what is the typical treatment for menopause

Medication

Treatments may include:

• Hormone therapy. Estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment option for relieving menopausal hot flashes. ...
• Vaginal estrogen. ...
• Low-dose antidepressants. ...
• Gabapentin (Gralise, Horizant, Neurontin). ...
• Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay). ...
• Medications to prevent or treat osteoporosis. ...

Therapy

Treatments for menopausal symptoms

• Non-pharmacological (drug-free) treatments. ...
• Non-hormonal drug treatments. ...
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) contains oestrogen to treat menopausal symptoms and may contain a progestogen to protect the lining of the uterus (womb) from cancer in ...
• Compounded or bioidentical hormone therapy. ...
• Soy extracts and soy foods. ...

More items...

Self-care

Natural Treatment for Menopause 1. Eat Foods that Help Manage Menopause Symptoms. When trying to balance hormones and reduce menopause symptoms, your diet should include plenty of essential minerals and healthy fats.Filling up on the following foods which are “hormone-balancing,” nutrient-dense and unprocessed can help you eliminate your intake of empty calories and manage weight gain.

Nutrition

What are Common Herbal Remedies for Menopause?

• Sage. You may be used to using sage in cooking, but its benefits extend outside of the kitchen. ...
• Black Cohosh. Black cohosh is one of the most commonly used supplements for menopause. ...
• Red Clover. Red clover contains phytoestrogens, which means it can mimic estrogen in your body. ...
• Kava. ...
• Dong Quai. ...
• Ginkgo Biloba. ...
• St. ...
• Passionflower. ...

What is the best over the counter medication for menopause?

What is the best way to treat menopause?

Can menopause really be treated naturally?

What are the most common herbs used to treat menopause?

Do you need to see a doctor for menopause?

“When a period stops, women feel OK and they don't need a doctor to diagnose menopause.” But women may struggle with symptoms because they interfere with their daily lives. That's when they should consult a gynecologist.

What medicine helps with menopause?

Some women who take progesterone with estrogen therapy experience progesterone-related side effects. For women who can't tolerate oral progesterone, a combination drug of bazedoxifene with conjugated estrogens (Duavee) is also approved for treating menopausal symptoms.

What is first line treatment for menopause?

Antidepressants — Antidepressant medications are recommended as a first-line treatment for hot flashes in people who cannot take estrogen. SSRIs – The selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) are the class of antidepressants used most commonly for treating hot flashes.

What are the 3 stages of menopause?

There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. ... Menopause occurs when you've stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and have gone without a period for 12 months in a row.More items...•

What is the normal age for menopause?

Understanding the menopausal transition The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. It usually lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity.

What foods make menopause worse?

What Foods to AvoidSpicy foods: Not surprisingly, spicy foods can make hot flashes worse. ... Alcohol: Having a glass of wine a few times a week probably won't affect your symptoms. ... Fatty foods: Except for fatty fish and nuts, try to keep your intake of fat-laden foods to a minimum.

Does HRT make you look younger?

By supplementing your body's natural hormone levels, HRT can help you maintain a more youthful body composition. While this effect is particularly evident in men, research suggests that women can also benefit. HRT is also known to help women maintain softer, smoother skin, resulting in a younger look.

What are the symptoms of low estrogen?

Signs of low estrogen include:Dry skin.Tender breasts.Weak or brittle bones.Trouble concentrating.Moodiness and irritability.Vaginal dryness or atrophy.Hot flashes and night sweats.Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea).More items...•

How can I increase my estrogen levels naturally?

7 Ways You Can Boost Estrogen NaturallyPhytoestrogen-Rich Foods. Phytoestrogens, found in plants and plant-based foods, have a similar structure to estradiol, which is the strongest of the estrogen hormones. ... B Vitamins. ... Vitamin D. ... Chasteberry (also known as Vitex Agnus-Castus) ... Boron. ... Black Cohosh. ... Evening Primrose Oil.

How do I know if I'm through menopause?

