Candice Fraser, MD, MBA
It used to be that previous generations of women had little support and few remedies to deal with menopause.
In this Q&A, Candice Fraser, MD, MBA, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Mount Sinai’s Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, explains how menopause care has changed dramatically over recent years.
What has changed in menopause care and treatment?
When I was training as a resident, the school of thought was to avoid hormone therapy because of widespread concerns about increased risks of cancer, stroke, and even death. Until recently, menopausal hormone therapy came with “black box” warnings about the risks. But as more data has emerged, we understand that these risks apply only for certain subsets of women. At the end of 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed these broad black box warnings from hormonal treatments. Today, we evaluate each woman for her risk factors, and for most women, these treatments are safe.
Another factor is that women have become more vocal about the need for better menopause care. The interest among the medical community has grown in supporting women through midlife. Clinicians, eager to better meet the needs of their patients, are enrolling in specialized training programs and earning certification through professional organizations to provide high‑quality menopause care. Residency programs are also developing dedicated menopause curricula to ensure future clinicians are well-prepared.
In addition, more research is being conducted to clarify, challenge, or strengthen the data we currently have, and this will help physicians better counsel patients on treatment options and their associated risks. We also have a new class of FDA-approved non-hormonal medications to treat hot flashes. Today, we have better information, better training, and better care.
Hospital systems—including the Mount Sinai Health System—are creating centers specifically focused on caring for women in midlife. This shift reflects a broader move toward more holistic and comprehensive care. Rather than addressing only bothersome symptoms, we’re looking at the full picture: preventive care, risk reduction, and the management of medical conditions that often emerge or change during this stage of life.
What is new about the Rowan Women’s Health Center’s approach to treating menopause?
At the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, menopause care is an integrative approach designed to address the full spectrum of midlife health. We incorporate cardiometabolic health, bone health, nutrition, digestive health, and mental and psychological well-being, as well as gynecologic and hormonal health into our care plans. We are establishing what we call “pathways” for women in various stages of life, and MyPath Balance 40+ is the first of these. This pathway brings together multidisciplinary expertise under one roof, creating a structured six-month program. And all the visits are coordinated by the Rowan Center’s care navigators, so it takes the burden off the patient.
The first visit is scheduled for 60 minutes, allowing space for patients to discuss symptoms, review their medical history, and ask questions. It allows us to understand what patient are experiencing and what their needs are. We introduce them to our care model and why we’ve developed it this way. While the program is structured, it has the flexibility to be personalized to each individual patient. And we hope this model of care becomes the standard for women’s health care everywhere.