👉 From Misinformation to Momentum: 2025 Menopause Society Updates

👋 Hello friends!

Welcome to the November 11th edition of Menopaussible—bringing you the news you can use and the ⚡ energy ⚡ you need to support your menopause journey.

I’m Maria Caracci Ciccolella—health + life coach and menopause advocate.
(Connect with me on ​IG​ or ​LinkedIn​!)

Just a little over three weeks ago, clinicians from across the globe gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the annual meeting of The Menopause Society—which, like last year, saw a sold-out, record-breaking attendance.

As the saying goes: menopause isn’t just having a moment—it’s become a movement.
​And, increased interest in the subject—especially among health-care providers—is exactly the kind of news we want to see.

There were quite a few things that set physicians buzzing over the course of the meeting. Below, I’ve got a roundup of what got them talking—including one less-than-intended headline.
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So without further ado, let’s jump in!

📰 The Headline Nobody Wanted: Misinformation

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off the “bad news.” Like last year, the topic of misinformation earned a spot on the program agenda, with a presentation by the de facto head of countering misinformation, Dr. Jen Gunter.

However, it wasn’t her presentation that set the social sphere ablaze. Rather, it was a poster presentation based on 120 million patient records comparing women who started estrogen therapy during perimenopause vs. those who started after menopause or were never prescribed at all.

Cue: one publication that published a story before the findings had even been put into context—and before long, the social sphere was ablaze with this claim:

Perimenopausal women who used estrogen for at least 10 years prior to menopause had a 60 percent decreased risk of developing breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke compared to the other two groups.

After reading that statistic, your first instinct might be to call your doctor and ask for a prescription—not to mention text every female friend you know.

Unfortunately, what was missing were critical details—study design, data limitations, and context—things like:
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• (Potential) Human error in coding patient records
• Lack of detail on hormone type (oral vs. transdermal, dosage, etc.)
• No socioeconomic data
• Potential health disparities based on age of hormone initiation (e.g., 45 vs. 55)

The real takeaway, according to study lead Dr. Rachel Pope: this is a promising pathway for future, in-depth research on hormone therapy use during perimenopause.

👉 Did you see some of these headlines in your social feed?
👁️ Watch Dr. Pope discuss what the data really means​

💡 The Positive Pulse: Real Progress

As noted above, The Menopause Society Annual Meeting had sold-out attendance for the second consecutive year—but those weren’t the only big figures coming from the organization.

It was announced that membership nearly doubled over the past year—proof again that menopause is finally on the medical map.

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Those numbers matter, given that 1.3 million women enter menopause each year.
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That’s why this next update is especially exciting:

💰 A $5 million grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation will support the digital innovation phase of the organization’s NextGen Now initiative. This program aims to train 25,000 physicians on menopause care within three years through a holistic digital learning strategy—integrating virtual and augmented-reality modules and a dynamic mobile app.

With more tools and education in hand, the goal is to bring more physicians online and into the world of menopause care.

🌙 Perimenopause Grabs the Spotlight

Several presentations this year focused on perimenopause—including one that acknowledged this phase may start earlier than previously believed.
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​Drawing on the 2020 Women Living Better Survey, Dr. Marcie Richardson shared that symptom expression can occur before noticeable menstrual changes and as early as the mid- to late-30s—advocating for earlier education for women.

Early signs highlighted include: mood changes, sleeplessness, and brain fog.

🔬 What Had Physicians Talking

As always, the conference featured a packed agenda—but a few presentations garnered extra buzz. Here’s what clinicians and researchers were talking about:

🧬 Rethinking the Role of the Ovaries

Not just as reproductive organs—but as architects of lifelong health, influencing everything from the brain to the bones, sleep to weight management.
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Why does this matter?
Because the ovaries begin to age in our 40s and 50s, while life expectancy now stretches into the 80s—leaving us living 30+ years at greater risk of poorer health.
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❤️ Give Your Attention to Your Heart

As of 2019, only 44% of women recognized cardiovascular disease as the number one killer of women—more than all cancers combined. This earned heart health a spotlight in this year’s programming.

Key themes: age- and sex-related risk factors, particularly the increased risk that comes with the attainment of menopause.

Also generating buzz: hypertension. Only one in four women with hypertension have it under control, and stress-related “white coat hypertension” poses more serious risks than previously thought—including a 36 percent higher risk of cardiovascular events.
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⚖️ Don’t Believe the Hype Around Testosterone

If there’s one person to follow on the internet when it comes to hormones, it’s Professor Susan Davis—a global leader in testosterone research and women’s health.
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This year she shared new data on treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder and dispelled many of the myths surrounding low testosterone in menopause.

🎥 Hear it straight from her in this short clip and see the full breakdown of her presentation courtesy of Dr. Jen Gunter.
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🌡️ A New Non-Hormonal Option for Hot Flashes

You may remember I’ve mentioned Bayer’s drug Elinzanetant in past issues. At the meeting, it was announced that it has officially received FDA approval and will be marketed under the brand name Lynkuet.

The drug joins Veozah as another non-hormonal option for treating hot flashes. Moreover, clinical trials also showed significantly less sleep disturbance and no signs of liver toxicity—a rare side effect seen with Veozah.

🧠 Misinformation Attacks Again

The annual meeting had barely concluded before another headline took over the social sphere—and, as of this writing, continues to circulate. Perhaps you’ve seen it?

“During menopause, the female brain will eat itself if it doesn’t get hormone therapy.”

It goes without saying that this is not, in fact, true. And don’t just take my word for it—neurologist Dr. Ayesha Sherzai breaks down where the sound bite originated and what the science actually shows.

Another reminder that social media often rewards the outrageous, hyperbolic, and false—especially when it comes to menopausal women—and that even some physicians can be more concerned with clicks than with patient well-being.