Menopause is diagnosed when you've gone without a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Postmenopause: This is the name given to the time after you have not had a period for an entire year (the rest of your life after going through menopause).

What is the average weight gain during menopause?

On average, women gain 5-8% of their baseline body weight during this time,” she says. For the sake of simple math, this means if you weigh 100 pounds, on average you will gain five pounds in the two years after your final period. If you weigh 200 pounds, you are expected to gain at least 10 pounds.

Does menopause age your face?

Your Skin and Menopause Your body stops making as much collagen. You lose some fat under your skin and your skin's elasticity drops. That, combined with dryness caused by hormonal changes, can cause sagging -- especially around the neck, jawline, and cheeks -- and fine lines and wrinkles.

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 are some natural remedies for menopause?

Complementary and Alternative Therapies. Supplements, herbs and botanicals like black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and flaxseed are thought to relieve menopausal symptoms.

What is HRT after menopause?

Treatment & Care. After menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed to resupply the body with the hormones it no longer produces. There are a number of different treatment options to consider if you're suffering from symptoms of menopause. HRT (also known as hormone therapy, menopausal hormone therapy, ...

What is the purpose of estrogen replacement therapy?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) HRT (also known as hormone therapy, menopausal hormone therapy, and estrogen replacement therapy) uses female hormones -- estrogen and progesterone -- to treat common symptoms of menopause and aging. Doctors can prescribe it during or after menopause. Estrogen Hormone Therapy.

Can you take estrogen pills after menopause?

Doctors can prescribe it during or after menopause. There are many types of estrogen therapy in many different forms -- pills, patches, suppositories, and more. The best type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) depends on your health, your symptoms, personal preference, and what you need to get out of treatment.

What are some ways to help menopause?

Relaxation and stress-reduction techniques, including deep-breathing exercises and massage, a healthy lifestyle (good nutrition and daily exercise ), and enjoyable, self-nurturing activities may all be helpful. Some women try to treat their menopause symptoms with over-the-counter products such as St. John’s wort or vitamin B6.

How does menopause affect sexual function?

Menopause contributes to sexual function changes through the decreases in ovarian hormone production and may lead to vaginal dryness and a decline in sexual function. To counteract these changes, try:

How to stop incontinence without surgery?

Luckily, there are strategies to help improve the various forms of incontinence without medication or surgery. Try drinking adequate water to keep urine diluted (clear and pale yellow), and avoid foods or beverages with a high acid or caffeine content, which may irritate the bladder lining. These include grapefruit, oranges, tomatoes, coffee, and caffeine-containing soft drinks. Also try Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and reduce incontinence episodes.

How to stop hot flashes at night?

To get relief from night sweats (hot flashes that occur during sleep), try different strategies to stay cool while you sleep: 1 Dress in light nightclothes. 2 Use layered bedding that can easily be removed during the night. 3 Or, try wicking materials for both. 4 Cool down with an electric fan. 5 Sip cool water throughout the night. 6 Keep a frozen cold pack under your pillow and turn over the pillow often so that your head is always resting on a cool surface, or put a cold pack on your feet.

What are the effects of perimenopause?

Some women find that hormone fluctuations in perimenopause create a feeling of being out of control. Reports of increased irritability, anxiety, fatigue, and blue moods are not uncommon.

How to get rid of night sweats?

To get relief from night sweats (hot flashes that occur during sleep), try different strategies to stay cool while you sleep: Dress in light nightclothes. Use layered bedding that can easily be removed during the night. Or, try wicking materials for both. Cool down with an electric fan.

How to get rid of sleepiness?

Establish a regular sleep schedule and sleep routine: Wake up and go to bed at consistent times, even on weekends. Relax and wind down before sleep by reading a book, listening to music, or taking a leisurely bath. Milk and peanuts contain tryptophan, which helps the body relax.

How to cope with menopause?

Menopause is expected and natural. It is not something that must be treated, but many women do seek menopause treatments to relieve and/or prevent symptoms that result from the significant hormonal changes (especially low estrogen levels) that occur. These shifts can significantly affect quality ...

