Menopause and Hormone Therapy Explained (Part 1): Symptoms, Perimenopause, and Black Box Warning Changes
Thu Feb 05 2026
In 2025, the U.S. FDA removed the “black box” warnings from menopausal hormone therapy products – but what does that actually mean for patients? For decades, many women have navigated perimenopause and menopause with limited information, few effective options, and little validation of their symptoms. In part one of this two-part series, we speak with Sharon Malone, MD, board-certified OB-GYN and chief medical advisor for Alloy Women’s Health, about what happens during the menopausal transition, why symptoms can feel chaotic and unpredictable, and how misinterpretations of past research have shaped – and often restricted – women’s care.
Credits
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Guest: Sharon Malone, MD Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Show Notes: Lauren Summers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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In 2025, the U.S. FDA removed the “black box” warnings from menopausal hormone therapy products – but what does that actually mean for patients? For decades, many women have navigated perimenopause and menopause with limited information, few effective options, and little validation of their symptoms. In part one of this two-part series, we speak with Sharon Malone, MD, board-certified OB-GYN and chief medical advisor for Alloy Women’s Health, about what happens during the menopausal transition, why symptoms can feel chaotic and unpredictable, and how misinterpretations of past research have shaped – and often restricted – women’s care. Credits Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Guest: Sharon Malone, MD Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Show Notes: Lauren Summers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.