What changed this year
Telehealth menopause access expanded substantially. Insurance coverage normalized. Fezolinetant cemented as a viable non-hormonal option.
Major studies
SWAN 25-year follow-up
Median vasomotor symptom duration extended to 7.4 years (from earlier 4.5). Implications for long-term HRT decisions.
SKYLIGHT 3 (fezolinetant)
52-week safety + efficacy. Comparable to low-dose HRT for VMS reduction.
Pragmatic transdermal vs oral HRT trial
Transdermal estradiol confirmed lower VTE risk vs oral. Guidelines now strongly prefer transdermal.
Brand changes
- Midi Health: Expanded to 12 new states. Added BCBS contracts.
- Alloy: Pricing dropped $10/mo with manufacturer contract.
- Winona: Launched GLP-1 + HRT integrated program.
Policy shifts
- NAMS guidelines updated to recommend earlier HRT consideration in peri
- CMS expanded telehealth menopause care coverage
- Three states added insurance mandates for HRT
What to watch next
Testosterone-for-women FDA approval pipeline. PCOS-menopause overlap care models. Bone density biomarker validation studies.