Medication
Hormone therapy reduces menopausal symptoms Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. If women have only vaginal dryness or discomfort with intercourse, the preferred treatments are low doses of vaginal estrogen.
Therapy
Menopausal hormone therapy can help with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. It is usually taken as a pill each day. You can also get estrogen or estrogen plus progesterone menopausal hormone therapy as a skin patch. Like all medicines, menopausal hormone therapy has risks.
Self-care
The North American Menopause Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Endocrine Society take the position that most healthy, recently menopausal women can use hormone therapy for relief of their symptoms of hot flashes and vaginal dryness if they so choose.
Nutrition
Menopause (sometimes called “the change of life”) is a normal time in a woman’s life when her period stops. During menopause, a woman’s body makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Lower hormone levels may lead to symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness along with thin bones.
What is the best treatment for menopause symptoms?
How is menopausal hormone therapy used to treat hot flashes?
Should I use hormone therapy during menopause?
What is menopause (menopause)?
Why is hormone therapy not recommended?
Known health risks include: An increased risk of endometrial cancer (only if you still have your uterus and are not taking a progestin along with estrogen). Increased risk of blood clots and stroke. Increased chance of gallbladder/gallstone problems.
What is the current medical recommendation regarding hormonal therapy for menopause?
Standard recommendations — The standard recommendation for duration of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use has been five years or less (and not beyond age 60 years) [66]. However, for most women, hot flashes persist for as long as 10 to 20 years after the final menstrual period.
Why is hormone therapy recommended?
Estrogen therapy can help decrease your risk of certain health conditions, including osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, dementia and mood changes.
What are the negative effects of menopausal hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy may cause side effects, such as bleeding, bloating, breast tenderness or enlargement, headaches, mood changes, and nausea.
When is HRT recommended?
Continuous combined HRT is usually recommended for women who are postmenopausal. A woman is usually said to be postmenopausal if she has not had a period for 1 year. Continuous combined HRT involves taking oestrogen and progestogen every day without a break.
What are alternatives to hormone replacement therapy?
What are the alternatives to HRT?Herbal medicine - a practice based on the use of plants or plant extracts to relieve symptoms, e.g. evening primrose oil or St John's Wort.Alternative medicine - a range of therapies used instead of conventional medicine, such as acupressure, acupuncture and homeopathy.More items...
What is the side effect of hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy side effects can include vaginal dryness, discharge, itching, or irritation. It can also cause changes to the menstrual cycle and cause vaginal bleeding that is not related to a period. Hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes are very common for people receiving hormone therapy.
Can you get through menopause without HRT?
For women who cannot, or choose not to take hormone replacement, there are nonhormonal options for treating many menopause symptoms. Importantly, in some women, menopausal symptoms may decrease naturally over time.
Does HRT cause weight gain?
While some believe that HRT causes weight gain, there's no conclusive evidence to prove it. There's also no proof that HRT encourages weight loss. Hormone replacement therapy boosts the levels of hormones lost during menopause. There is no evidence that HRT leads to weight gain or weight loss.
How Safe Is HRT therapy?
Is HRT safe? Short-term hormone replacement therapy is safe for most menopausal women who take HRT for symptom control. However, before HRT is prescribed, make sure you review your medical history with your health care provider.
Are you in favor of hormone replacement therapy Yes or no?
It is currently believed that, overall, the risks of long-term (more than five years) use of HRT outweigh the benefits. HRT should not be recommended for disease prevention, except for women under 60 years of age with substantially increased risk of bone fractures, or in the setting of premature menopause.
What organizations are involved in the MHT?
The North American Menopause Society, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Endocrine Society and the International Menopause Society all released consensus and position statements to better guide women on MHT.
What is the purpose of MHT?
For decades, healthy postmenopausal women have been using menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT, to ease the symptoms following menopause. In her well-researched book, "The Estrogen Elixir," Elizabeth Siegel Watkins narrates the interplay between society and science in determining women's perspective towards MHT, and in turn their use ...
How long after menopause can you get osteoporosis?
The window of opportunity for unified osteoporosis and cardiovascular benefits, which goes hand-in-hand with protection against breast cancer, lies around 55 to 60 (five years after menopause and under 60 years).
What are the factors that influence the natural age of menopause?
There are specific factors that influence the natural age of menopause, such as smoking, chemotherapy, ovarian surgery and ethnicity. For example, women undergoing chemotherapy or ovarian surgery, those of Hispanic and African-American descent, and women who smoke have an earlier onset of menopause. For decades, healthy postmenopausal women have ...
How long after menopause can women take estrogen?
