2018 Chinese Guideline on Menopause Management and Menopause Hormone Therapy

This guideline has been announced by experts of Menopause Group, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, Chinese Medical Association on menopause management and menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to help healthcare professionals in optimizing their management of transitionally menopausal and postmenopausal women. New results on MHT and menopause management after 2012 as well as all of the important information from main international guidelines were reviewed. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were also included. The standardized MHT flowcharts of diagnosis and treatment were retained and improved from the last version. The menopause staging system, Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10 (STRAW+10), was added to facilitate the understanding on clinical, biological, and endocrine changes in the reproductive aging process for doctors in this field. Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and prevention ofmenopause-related low bone mass and osteoporosis were reconfirmed as the indications for MHT. The risks of MHT depend on types, dosages, time of use, management, start-up time, and whether progesterone is used. To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, MHT should be individualized based on the updated evidence, and the benefit-risk ratio should be reassessed annually. For women within 10 years after menopause, or younger than 60 years old with no contraindications, MHT for the treatment of VMS and prevention of bone loss and fractures has the most favorable benefit-risk ratio. Premature ovarian insufficiency patients should be treated with hormone replacement therapy till the average age of natural menopause and followed by the postmenopausal MHT.