What is the best diet for menopause?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a diet based on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein (especially from beans and lentils), and low-fat dairy products. 5 . In menopause, it is more of a challenge to maintain your muscle and bone mass.

How to maintain weight after menopause?

Ensuring that you get adequate protein and vitamin D in your diet can help you maintain and/or build muscle. 3 . Maintaining a healthy weight can be more of a challenge after menopause. Watching your daily caloric intake is a worthy goal. Follow a balanced, reduced-calorie diet. 5 .

How does menopause affect quality of life?

These shifts can significantly affect quality of life. 1  They can also increase the risk of certain health concerns, and some treatments may be used to manage that risk. The two most common issues related to menopause that women seek treatment for are vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy. 2 .

What is the process of menopause?

Hormone Replacement Therapy. The menopausal transition and, ultimately, menopause are the result of a gradual loss of ovarian activity. Lowered levels of ovarian hormones are directly responsible for the symptoms and changes that you experience.

Is menopause a disease?

A Word From Verywell. Menopause causes many changes in your body. It is a normal process and not a disease. However, the hormonal changes of menopause can cause unpleasant symptoms and long-term health issues that affect your quality of life.

Does Chinese medicine help with menopause?

Although a definite benefit is not yet supported by significant scientific evidence, there are reports showing that traditional Chinese medicine helps to relieve the menopause symptoms of: Sleep problems. Hot flashes. Mood disturbances.

What supplements help with hot flashes?

keeping a record of when you have hot flashes to help you figure out if anything is triggering them. There are plant and herbal supplements some say help with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. These include soy, red clover, black cohosh, and certain Chinese herbs.

What are the benefits of hormone therapy?

Hormone therapy can help with: reducing hot flashes. vaginal dryness. sleep problems. urinary tract infections and sudden urges to pee. arthritis pain. lowering your risk of colon cancer. lowering your risk of diabetes. Some of the options for how to take hormone therapy are like the options for taking hormonal birth control.

How does estrogen therapy work?

Hormone therapy works by replacing the hormones that your body stops making when you’re going through perimenopause and menopause — estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen therapy: This is the best treatment for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

How to keep your body warm during hot flashes?

keeping a healthy weight. Meditation or relaxation techniques. cooling down the temperature of your living space (especially your bedroom) wearing thin layers of cotton clothes (so you can take layers off during hot flashes) Using breathable (like cotton) bed sheets.

Can hot flashes be a symptom of menopause?

Hot flashes are a common (and often temporary) symptom of menopause and perimenopause. Nothing makes them stop completely, but there are some natural remedies for hot flashes that may help. You can try: There are plant and herbal supplements some say help with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.

Can you take hormones in pill form?

Hormones that you swallow in pill form increase some of these risks more than hormones that you take in other forms. If you’re thinking about taking hormone therapy, your doctor or nurse will ask about your personal and family medical history. They can help you decide if the benefits are worth the risks.

Does hormone therapy cause heart disease?

Hormone therapy can have some risks, depending on your personal medical history and your family’s medical history. Combined hormone therapy may increase your risk for: heart disease. breast cancer (if you take it for more than 3-5 years) blood clots. Estrogen therapy may increase your risk for: blood clots.

What is the best medication for hot flashes?

Treatment of Hot Flashes and Night Sweats. Several prescription drugs are available to relieve hot flashes and night sweats: Clonidine, a blood pressure drug. Gabapentin, a seizure drug that has been shown to reduce hot flashes. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

How to stop hot flashes?

Keep a fan on in your bedroom at night. Sip a cold drink of water or juice. Avoid smoking, caffeine, and alcohol. When you feel a hot flash coming on, take several slow, deep breaths.

What is the treatment for osteoporosis and bone loss?

Treatment for Osteoporosis and Bone Loss Related to Menopause. Because bone loss increases in the first two years after menopause , health care providers may order a bone density test, such as a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.

What are the best supplements for osteoporosis?