Numerous studies, including the famous Women’s Health Initiative clinical trials, have shown that women at five years or more after menopause derive benefit from estrogen with dramatic decreases in breast cancer incidence and breast cancer-related mortality BCM.
What are the short term changes that occur during menopause?
With this hormonal diminution, menopausal changes start to surface, and they fall into two categories: short-term changes like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, difficulty to fall asleep and mood swings, and long-term changes such as bone loss and coronary heart disease.
How long after menopause can I use MHT?
In general, all seem to agree that women within the first 10 years after menopause (younger than 60 years), with no contradictions to MHT use, derive benefits from ET of MHT in regards to reductions in cardiovascular disease, osteoporotic fractures, colorectal cancer, Type 2 diabetes and overall mortality.
What medicines treat menopause symptoms?
If your menopause symptoms bother you, talk to your doctor or nurse. Your doctor or nurse can suggest medicines to help with your symptoms. All medicines have risks, and your doctor can help you figure out which medicines are best for you.
What is menopausal hormone therapy?
Menopausal hormone therapy is prescription medicine to help relieve your menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, if they are severe enough to disrupt your daily life. Menopausal hormone therapy is sometimes called hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy.
What is topical hormone therapy?
Topical (TOP-ih-kuhl) hormone therapy is usually a low-dose estrogen cream applied directly to the vagina. It relieves vaginal dryness but does not help with other symptoms, such as hot flashes. It also is available as a vaginal ring, insert, and gel.
Is menopausal hormone therapy safe?
Menopausal hormone therapy, sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, is safe for some women, but it also has risks. That is why the FDA advises women who want to try menopausal hormone therapy to use the lowest dose that works for the shortest time needed.
Who should not take menopausal hormone therapy?
Menopausal hormone therapy may not be safe for some women. You should discuss your risks with your doctor if you have: 2
How long should I take menopausal hormone therapy?
The FDA recommends that women take estrogen-only or estrogen plus progesterone menopausal hormone therapy at the lowest dose that works for the shortest time needed.
What is bioidentical hormone therapy?
Companies that make bioidentical hormone therapy use the term “bioidentical” to suggest that their products are exactly the same as natural hormones. Many of these companies also claim that their products are safer than menopausal hormone therapy. However, the FDA does not recognize this term or regulate these products.
What is EPT in a uterus?
EPT means combined estrogen plus progestogen therapy . Progestogen is added to ET to protect women with a uterus against uterine (endometrial) cancer from estrogen alone. There are two general ways to take HT: Systemic products circulate throughout the bloodstream and to all parts of the body.
What is the difference between HT and ET?
Postmenopause is all the years beyond menopause. There are two basic types of HT: ET means estrogen-only therapy. Estrogen is the hormone that provides the most menopausal symptom relief. ET is prescribed for women without a uterus due to a hysterectomy. EPT means combined estrogen plus progestogen therapy.
How long after menopause is a period?
Perimenopause (or the menopause transition) is the span of time between the start of symptoms (such as erratic periods) and 1 year after the final menstrual period. Menopause is confirmed 1 year (12 months) after the final menstrual period. Postmenopause is all the years beyond menopause. There are two basic types of HT: ...
What is hormone therapy?
Hormone Therapy: Benefits & Risks. Hormone therapy (HT) is one of the government-approved treatments for relief of menopausal symptoms. These symptoms, caused by lower levels of estrogen at menopause, include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness. HT is also approved for the prevention of osteoporosis.
Is estrogen better for women than EPT?
It is now believed that women taking estrogen alone—women who have had their uterus removed by a hysterectomy—have a more favorable benefit-risk profile than those taking EPT. This is especially true for younger menopausal women (in their 50s or within 10 years of menopause) than for older women.
Is breast cancer associated with EPT?
Most of the risk of breast cancer is associated with EPT. Both ET and EPT have been associated with stroke and an increase in blood clots in the veins. These risks are higher in women over age 60. For women with a uterus, progestogen must be prescribed along with estrogen to protect her against uterine cancer.
Is HT approved for osteoporosis?
HT is also approved for the prevention of osteoporosis. Today, clinicians prescribe much lower doses for much shorter terms (3-5 years) than before 2002. To begin this discussion about the benefits and risks of menopausal HT, here is some background information. There are three benchmark stages of natural menopause: ...
What is the best treatment for menopausal symptoms?
Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. If women have only vaginal dryness or discomfort with intercourse, the preferred treatments are low doses of vaginal estrogen.
What is the purpose of the joint statement?
The purpose of this joint statement is to demonstrate the experts do agree on the key points. The North American Menopause Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Endocrine Society take the position that most healthy, recently menopausal women can use hormone therapy for relief of their symptoms ...
