Hormone Therapy and SERMs

“SERMs is “shorthand” for a class of drug called
selective oestrogen receptor modulators.
They are a versatile group of drugs that can be used to…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy and SERMs Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bazedoxifene (BZA)
  • Evista (chemical name: Raloxifene (RLX))
  • Fareston (chemical name: Toremifene)
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Nolvadex
  • Oestrogen Agonist/Antagonists
  • Ospemifene
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
  • Soltamox
  • Tamoxifen (TAM) (brand name: Soltamox)

SERMs

What are SERMs?

In SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management, content updated May 2023, the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) explain:

“SERMs is “shorthand” for a class of drug called selective oestrogen receptor modulators”.2

In Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Overview – What Are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic note:

“Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are hormone therapies that manage how estrogen works in your body. SERMs such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex®, Soltamox®) and raloxifene (Evista®) are effective treatments for some types of breast cancer and osteoporosis”.3

Different Kinds of SERMs

What are different kinds of SERMs?

In SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management: Different Kinds of SERMs the AMS include:

  • “Tamoxifen…
  • Raloxifene…
  • Bazedoxifene…
  • Ospemifene…
  • Lasofoxifene…”.4

Treatment

What can SERMs be used to treat?

In SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management the AMS elaborate on:

“They are a versatile group of drugs that can be used to treat/ prevent several conditions such as osteoporosis, infertility and hormone responsive cancers. Within the SERM class, different compounds have differing agonist or antagonist effects at the oestrogen receptor in different tissues, therefore they are “selective””.5

In Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Overview – What Are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)? How Do SERMs Work? the Cleveland Clinic note:

“SERMs are medical multitaskers. They block estrogen from connecting with breast cancer cells, keeping the cells from multiplying. At the same time, SERMs act like estrogen, boosting estrogen levels in your bones and preventing osteoporosis”.6

Vasomotor Symptoms

How effective are SERMs for the treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) or hot flushes and night sweats?

On page one in Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Recommended, published 17 July 2023, the North American Menopause Society explain:

  • “The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are effective in some, but not all, women with VMS. Paroxetine, 7.5 mg/day, has regulatory approval for VMS in the USA”.7

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Effectiveness: Non-Hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors elaborate on:

“Fezolinetant is a neurokinin 3B receptor antagonist that acts centrally in the brain to reduce VMS. It may improve sleep quality by reducing nocturnal VMS. Fezolinetant has been approved for the treatment of VMS at a dose of 45 mg/day in some countries.

Low-dose oxybutynin has been found to be effective for treatment of VMS either as a standard low-dose or extended-release formulation.

Other potential, but probably less effective, options include clonidine and gabapentin/pregabalin”…8.

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use SERMs?

If you choose to use SERMs, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) the (United States) Breastcancer.org note:

Hormone Therapy and SERMs“If you’re having problematic side effects from taking a SERM, tell your doctor right away. You may be able to take a different dose or try a different hormonal therapy medicine”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy and SERMs?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  3. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  4. Hormone Therapy and SERMsBMS TV: Menopause Explained
  5. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  6. Breastcancer.org [United States]
  7. Build Better Bones.org [International Osteoporosis Foundation]
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  9. Does Osteoporosis Run In Your Family?
  10. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  11. Evista
  12. Fareston
  13. HRT
  14. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  15. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  16. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  17. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  18. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  19. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  20. How Menopause Impacts Your Health
  21. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause. Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  22. Is There Still A Role for SERMs In Menopause Management?
  23. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  24. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  25. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  26. Menopause
  27. Menopause
  28. Menopause
  29. Menopause Management Options
  30. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  31. Menopause Mindfulness: Understanding the Many Paths To Menopause
  32. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  33. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  34. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  35. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  36. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  37. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  38. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  39. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  40. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  41. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  42. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  43. Natural Therapies
  44. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  45. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  46. Pathtogoodbonehealth.org [Your Path To Good Bone Health, Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
    Osteoporosis
  47. Raloxifene (Oral Route)
  48. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  49. SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management
  50. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
  51. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
  52. Tamoxifen
  53. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  54. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  55. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  56. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  57. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  58. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  59. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  60. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  61. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  62. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  63. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause
  64. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  65. Webinars: Previous – Approach To Bone Health In the Perimenopause and Postmenopause?
  66. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  67. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  68. What Is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? [+ Video: What Is Osteoporosis]
  69. What Is Osteoporosis?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management. Content Updated May 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/971-serms-their-role-in-menopause-management Accessed: 10 April 2024
  2. SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management. Content Updated May 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/971-serms-their-role-in-menopause-management Accessed: 10 April 2024
  3. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Overview – What Are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)? Last Reviewed: 03 February 2023. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24732-selective-estrogen-receptor-modulators-serm Accessed: 10 April 2024
  4. SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management: Different Kinds of SERMs. Content Updated May 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/971-serms-their-role-in-menopause-management Accessed: 10 April 2024
  5. SERMs – Their Role In Menopause Management. Content Updated May 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/971-serms-their-role-in-menopause-management Accessed: 10 April 2024
  6. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Overview – What Are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)? How Do SERMs Work? Last Reviewed: 03 February 2023. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24732-selective-estrogen-receptor-modulators-serm Accessed: 10 April 2024
  7. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Recommended. 17 July 2023:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote.pdf Accessed: 10 April 2024
  8. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Effectiveness: Non-Hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 10 April 2024
  9. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). Last Updated: 22 February 2023. Breastcancer.org https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal-therapy/serms Accessed: 10 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 10 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 April 2024

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