effective dose or using conjugated estrogens, cyclic progestin dosing, tibolone or the TSEC (when available).49Migraine is not a contraindication to the use of systemic menopausal hormone therapy. Migraine symptoms can be improved for some patients by using regular, continuous dosing of both estrogen and progesterone. For patients with contraindications to menopausal hormone therapy, escitalopram and venlafaxine have evidence both for improvement of vasomotor symptoms and migraine suppression.50ConclusionMenopause and perimenopause can be associated with distressing symptoms and reduced quality of life. Menopausal hormone therapy is the first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms in the absence of contraindications. Patients with contraindications to estrogen and progestin therapy can be offered nonhormonal alternatives. Choice of menopause treatments depends on symptoms, patient preference, risk factors, absolute contraindications, availability and costs. Complex patients should be referred to specialists. Important clinical questions remain unanswered and should be tackled by future research (Box 2).Box 2: Unanswered questionsWhat is the optimal duration of treatment for menopausal hormone therapy?Are any hormonal formulations superior for either cardiovascular or bone protection?What are the optimal hormonal formulations to minimize risk from menopausal hormone therapy with regards to breast cancer and venous thromboembolic events?Will newer nonhormonal agents that act directly on brain receptors offer cardiovascular or bone protection?What is the work-up for vasomotor symptoms that are suspected to be nonmenopausal in etiology?What is the evidence for nonpharmacologic and lifestyle approaches to menopause management?FootnotesCompeting interests: Iliana Lega holds research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Canadian Menopause Society, and has received travel support from Diabetes Canada. Michelle Jacobson reports funding from CIHR, travel support from Women’s College Hospital and consulting fees from Abbvie, Astellas, Biosyent, Duchesnay, Lupin and Pfizer. She has received honoraria from Abbvie, Bayer, Biosyent, Duchesnay, Lupin, Organon, Pfizer and Searchlight. She consults on Duavive, Tibolone, Mirena and Estrogel. She is a vice chair with the Ontario Medical Association, and sits on the advisory boards of Pfizer, Duchesnay, Astellas, Lupin and Eisai. No other competing interests were declared.This article was solicited and has been peer reviewed.Contributors: Iliana Lega, Alexa Fine and Michelle Jacobson were involved in the conception and design of this manuscript. All of the authors drafted the manuscript, revised it critically for important intellectual content, gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.Funding: There is no funding associated with this manuscript.This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original publication is properly cited, the use is noncommercial (i.e., research or educational use), and no modifications or adaptations are made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/References↵Bruce D,Rymer J. Symptoms of the menopause. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2009;23:25–32.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar↵Palacios S,Henderson V,Siseles N,et al. Age of menopause and impact of climacteric symptoms by geographical region. 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Part-time, Casual or Locum opportunities are also available. Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible Salary: Fee for Service (Approximately $235,000 to $335,000 per year) Location: 407 Iroquois Shore Rd. Oakville, ON L6H 1M3 Experience: Minimum one year Education: Doctor of Medicine Work Setting: Medical Clinic Language: English License : CCFP / College of Family Physicians Certificate Licensure by Provincial or Territorial Authorities / Medical Council of Canada Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE 1) Family physician’s primary duties: Examining patients and taking their histories Order laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures Consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients’ health Prescribe and administer medications and treatments Inoculate and vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases Advise patients on healthcare Communicate health promotion/disease prevention to patients Provide Counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues Please apply by: Mail or in-person: 407 Iroquois Shore Rd. Oakville, ON L6H 1M3 Email: onehealthoakville01@gmail.comSaskatchewan Cancer Agency – 313615: Copy of Clinical Associate – LocumThe Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is looking for a Clinical Associate Locum to join our team in Regina. The Clinical Associate will work with in a multidisciplinary team to provide safe patient-centered care. In collaboration with the oncologist, they will participate in daily rounds, provide care to oncology hospital in-patient, hospital and Cancer Centre outpatients and provide after hour care as per the on call duty schedule. The outpatient role involves primarily assessment and follow-up care. Practice Location: Allan Blair Cancer Centre, 4101 Dewdney Ave, Regina, Saskatchewan Canada S4T 7T1 Population Base: Saskatchewan has a population of 1.2 million. The Allan Blair Cancer Centre provides comprehensive cancer care to those living in the southern parts of the province. Job Requirements: Education: Degree in medicine with subspecialty certification in internal medicine or oncology. Preference given to candidates Oncology experience. Completion of a Canadian Oncology fellowship is considered an asset. Certification through the Medical Council of Canada (or successful completion of the MCCQE1 exam) Credentials: Must be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan. Must be eligible for membership and privileges with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Regina. Other: Criminal record check CMPA Coverage Written and verbal fluency in English. A minimum of 7.0 in all categories in IELTS exam is required for all international medical graduates. Salary Details: A competitive compensation package is offered and will be commensurate with experience. Salary range for this position is $263,455 – $352,030, plus benefits. How to Apply: For more information regarding this opportunity, contact Dr. Magdi Ali, Regina Team Lead – Clinical Associates, at