Medications commonly prescribed to treat osteoporosis include: 3. Bisphosphonates. Calcium + vitamin D.

Is menopause a disease?

Menopause is a normal part of aging and every woman goes through it. It can't be prevented and normally doesn't require treatment. However, some symptoms of menopause can be lessened or perhaps even eliminated with treatment. Likewise, the risk of disorders or diseases associated with menopause , such as osteoporosis and heart disease, ...

What Are the Treatments for Menopause?

After menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed to resupply the body with the hormones it no longer produces. Discuss this with your doctor. As with any medication, there are risks and benefits, and women should decide if HRT is the right choice for them.

Alternative Treatments for Menopause

As an alternative treatment for menopause symptoms of the vagina, your doctor may prescribe a vaginal cream to help stop the thinning of vaginal tissues and improve lubrication.There are estrogen-based creams and a non-estrogen cream called Intrarosa (prasterone) that reduces the severity of pain with intercourse as a result of thinning vaginal tissues..

What is the best treatment for menopause?

The primary menopause treatments that are approved by the FDA are hormone therapy treatments. There are many studies proving that these treatments work to alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause. In particular, hormone replacement therapy eliminates vaginal dryness and vasomotor symptoms and decreases the risk of osteoporosis and Alzheimer's.

How to treat menopause symptoms?

One of the best things you can do to treat your menopause symptoms is to eat the right foods and avoid other foods that may be inflammatory to your symptoms .

How to control bladder?

Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water to keep urine diluted. Also, avoid high acid and caffeinated foods and beverages. These foods and beverages irritate the bladder lining. You can also do exercises to strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor, which can help alleviate much of incontinence, particularly stress incontinence.

What are the best foods to eat to help with hormone imbalance?

Some of the best foods you can eat are fruits and vegetables. The dietary fiber is good for your body in general, and they contain phytosterols that can help with hormone imbalances. High fiber foods will help alleviate symptoms of weight gain and digestive issues.

How often do you need to replace estrogen patches?

They usually only have to be replaced about once or twice a week, depending on your doctor's instructions and the severity of your symptoms.

What is osphena used for?

It is used for the treatment of extremely painful burning sensations occurring during or after sexual activity.

What are some exercises to help with menopause?

Many women find that mind and body exercises like yoga and tai chi are good for managing their symptoms of menopause. Six primary yoga poses are good for managing symptoms.

Overview

Menopause is a stage in life when you stop having your monthly period. It’s a normal part of aging and marks the end of your fertile, reproductive years. Menopause typically occurs in your late 40s to early 50s. However, people who have their ovaries surgically removed undergo "sudden" surgical menopause.

Symptoms and Causes

You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:

Diagnosis and Tests

There are several ways your healthcare provider can diagnose menopause. The first is discussing your menstrual cycle over the last year. Menopause is unique in that it is diagnosed after the fact. If you have gone a full year (12 straight months) without a period, you have entered menopause and may be postmenopausal.

Management and Treatment

Menopause is a natural process that your body goes through. In some cases, you may not need any treatment for menopause. When discussing treatment for menopause with your provider, it’s about treating the symptoms of menopause that disrupt your life. There are many different types of treatments for the symptoms of menopause.

Living With

Some people may experience trouble sleeping through the night and insomnia during menopause. Insomnia is an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. This can be a normal side effect of menopause itself, or it could be due to another symptom of menopause. Hot flashes are a common culprit of sleepless nights during menopause.

Frequently Asked Questions

You will know you have reached menopause when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any type of vaginal bleeding after menopause. Vaginal bleeding after menopause could be a sign of a more serious health issue like endometrial cancer.

Diagnosis

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

Home Remedies and Lifestyle

• Signs and symptoms of menopause are usually enough to tell most women that they've started the menopausal transition. If you have concerns about irregular periods or hot flashes, talk with your doctor. In some cases, further evaluation may be recommended. Tests typically aren't need…

See more on mayoclinic.org

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapies

Prescriptions

Complementary Alternative Medicine