Menopause is not a disease that needs to be treated — however, if the symptoms of menopause are causing disruptions to your daily life, you may want to talk to your doctor about how to best manage them.
For many women, the biggest decision about addressing menopausal symptoms is whether or not to try menopausal hormone therapy (also known as hormone replacement therapy). As part of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), your doctor might suggest taking estrogen (and in some cases, progesterone as well). MHT can help ease menopause symptoms, and may also help to prevent some of the bone loss that can occur as a woman undergoes menopause.
However, MHT can put some women at an increased risk for certain diseases, including endometrial cancer, stroke and heart disease.
The Endocrine Society recommends a woman ask her doctor the following questions before making a decision about menopausal hormone therapy:
A less controversial medical option to discuss with your doctor is a low dose of an antidepressant such as paroxetine (Paxil), venlafaxine (Effexor), bupropion (Wellbutrin), or fluoxetine (Prozac), all of which have been shown to be effective against hot flashes.
Mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi and acupuncture appear to help reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. Up-to-date information about the most current scientific studies of these and other remedies is available from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
There is also evidence that the worse a woman imagines her hot flashes to be in advance, the more intense they will be. Changing those negative thoughts and attitudes can result in a reduction of symptoms. The North American Menopause Society offers tips that may transform the menopause mindset, including laughing, staying connected to others and practicing mindfulness.
Many experts advise women that minor lifestyle changes, including the following, can make the transition into menopause more comfortable:
After a woman transitions into menopause, she enters a new phase of her life — post-menopause. While a woman's estrogen levels will often continue to decline in the first year after menopause, many of the symptoms of the past few years will start to ease considerably. However, the decline in estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body can put her at a higher risk for certain diseases — most notably, osteoporosis and heart disease.
Stay healthy in the years after menopause by scheduling regular checkups with your doctors and making sure you receive all the appropriate screening tests for your age group. Put a renewed emphasis on making positive lifestyle changes, as well. Avoiding cigarettes, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, staying physically active, and taking any medications prescribed by your doctor will keep you looking and feeling great in the years after menopause.
Published July 9, 2012.
Eve Harris helps healthcare providers, patients, advocates and researchers bridge communication gaps. Her knowledge of the patient experience ensures compelling stories while her understanding of medicine ensures accuracy.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center |
What Is Hepatitis C? Learn about this treatable virus. |
Diagnosing Hepatitis C Getting tested for this viral infection. |
Just Diagnosed? Here’s What’s Next 3 key steps to getting on treatment. |
Understanding Hepatitis C Treatment 4 steps to getting on therapy. |
Your Guide to Hep C Treatments What you need to know about Hep C drugs. |
Managing Side Effects of Treatment How the drugs might affect you. |
Making Hep C Treatment a Success These tips may up your chances of a cure. |