“If you’re already a board-certified OBGYN, why would you pay to become NAMS certified?” Many physicians turn to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) for guidance on menopause-related issues. Every few years, they release a position statement outlining their stance on relevant treatment options, and lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about their recent statements. For the next couple of episodes, I’ll be doing a deep dive into different aspects of NAMS and their position statements. Today, I’m starting by critically examining their 2022 hormone therapy position statement and 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement. In this conversation, I discuss why I question their funding, their focus on certain symptoms, their positions on the use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy, my skepticism about NAMS certification, and more. Enjoy the episode!   Highlights Why I’m talking about NAMS The potential influence of big pharma as the primary funding source for NAMS Highlights from NAMS’ 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement The problem with relying heavily on the Women’s Health Initiative and the emphasis on addressing a few specific symptoms NAMS' stance on compounded bioidentical hormone therapy and why I disagree with their assessment Skin and hair effects of estrogen therapy The problem with NAMS’ definition of quality of life How hormone replacement therapy affects common menopause symptoms and the risk of cardiovascular disease Risks and benefits of hormone therapy and different types of cancer Discussion of financial relationships and conflicts of interest within NAMS NAMS 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement   Sponsored by: Femmenessence It's a rare occurrence to find a non-prescription supplement that becomes a go-to for hormone health and Femmenessence is just that. Whether you’re pre-menopausal, menopausal, or struggling with PMS, irregular periods, or other hormone imbalances, I highly recommend giving Femmenessence a try. Visit Femmenessence.com (https://femmenessence.com/) and use my code SHAWN20 for exclusive savings.   Needed Few things are as important in a woman's life as that journey to and through motherhood. There's so much that you can't control, but nutrition is a big one you can. Needed is a perinatal and women's health brand that I recommend to all my clients, whether they're in that perinatal stage or navigating perimenopause. Needed offers radically better nutrition products and education, backed by over 4000 practitioners. Visit ThisIsNeeded.com (https://thisisneeded.com/) and use my code DrT for 20% off your first month.   Resources Dr. Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/ The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/ Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/   Disclaimer This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.