Hot Flashes and Cool Fixes: A Primary Care Provider’s Guide on Hormonal Therapy for Menopause
CME Unit: 0.5/1 point | 
1 hour | 
23 Dec 2026
Overview
About this course
The transition into menopause marks an important phase in a woman’s health journey. Many notice physical and emotional changes, while others experience a more gradual shift. These changes often begin in perimenopause, when hormonal fluctuations start to affect daily life. During this time, women may develop menopause symptoms that differ in pattern, intensity, and duration. This variation leads many to seek clarity on what is typical, what is concerning, and which management approaches may help.
Among the most common concerns are hot flashes. These episodes can interrupt sleep, affect concentration, and reduce overall quality of life. However, vasomotor changes represent only part of the picture. Many women also report mood changes, cognitive shifts, and genitourinary symptoms. These subtle signs reflect the evolving hormonal state seen in menopause.
Interest in treatment options continues to grow. Estrogen replacement is often part of the conversation, yet many questions remain. Who benefits most from hormonal therapy? When should treatment be considered? How do different formulations and routes influence outcomes? These questions highlight the need to understand both the underlying physiology and the principles that guide individualized care.
This module introduces the key concepts behind hormonal therapy in the menopause transition. It does not dive immediately into detailed regimens. Instead, it outlines the ideas that shape treatment decisions—how symptoms develop, when hormone-based options may be appropriate, and what factors influence patient selection. By keeping the discussion broad, the module invites learners to explore the nuances of hormonal therapy for menopause in greater depth as the course continues.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning module, participants should be able to:
- Define menopause and its stages, including pre-menopause, perimenopause, and post-menopause, and identify the typical age range for menopause onset.
- Recognize the clinical manifestations of menopause and its associated conditions.
- Conduct a thorough clinical assessment and diagnosis of menopause and recognize when further diagnostic tests are necessary.
- Implement pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies for menopausal symptoms, including hormone therapy and non-hormonal options.
- Identify when to refer menopausal patients to specialists.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to Menopause
- Clinical Manifestations of Menopause
- Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis of Menopause
- Treatment Strategies for Menopause
- Pharmacologic
- Hormone Therapy
- Non-Hormonal Therapy
- Non-Pharmacologic
- Referral to a Specialist
Speaker for this module:
Dr Lui, Man Wa, Ellen
Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Accredited Certificate in Reproductive Medicine
Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Hong Kong
0.50/1 CME Point Available
- This module is accredited for 1 CME Point for medical practitioners enrolled in The Medical Council of Hong Kong’s Continuing Medical Education Programme for Practising Doctors who are not taking CME for Specialists.
- This module is accredited for both Hong Kong Doctors Union (HKDU) members and non-members.
- This module is accredited for 1 CME point for fellows of the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and 0.50 CME point for fellows of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine and the Hong Kong College of Physicians.
- Please note that this module will not earn CME credit for fellows of colleges not listed here.
- A certificate can be downloaded upon successful completion of the quiz. Please use the information on the certificate to claim your CME points.
Co-organizer
This module is sponsored with the unconditional support of DKSH and Besins. DKSH and Besins do not have any visibility or control over the campaign content, which is independently created by MIMS Education.
