Menopause in the News

The National Menopause Foundation (NMF) and Perry announced that Governors from 12 states have issued proclamations declaring September 2025 as Perimenopause Awareness Month.

The states recognizing the importance of raising awareness are: Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.

        "Perimenopause can cause life-disrupting symptoms for millions of women," said Claire Gill, founder and president, NMF. "The changes that happen to women during this natural phase of life are not taught in schools or discussed during routine healthcare visits. We appreciate the state policy leaders who recognized the need to educate and support women at midlife and are helping raise awareness, so women are not suffering in silence." 

At Menopause Spotlight, we support the efforts of the National Menopause Foundation and Perry to bring greater awareness to this important stage in a woman’s life. 

This summary (posted September 4, 2025) is based on a PR Newswire report by the National Menopause Foundation, originally published September 2, 2025.

 An article by Laura Ungar of the Associated Press reports that at a recent FDA expert panel meeting, doctors disagreed over whether hormone therapies should continue to carry the FDA’s strongest health warning, known as a “black box” warning. This warning appears in a black box at the top of the prescribing information that comes with each prescription. 

According to Ungar’s reporting, the FDA-assembled panel emphasized benefits and suggested removing health warnings from at least some hormonal products. However, a letter signed by 76 doctors and researchers cautioned that “removing label warnings without adequate scientific assessment puts patients at risk,” and called on the FDA to hold a public meeting before making any changes. 

Ungar also notes that doctors warn against misinformation, such as social media's claims that hormones can prevent dementia or guarantee healthy aging. Experts stress that while hormone therapy can be a great option for many menopausal women, it's important to “understand the nuanced reality of these treatments before deciding what’s best.”

This summary (posted August 28, 2025) is based on reporting by Laura Ungar, Associated Press, originally published August 23, 2025.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the first global regulator to approve Bayer's new drug, elinzanetant (also known as Lynkuet) for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause. Lynkuet is an oral non-hormonal drug that may also help improve night sweats due to menopause. 

Elinzanetant gained approval due to successful results from the OASIS clinical trials, a multinational study involving 1400+ women (40-65 years old). Daily 120 mg elinzanetant capsules significantly reduced hot flushes and night sweats in studies lasting 26–52 weeks, compared to a placebo. The drug's most common side effects include headache, fatigue, and drowsiness. 

Elinzanetant is currently being reviewed by the FDA for approval in the US. 

This summary (posted August 24, 2025) is based on a press release from Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, originally published July 8, 2025.

An article on MSN highlights psychologist Dr. Kellyn Lee's insights on the key differences discusses the key differences between menopause symptoms and dementia. While both can cause memory issues, brain fog, and mood changes, menopause is temporary and driven by hormonal shifts, while dementia is progressive, irreversible, and caused by brain shrinkage and deterioration. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can ease menopausal symptoms but does not impact dementia. Menopausal symptoms typically improve over time, while dementia worsens and significantly affects daily life.

This summary (posted August 24, 2025) is based on reporting by Lauren Haughey, published on MSN News website on June 1, 2025.

A recent study from Ohio State University reveals that many U.S. women feel uncertain about menopause and what to expect. The survey, conducted in February 2025 with 1,068 participants, found that 60% of women anticipated their first menopause symptoms to appear between the ages of 41 and 50, while 25% expected symptoms to begin after age 50. However, the reality is that signs of perimenopause can show up as early as the mid-30s.

While nearly all the women surveyed (95%) recognized hot flashes as a symptom of menopause, awareness of other symptoms was much lower. Women over 60 were less likely to be familiar with other common symptoms, such as hair loss and memory issues.

Additionally, only a quarter of women identified hormone therapy as a safe and effective option for managing menopause symptoms. Younger women, aged 18 to 29, were the least likely to view hormone therapy as beneficial, favoring lifestyle approaches like diet and exercise instead.

This summary (posted August 24, 2025) is based on reporting by Roberta Burkhart, published on MedicalXpress website on May 12, 2025.

A recent AARP study found that only 21% of menopausal women aged 45 to 64 received treatment for depressive disorders, and just 20% sought help for anxiety or fear-related conditions.

This summary (posted August 24, 2025) is based on an article by Beth Carter, AARP Public Policy Institute, published on the AARP.org website April 2025.