The Menopause Society

The Menopause Society is a Cleveland-based nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization focused on menopause, midlife health, and healthy aging. It was established in 1989 as the North American Menopause Society, commonly abbreviated NAMS, by Wulf Utian, a reproductive biology professor and one of the original founders of the International Menopause Society. The organization was created to bring together clinicians, researchers, educators, and other specialists whose work relates to the biological, psychological, social, and clinical dimensions of menopause. Its stated purpose is to promote the health and quality of life of women during midlife and beyond through better understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Although its original identity emphasized North America, the society has developed an international membership base. The reference material describes more than 7,900 members from 51 countries, with most members located in North America. Its professional community includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, sociologists, nutrition specialists, anthropologists, epidemiologists, educators, and other experts involved in menopause care and research. The society operates primarily as a professional knowledge and standards organization rather than as a consumer-product company. Its activities include scientific publishing, clinical education, professional credentialing, public education, conferences, and the development of evidence-informed statements and guidance. In 1994, it launched the peer-reviewed journal Menopause, which provides a forum for clinical research, applied basic science, and practice guidance covering menopause and related areas. The journal's subject matter spans primary care, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, geriatrics, epidemiology, pathology, sociology, psychology, anthropology, pharmacology, and other biomedical and behavioral disciplines. The organization also provides educational resources for healthcare professionals, including the textbook Menopause Practice: A Clinician's Guide, position statements, newsletters, and an annual scientific meeting. Its guidance has addressed hormone therapy, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and other aspects of care. For the public, it has offered materials such as The Menopause Guidebook and the Menopause Flashes email newsletter. A significant part of the society's professional role is its menopause-practitioner credential. Licensed healthcare providers can demonstrate their knowledge by passing a competency examination and receiving the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, or MSCP, designation. The society maintains a public directory of credentialed practitioners. This program was previously known as the North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner, or NCMP, before the organization's broader 2023 rebrand. In 2023, the organization changed its name from the North American Menopause Society to The Menopause Society. The change aligned the public-facing identity with its broader membership and international reach while retaining its emphasis on evidence-based menopause education, clinical expertise, research, and healthy aging. The society's medical director is identified as Stephanie Faubion, and Carolyn Develen is identified as chief operating officer.

The Menopause Society began in 1989 under the name North American Menopause Society. Its founder, Wulf Utian, was an academic specialist in reproductive biology, served as an emeritus professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and had also been one of the original founders of the International Menopause Society. Utian remained the organization's executive director from its creation through 2009. The society was established to create a professional forum for the study and clinical management of menopause. From the outset, its scope was multidisciplinary. Rather than limiting menopause to obstetrics and gynecology, the organization brought together practitioners and researchers from medicine, nursing, psychology, sociology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, education, and related fields. This approach reflected the fact that menopause affects multiple dimensions of health, including reproductive health, cardiovascular risk, bone health, mental well-being, symptoms, family medicine, and long-term aging. A major development came in 1994, when the organization launched Menopause, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The publication was designed to support clinical research, applied basic science, and practical guidance on menopause. Its coverage extends across primary care, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, medical subspecialties, epidemiology, pathology, pharmacology, and behavioral and social sciences. The journal gave the society a formal channel for disseminating research and professional debate. Over time, the society expanded beyond publishing and membership activities. It developed professional education through the textbook Menopause Practice: A Clinician's Guide, position statements, newsletters, and an annual scientific conference. Its guidance has covered subjects including hormone therapy, treatment of menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and other clinical issues. The organization has also produced consumer-facing materials, including The Menopause Guidebook and the Menopause Flashes email newsletter, to help translate menopause information for a general audience. The society created a formal credentialing route for licensed healthcare providers interested in demonstrating competence in menopause care. Candidates can take a competency examination to qualify as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. The organization publishes a directory of credentialed practitioners, linking professional education and standards to public access to clinicians with focused menopause expertise. Before the 2023 organizational rename, this designation was known as the North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner, or NCMP. The organization has developed an international membership base while retaining a strong North American concentration. The available reference describes more than 7,900 members from 51 countries, with 88 percent based in North America. Its Cleveland headquarters supports a network that includes clinicians, scientists, educators, and other specialists. In 2023, the organization changed its name from the North American Menopause Society to The Menopause Society. The new name removed the geographic limitation in the former title and presented the organization as an international authority in menopause and healthy aging. The rename also led to corresponding changes in the practitioner credential. The organization continues to combine professional membership, scientific publication, clinical guidance, certification, conferences, and public education. Stephanie Faubion is identified as medical director, while Carolyn Develen is identified as chief operating officer.

• 2023

  Organization renamed The Menopause Society

  [1]The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The former North American Menopause Society adopted a shorter name reflecting its international membership and scope.

• 2023

  NCMP credential becomes MSCP

  [1]The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner designation was renamed Menopause Society Certified Practitioner.

• 2009

  Wulf Utian concludes executive-director tenure

  [1]The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Utian served as executive director from the organization's founding until 2009.

• 1994

  Launch of Menopause journal

  [1]The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society established Menopause as a peer-reviewed journal for clinical research, applied basic science, and practice guidance.

• 1989

  Organization founded as the North American Menopause Society

  [1]The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Wulf Utian founded the organization to advance multidisciplinary understanding and care of menopause and midlife health.

A multidisciplinary, evidence-oriented professional society serving healthcare providers, researchers, educators, and the public with menopause science, clinical guidance, credentialing, and educational resources.

• Peer-reviewed scientific journal · 1994

  Menopause

  A peer-reviewed journal launched by the society in 1994. It publishes clinical research, applied basic science, and practice-oriented material on menopause. Its coverage includes gynecology, internal medicine, family practice, cardiology, geriatrics, epidemiology, pathology, pharmacology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and related fields.

• Professional credential

  Menopause Society Certified Practitioner

  A competency-based credential for licensed healthcare providers who demonstrate specialized knowledge in menopause care through an examination. The society also maintains a public directory of credentialed practitioners. It was previously called the North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner.

• Professional textbook

  Menopause Practice: A Clinician's Guide

  A clinical education resource for healthcare professionals covering the evaluation and management of menopause and related midlife health concerns.

• Consumer education

  The Menopause Guidebook

  A consumer-oriented print resource intended to explain menopause and related health topics in accessible language.

• Clinical guidance

  Menopause Society position statements

  Evidence-informed professional statements addressing subjects such as hormone therapy, management of menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis prevention, and osteoporosis treatment.

• 2023

  Adoption of the name The Menopause SocietyStrategy

  Background

  The organization had an international membership and activities extending beyond the geographic description in its former name, North American Menopause Society.

  Action taken

  It changed its organizational name to The Menopause Society.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand positioned the society as an international organization and prompted the corresponding renaming of its practitioner credential.

  Source

• 2023

  Renaming of the menopause-practitioner credentialOther

  Background

  The former North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner designation followed the society's previous geographic name.

  Action taken

  The credential was renamed Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, abbreviated MSCP.

  Aftermath

  The society continued to offer examination-based recognition and a public directory for credentialed practitioners under the new designation.

  Source

1. 1The Menopause Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Menopause Society official websitemenopause.org