Menopause is a natural process for women as they age. Menopause can also occur as a result of certain medical treatments that affect a woman's ovaries. Many women and their health care providers have become interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for menopausal symptoms. This fact sheet is based on findings from a 2005 National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science (SoS) conference on the management of menopause-related symptoms. It answers some frequently asked questions and lists resources for more information.

Key Points

• Many women have few or no symptoms related to menopause, or feel that their symptoms are not enough of a problem that they need to seek treatment. Some symptoms traditionally seen as menopausal may be related to aging in general.
   
• Menopause should not be viewed as a disease, according to the SoS conference panel. 
  
  
• For many years, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT; in the past, it was called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) was the primary treatment for troubling menopausal symptoms. Recent studies have found increased risks, however, for certain serious health problems from prolonged use of MHT. 
  
  
• Women with severe or long-lasting symptoms of menopause that have not been adequately relieved in other ways should consult their health care providers about their personal risks and benefits for using MHT. Certain lifestyle changes can also be helpful. 
  
  
• There is very little high-quality scientific evidence about the effectiveness and long-term safety of CAM therapies for menopausal symptoms. More research is needed. 
  
  
• It is very important for women who are considering or using CAM therapies for any health concern to discuss them with their health care provider. This is to help ensure safety and a comprehensive treatment plan.

• What are the first signs of menopause?
• 10 questions about menopause
• Menopause and bladder control problems

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