Experts Warn Menopause Misinformation Is Compromising Women's Care

Recent discussions in leading medical publications highlight a growing concern about the proliferation of misinformation surrounding menopause and its impact on women's healthcare. Experts emphasize that many over-the-counter menopause services currently available are largely unnecessary and do not enhance clinical outcomes. This surge in commercial menopause interventions raises questions about the reliability of the information provided and potential biases influenced by profit motives.

A key issue identified is the common promotion of routine hormone panel testing for menopausal symptoms. These tests, often costing hundreds of dollars, are marketed as essential for tailoring hormone therapy but lack solid clinical justification. Current evidence indicates that hormone testing during perimenopause and menopause does not reliably predict treatment benefits, menstrual cycle changes, or safety for discontinuation of contraception.

Major clinical guidelines from organizations like the British Menopause Society, NICE, and ACOG reinforce that menopause is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms such as irregular periods and hot flashes, without the need for hormone level testing. Despite this, many women are now presenting with comprehensive hormone panels ordered by wellness or online providers, leading to the use of unregulated compounded hormone preparations. These customized treatments pose safety concerns, including inconsistent hormone levels that could potentially cause abnormal cell growth or cancer in the uterine lining.

The authors argue that until definitive, individualized hormone targets are established, commercial hormone testing offers a false sense of precision and may contribute to unnecessary treatments. They suggest that the normalization of hormone panel testing signals broader issues, including the commercialization of women’s health and a departure from evidence-based practice.

Ultimately, effective menopause management should focus on listening to women’s symptoms and responding based on clinical response and patient preferences rather than relying on numbers and commercial tests. The article calls for greater adherence to evidence-based guidelines and cautions against the influence of profit-driven healthcare practices in this sensitive phase of women’s health.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-menopause-misinformation-experts.html