What are the factors that determine the decision to use hormone therapy?
Individualization is key in the decision to use hormone therapy. Consideration should be given to the woman's quality of life priorities as well as her personal risk factors such as age, time since menopause, and her risk of blood clots, heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer.
Is hormone therapy important during menopause?
Medical organizations devoted to the care of menopausal women agree that there is no question that hormone therapy has an important role in managing symptoms for healthy women during the menopause transition and in early menopause.
Does estrogen increase the risk of breast cancer?
An increased risk in breast cancer is seen with 5 or more years of continuous estrogen/progestogen therapy, possibly earlier. The risk decreases after hormone therapy is stopped. Use of estrogen alone for an average of 7 years in the Women’s Health Initiative trial did not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Does estrogen cause blood clots?
Both estrogen therapy and estrogen with progestogen therapy increase the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs, similar to birth control pills, patches, and rings. Although the risks of blood clots and strokes increase with either type of hormone therapy, the risk is rare in the 50 to 59 age group. An increased risk in breast cancer is seen ...
Nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes
The following have been found effective in reducing the discomfort from hot flashes—both those that interrupt daily life and those that disturb sleep:
Common treatments that may not relieve menopause symptoms
Although several nonhormonal treatments for menopause are often recommended, there is not enough evidence from clinical studies to recommend them. These include lifestyle changes like getting more exercise or practicing yoga, deep breathing, or relaxation techniques.
Nonhormonal treatments for vaginal dryness
Following menopause, vaginal tissues become thinner and drier, leading to itching and often making intercourse painful. According to Harvard Special Health Report Women's Health: Fifty and Forward, two nonhormonal approaches—lubricants and moistures—have proven to be effective in relieving vaginal symptoms.
What are the different types of hormones used during menopause?
Menopause Hormone Therapy. There are different types of hormone medicines used during and after menopause: Estrogen-Only Medicines. Progestin-Only Medicines. Combination Estrogen and Progestin Medicines. Combination Estrogen and Other Medicines. Information about non-hormone medicines for menopause is not included.
What is the term for the period when a woman stops her period?
Menopause: Medicines to Help You. Menopause (sometimes called “the change of life”) is a normal time in a woman’s life when her period stops. During menopause, a woman’s body makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Lower hormone levels may lead to symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness along with thin bones. Some women choose to treat their menopause symptoms with hormone medicines sometimes called Hormone Therapy.
What are the problems with vaginal bleeding?
have problems with vaginal bleeding. have or have had certain cancers such as breast cancer or uterine cancer. have or have had a blood clot, stroke or heart attack. have a bleeding disorder. have liver disease. have allergic reactions to hormone medicine.
Can estrogen cause dementia?
For some women who are 65 years old or older, hormone medicines may raise their chances of dementia. For women who still have their uterus, taking estrogen-only medicines raises their chance of getting cancer of the lining of the uterus or endometrial cancer.
Can hormones cause heart attacks?
Serious health problems can happen in women who take menopause hormone therapy. For some women, hormone medicines may raise their chances of blood clots, heart attacks, stroke s, and breast cancer. For some women who are 65 years old or older, hormone medicines may raise their chances of dementia.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Hormone replacement therapy is medication that contains female hormones. You take the medication to replace the estrogen that your body stops making during menopause. Hormone therapy is most often used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.
How old do you have to be to start hormone therapy?
Age. Women who begin hormone therapy at age 60 or older or more than 10 years from the onset of menopause are at greater risk of the above conditions. But if hormone therapy is started before the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks. Type of hormone therapy.
What is systemic estrogen?
Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray form — typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body. It can be used to treat any of the common symptoms of menopause. Low-dose vaginal products.
What are the risks of taking estrogen pills?
In the largest clinical trial to date, hormone replacement therapy that consisted of an estrogen-progestin pill (Prempro) increased the risk of certain serious conditions, including: Heart disease. Stroke. Blood clots. Breast cancer.
How often should hormones be reevaluated?
For best results, hormone therapy should be tailored to each person and reevaluated every so often to be sure the benefits still outweigh the risks.
How to manage hot flashes during menopause?
You may be able to manage menopausal hot flashes with healthy-lifestyle approaches such as keeping cool, limiting caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and practicing paced relaxed breathing or other relaxation techniques. There are also several nonhormone prescription medications that may help relieve hot flashes.
How old do you have to be to take estrogen?
Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your symptoms. If you're younger than age 45, you need enough estrogen to provide protection against the long-term health effects of estrogen deficiency.
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