POSITION STATEMENT
Nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor
symptoms: 2015 position statement of The North American
Menopause Society
Abstract
Objective: To update and expand The North American Menopause Society’s evidence-based position on
nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms (VMS), previously a portion of the
position statement on the management of VMS.
Methods: NAMS enlisted clinical and research experts in the field and a reference librarian to identify and
review available evidence. Five different electronic search engines were used to cull relevant literature. Using the
literature, experts created a document for final approval by the NAMS Board of Trustees.
Results: Nonhormonal management of VMS is an important consideration when hormone therapy is not an
option, either because of medical contraindications or a woman’s personal choice. Nonhormonal therapies include
lifestyle changes, mind-body techniques, dietary management and supplements, prescription therapies, and others.
The costs, time, and effort involved as well as adverse effects, lack of long-term studies, and potential interactions
with medications all need to be carefully weighed against potential effectiveness during decision making.
Conclusions: Clinicians need to be well informed about the level of evidence available for the wide array of
nonhormonal management options currently available to midlife women to help prevent underuse of effective
therapies or use of inappropriate or ineffective therapies.

Recommended: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and, to a
lesser extent, clinical hypnosis have been shown to be effective in reducing VMS. Paroxetine salt is the only
nonhormonal medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management ofVMS, although
other selective serotonin reuptake/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, gabapentinoids, and clonidine show evidence
of efficacy.

Recommend with caution: Some therapies that may be beneficial for alleviating VMS are weight loss,
mindfulness-based stress reduction, the S-equol derivatives of soy isoflavones, and stellate ganglion block, but
additional studies of these therapies are warranted.

Do not recommend at this time: There are negative, insufficient,
or inconclusive data suggesting the following should not be recommended as proven therapies for managing VMS:
cooling techniques, avoidance of triggers, exercise, yoga, paced respiration, relaxation, over-the-counter supplements
and herbal therapies, acupuncture, calibration of neural oscillations, and chiropractic interventions.
Incorporating the available evidence into clinical practice will help ensure that women receive evidence-based
recommendations along with appropriate cautions for appropriate and timely management of VMS.