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Best Menopause Treatment Methods
For many years the medical profession has sought to treat menopause with hormone replacement therapy. More women, however, are balking at the prospect of taking these drugs as a menopause treatment because they have been linked to stroke and to cancer.
Before you agree to take any hormone therapy, investigate the medication thoroughly and be sure you understand all its potential side effects and interactions. If you are in a high-risk category for stroke or cancer you may want to investigate alternative therapies.
An equal level of controversy exists about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI antidepressants in menopausal women. These medications, although advertised as being non-addictive, have been called into question based on anecdotal evidence. Drugs like the anti-seizure medication Gabapentin or the blood-pressure medication Clonidine have likewise been used to reduce hot flashes but this use is "off label." Again, never take any drug without fully understanding its potential effects on your body.
Are Natural Therapies Available?
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More and more women are turning to natural methods to find menopause relief. One popular course is to take phytoestrogens found in some plants and processed into supplements.
Chasteberry and Evening Primrose Oil are good examples. Since progesterone also decreases during menopause many women use creams made from wild yam as a natural replacement. Vitamin E has been found to relieve mild hot flashes and Black Cohosh is effective in a wide range of symptoms. Your local health food store is a good source of information on alternative treatments as is the Internet.
What are the Risk Factors for Menopause?
Some medical procedures may lead to an early menopause with hysterectomy at the top of the list. If the surgery involves only the removal of the uterus, surgical menopause does not normally begin, however if both the uterus and the ovaries are taken out your periods stop immediately and the signs and symptoms of menopause appear quickly. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer can also cause menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes, for the duration of the treatment.
What Should I Know about Self-Care?
There are many simple steps a woman can take to lessen the effect of menopausal symptoms in her life. If hot flashes are a particular problem, dress in layers so that you may remove some degree of your clothing. Avoid hot beverages, spicy food, and alcohol. Try to stay in the coolest environment possible, especially during hot weather.
For vaginal discomforts, use over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers. Staying sexually active will actually help. Also, learn to do simple pelvic exercises called Kegels to strengthen your pelvic floor. This will also help with mild urinary incontinence.
Avoid caffeine that will make sleep-related issues worse and don't exercise before going to bed. Learn some form of relaxation technique. Eat well, take the appropriate supplements, and if you smoke, stop.
While the symptoms of menopause are a natural part of the aging process they can, for many women, prove annoying and life altering.
Above all else, educate yourself about what is happening to your body so that you will be in a position to make the best choices in how to combat your menopause symptoms.
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