Magdi.Ali@saskcancer.ca . Interested applicants are invited to submit their letter of intent and curriculum vitae to: Physician Recruitment and Retention Consultant Saskatchewan Cancer Agency 130-1804 McOrmond Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7S 0A6 p hysician.careers@saskcancer.ca Deadline for application : Applications will be accepted until filled. We thank all candidates for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.Saskatchewan Cancer Agency – 313615: Copy of HematologistThe Saskatchewan Cancer Agency operates prevention and early detection programs, conducts innovative research and provides safe, patient and family-centred care at our two comprehensive cancer centres – the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina and the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. The provincial hematology program focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with both benign and malignant hematological conditions, including full provision of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant services in our Saskatoon location. Practice Loctation(s): Regina Hematology Clinic, 4545 Parliament Ave, Regina, SK, S4W 0G3 Allan Blair Cancer Centre, 4101 Dewdney Ave, Regina, SK, S4T 7T1 Job Duties: We are looking for two hematologists to join the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency in Regina on a permanent, full-time basis. The positions will have responsibilities in the care of both benign and malignant patients, the proportion of each to be determined in collaboration with the team. A competitive compensation package is offered and will be commensurate with experience. The current salary range is $340,263 to $439,113, plus benefits. Call Schedule Description: The call schedule will be established based on an equal rotational basis with other hematologists in the department(s). Compensation for on-call coverage at the standard rate of payment prescribed by the the Saskatchewan Ministry. Our hematologists are eligible for a clinical appointment in the Division of Oncology, College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and are also involved in teaching medical students and Residents including at the undergraduate and graduate level. Job Requirements: The successful applicant will have obtained or be in the final stages of obtaining certification in Hematology with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or have equivalent education, training and experience. They must be able to work in a multidisciplinary setting, and engage collaboratively with the team. The successful candidate must also be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan , meet the requirements for membership in the medical staff of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (Regina) and hold valid CMPA coverage. Other Requirements: Criminal record check Written and verbal fluency in English Population Base: The population of Saskatchewan is 1.2 million. The Allan Blair Cancer Centre and Regina Hematology Clinic provide comprehensive cancer care to those living in the southern parts of the province. Saskatchewan is a growing and prosperous province. Saskatchewan offers a world of endless possibilities. Interested applicants are invited to submit their curriculum vitae to: Physician Recruitment and Retention Consultant Saskatchewan Cancer Agency 120-1804 McOrmond Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7S 0A6 E-mail: physician.careers@saskcancer.ca We thank all candidates for their interest. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Review of applicants will be ongoing. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For more information on this opportunity, please contact Regina Hematology Team Lead Dr. Abdulhakim Eswedi at Abdulhakim.Eswedi@saskcancer.ca. Community Information: City of Regina: www.regina.ca; www.tourismregina.com Province of Saskatchewan: www.saskatchewan.ca; www.sasktourism.com; www.saskatchewan.ca/immigration Please note, In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.Dalhousie University & IWK Health Centre: Clinical Faculty Position, Pediatric RespirologyThe Division of Respirology in the Department of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre is seeking a full-time (1.0 FTE) physician at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level. The individual will join a team of two respirologists. The Division provides care to children with a wide variety of respiratory conditions like asthma, sleep medicine, complex respiratory care, home ventilation, non-CF bronchiectasis/PCD, and is the regional Centre for Cystic Fibrosis. In addition to outpatient care, the division provides usual ward care, consult service, and equally divided on-call coverage. Bronchoscopy skills are essential. Additional training in interstitial lung disease, aero-digestive and/or sleep medicine will be an asset to complement our group practice. The successful applicant will contribute to the academic mission of the Department of Pediatrics through research and teaching trainees at different stages of their training. The IWK Health Centre is a tertiary care children’s and women’s facility serving the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Dalhousie University, Atlantic Canada’s leading research university, offers a range of collaborative research and teaching possibilities. Cross-appointment to relevant Departments is possible for interested candidates. Qualifications include an MD degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university, certification in Pediatrics and certification in Pediatric Respirology Medicine (or equivalent). Eligibility for medical licensure in the Province of Nova Scotia is essential. Compensation and academic appointment is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Dalhousie University < http://www.dal.ca/ > is located in Halifax < http://www.halifaxinfo.com/ > , a cosmopolitan port city and the capital of Nova Scotia < http://www.novascotia.com/ > . Halifax is alive with culture and heritage and embraced by the Atlantic Ocean. Interested applicants must submit a current CV and a statement outlining their academic, teaching and research interests. Candidates must also provide the names and contact information for three referees (two of which must be academic). Applications will be accepted July 26, 2023 To apply for this position, please go to: http://dal.peopleadmin.ca Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity Share this: