What Treatment Options Are Available for Menopause?
Short answer: many.
Longer answer: there is no single “best” option - because menopause is not a one-size-fits-all experience.
Menopause treatment depends on your symptoms, medical history, surgical history, and personal preferences. Anyone promising a universal fix is oversimplifying something that deserves better care.
Let’s Talk About “Bioidentical Hormones”
This is one of the most common questions I hear, so let’s clear it up.
The term “bioidentical” is not a medical category. It’s a marketing term.
All it really means is that the estrogen being used is estradiol - the same form of estrogen your body naturally produces. The good news is that many FDA-approved estradiol products already exist and are widely available at your local pharmacy.
If using estradiol is important to you, you absolutely have FDA-approved options.
What About Premarin?
Premarin (a conjugated estrogen) often gets unfairly villainized online. In reality, it is effective and safe for many women. Choosing between estradiol and conjugated estrogen often comes down to personal preference, risk factors, and how your body responds, not internet debates.
A Very Important Safety Note
Any hormone therapy you use after menopause should be:
FDA-approved
Commercially manufactured
Available through a standard pharmacy
This matters.
Non-FDA-approved compounded hormones and pellet injections are unregulated. Despite being marketed as “more natural” or “safer,” there is no evidence to support those claims. Unregulated hormones are exactly that — unregulated — which means inconsistent dosing and unknown risks.
Progesterone: When It’s Required (and When It’s Not)
If you have an intact uterus, progesterone is not optional. You must take progesterone for at least 12 days per month to protect the uterine lining when using estrogen therapy.
If you do not have a uterus (because it was surgically removed), progesterone is not needed with estrogen therapy.
This is not a preference issue — it’s a safety requirement.
Why There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Menopause Plan
Menopause care works best when it’s individualized, because:
No two women experience menopause the same way
Medical, gynecologic, and surgical histories differ
Symptoms vary widely
Health goals and risk tolerance are personal
The right treatment plan is the one that fits you — not your friend, not a celebrity, and not a TikTok comment section.
Effective menopause care is about informed choices, evidence-based options, and thoughtful customization — not trends.