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AACE Releases New Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Menopause

Based on strong evidence-based data, the AACE Menopause Guidelines state that hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate for the relief of severe menopausal symptoms in selected postmenopausal women, on the basis of an individually determined benefit-versus-risk profile. The Menopause Guidelines include 25 specific recommendations, which offer guidance to physicians and their patients regarding indications and contraindications, formulations, dosage and duration of therapy.

Approximately 35 million women in the United States are over 50 years of age, and a large majority will experience symptoms of estrogen deficiency which impact their quality of life. The Menopause Guidelines provide the most current, evidence-based recommendations for the use of hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating and insomnia.

"In publishing these guidelines, we hope to offer health care providers the opportunity to understand the science and statistics of menopause management, so that they in turn can counsel their patients based on the most current factual data," said Rhoda H. Cobin, MD, MACE, who co-chaired AACE's Menopause Guidelines Committee. "These guidelines focus on evidence-based data, and we encourage medical professionals to use this information in conjunction with their best clinical judgment."

AACE's Menopause Guidelines are consistent with FDA recommended indications, which support hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. The Guidelines review in detail the impact of menopausal hormone therapy on the breast, bones, cardiovascular and central nervous system, as well as the role these factors play in determining the risk-to-benefit ratio for hormone replacement therapy in symptomatic menopausal women.

Neil Goodman, MD, FACE, who also co-chaired AACE's Committee, explained, "The goal of menopausal hormone therapy is to alleviate quality-of-life symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, insomnia and vaginal dryness, while emphasizing the importance of individualizing therapy for each woman."

"These evidence-based guidelines are intended to identify which components of the decision-making process are objective, and to facilitate the cohesive incorporation of traditional standards of care with scientific research paradigms," said AACE President, Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACP, FACE, FNLA.

AACE Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice are systematically developed statements to assist health-care professionals in medical decision-making for specific clinical conditions. The target audiences for the Menopause Guidelines are endocrinologists, non-endocrinologist physicians and other interested allied health professionals.

Link to Menopause Guidelines

The new Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Menopause, as published in the November/December edition of Endocrine Practice: https://www.aace.com/sites/default/files/menopause.pdf.

About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. For more information about AACE, visit the AACE website at www.aace.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theaace or follow AACE on Twitter at www.twitter.com/theaace.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
Bryan Campbell, 904-353-7878
Director of Public, Media and Industry Relations
bcampbell@aace.com