What new therapeutic options exist for the relief of menopausal symptoms?

Two new products recently approved for the treatment of menopausal symptoms contain estrogen receptor agonists/antagonists, which have varying effects on bone, breast, endometrial, and vaginal tissues. Ospemifene improves symptoms of dyspareunia associated with vulvovaginal atrophy. Bazedoxifene combined with conjugated estrogens improves vasomotor symptoms and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Clinicians must consider the increased risk for venous and arterial thromboembolic disease posed by these drugs. Clinical trials are ongoing to fully evaluate the drugs' efficacy and safety compared with traditional estrogen-based regimens.