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THEN NOW NEXT
Menopause
By John Soeder
Photos: Getty Images (Then and Next); Lisa DeJong (Now)
Hot flashes often were suffered in silence.
THEN
When Cleveland Clinic was founded more than a century ago, menopause was cloaked in silence. There was little scientific understanding of women’s hormonal health — and even less public dialogue. Symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia were often dismissed or misattributed to emotional instability. Hormone therapy (HT) didn’t become available until the 1940s and 1950s, and even then, it was controversial. The conversation remained largely medicalized and male-led, with scant research focused on the full spectrum of women’s experiences. Menopause was seen less as a health transition and more as a decline.
Menopause is “a powerful reset point,” says Dr. Pelin Batur.
NOW
Today, menopause is being redefined as a pivotal and manageable stage of life. HT is safer and more precise than ever, and nonhormonal options are widely available. At the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center (WCHRC) at Cleveland Clinic, clinicians consider each woman’s symptoms, lifestyle and risk profile to craft personalized care plans. Sleep, bone health, cardiovascular risk, mood and sexual wellness are all taken into consideration. “We treat menopause not as a closing chapter, but as a powerful reset point,” says WCHRC Medical Director Pelin Batur, MD. “Women deserve to feel well and supported through every phase of life.”
Data will help inform menopause care in the future.
NEXT
The future of menopause care is integrative, inclusive and data-driven. Research is expanding thanks to advocacy and philanthropic investment. Cleveland Clinic’s vision includes building national and global centers of excellence that blend medical, emotional and social support for those at midlife and beyond. As a new generation demands answers and agency, menopause is no longer a whispered word — it’s a turning point in women’s lifelong health journey.