Menopause is a normal bodily process that signifies the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Typically seen in women between the late 40s and early 50s, menopause comes with uncomfortable symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, etc. However, there are several methods for managing menopause including hormone replacement therapy, herbal treatments, medications, and lifestyle modifications.
A Quick Understanding of Menopause
What is menopause and why does it occur?
Menopause is a natural biological process that signifies the end of fertility in women. It is characterized by the termination of periods and a gradual decline in certain hormones mainly, estrogen and progesterone. Although the exact timing of menopause can vary widely, it’s commonly seen in women during their late 40s and early 50s.
The primary cause of menopause is the natural aging of the ovaries. As women age, their reproductive cycle slows down and then stops. This shift results in a gradual decrease in the production of eggs and hormones [estrogen and progesterone].
Menopause is diagnosed when a woman goes without her period for 12 months.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Menopause symptoms can vary in severity and duration according to individuals. Some of the more common symptoms of menopause are:
- Irregular Periods
- Hot Flashes
- Night Sweats
- Vaginal Dryness
- Painful Intercourse
- Urinary Urgency
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Mood Shifts
- Weight Gain
- Slower Metabolism
- Thinning Hair
- Dry Skin
- Aches and Pains
- Headaches
- Heart Palpitations
Conventional Medical Treatments for Menopause
Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT]
Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] is a medical treatment that supplements or replaces hormones, usually estrogen and progesterone, especially in women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
Related: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy [BHRT]
Types of HRT and Associated Benefits
- Estrogen Therapy [ET]: Estrogen therapy is a form of hormone replacement therapy that supplements or replaces estrogen alone to treat the symptoms of menopause.
Benefits of Estrogen Therapy: ET relieves symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, prevents bone loss, and reduces the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. - Estrogen-Progestin Combination Therapy [EPT]: Estrogen-progestin combination therapy is a form of HRT that supplements or replaces estrogen and progestin to treat menopause symptoms. Typically, EPT is prescribed to women with the uterus to protect the uterine lining from possible cancer-causing effects of estrogen.
Benefits of Estrogen-Progestin Combination Therapy: EPT relieves symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, prevents bone loss, and reduces the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. Additionally, it also reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. - Low-Dose Estrogen Therapy: As the name suggests, low-dose estrogen therapy involves taking smaller doses of estrogen to reduce the potential risks while combating menopause symptoms. It is also known as low-dose hormone replacement therapy.
Benefits of Low Dose Estrogen Therapy: This form of HRT offers relief from common menopause symptoms [hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats], prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of fractures, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, breast cancer, and other associated risks of high-dose forms of HRT, and offers fewer side effects. - Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy [BHRT]: Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy [BHRT] is a revolutionized form of HRT that uses plant-based hormones processed to identically mimic the natural hormones of the body.
Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: BHRT offers a wide variety of benefits including [I] relief from menopause symptoms, [ii] better sexual experience, [iii] improved mental health, [iv] improved ability to lose fat and build muscles, [v] reduced risk of certain conditions [heart diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes], [vi] enhanced quality of life. - Vaginal Estrogen Therapy: Vaginal estrogen therapy is a form of hormone replacement therapy that focuses on treating specific vaginal and urogenital problems through supplementing/replacing estrogen hormones.
Benefits of Vaginal Estrogen Therapy: Benefits of vaginal estrogen therapy include relief from vaginal dryness, painful urination, itching, burning, and sudden urgency to urinate. Additionally, it also improves dyspareunia, sexual experience, and overall vaginal health. - Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators [SERMs]: SERMs are a group of medications that impact estrogen in different parts of the body. Based on the specific medications, SERMs can either block or activate estrogen in the body. For instance, some SERMs block estrogen from connecting to breast cancer cells, while others boost estrogen levels in bones to prevent osteoporosis. Selective estrogen receptor modulators [SERMs] are used to treat a variety of estrogen-related conditions including breast cancer, osteoporosis, and menopause symptoms.
Benefits of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators: Benefits of SERMs include, [I] reducing the risk of breast cancer, [ii] preventing osteoporosis, [iii] offering relief from menopausal symptoms, [iv] enhancing the sexual experience, [v] improving mental well-being, [vi] reducing the risk of urinary tract infections [UTIs], [vii] improving overall vaginal health.
Potential Risks & Side Effects of HRT
As with all treatments, HRT also comes with its set of side effects. Some of the potential risks of hormone replacement therapy are:
- Headaches
- Mood shifts
- Weight gain
- Vaginal bleeding
- Breast tenderness or enlargement
- Fluid retention
- Risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Risk of breast cancer
- Risk of endometrial cancer
- Risk of blood clots
It’s important to note that it’s possible to experience mild or no side effects at all while undergoing HRT.
Who can Consider HRT as a Treatment?
Hormone replacement therapy can be an effective treatment for women experiencing or have experienced menopause. Ideal candidates for HRT are:
- Women who experience moderate to severe symptoms of menopause
- Women who have premature ovarian insufficiency [POI]
- Women who have had a hysterectomy and are now experiencing symptoms of menopause
- Women at a lower risk of breast cancer, blood clots, or liver disease
- Women at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease
- Women at a lower risk of stroke
- Women at a lower risk of endometrial cancer
It’s important to discuss the type, benefits, and risks of HRT with a healthcare professional before starting the treatment.
Medications for Specific Menopausal Symptoms
For women who aren’t interested or cannot undergo hormone replacement therapy, there are alternative medications that target specific menopausal symptoms. They are:
- Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs] can reduce hot flashes and enhance mood.
- Gabapentin: An anticonvulsant medication, gabapentin can reduce hot flashes and improve sleep.
- Oxybutynin: An anticholinergic medication, oxybutynin can reduce hot flashes and improve urinary symptoms.
- Fezolinetant: Fezolinetant is a novel medication that treats the root cause of hot flashes during menopause.
- Progesterone: Progesterone can be used to treat irregular bleeding and to improve sleep.
It’s essential to discuss the symptoms and medication with a qualified doctor before starting treatment.
Alternative Therapies and Natural Remedies for Menopause
Herbal Treatment for Menopause
Throughout the centuries, herbal remedies have been used to treat menopause. Some of the common herbal treatments include:
- Black Cohosh: Black cohosh is a flowering plant native to North America and is one of the most popular herbal treatments for menopause. It is believed to treat hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
- Red Clover: Red clover, a flowering plant native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa, contains phytoestrogens that mimic the estrogen in the body. It has been used to treat hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause.
- Dong Quai: Dong Quai, also known as female ginseng, is a plant indigenous to China. According to traditional Chinese medicine, dong quai is used to treat menopausal symptoms, mainly hot flashes.
- Ginseng: Ginseng is a popular herb used to treat several menopausal symptoms including mood swings, sleep disturbances, and overall well-being during menopause.
- Evening Primrose Oil: Evening primrose oil is another popular plant oil that is used to treat various symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
- Soy: Soy, similar to red clover, contains phytoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen within the body. It is used to treat hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause.
- Flaxseed: Flaxseed also contains phytoestrogens and is used to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
- St. John’s Wort: St. John’s wort is a flowering plant that grows one meter tall and is native to Europe. In the late 20th century, St. John’s wort gained popularity for treating emotional symptoms like depression and anxiety during menopause.
- Wild Yam: Wild yam, like the few herbal alternatives, also contains phytoestrogens and is used to treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
It should be noted that using herbal remedies for treating menopause is still relatively new. Therefore, it’s essential to discuss its effectiveness with a qualified doctor.
Lifestyle Changes for Treating Menopause
Making lifestyle modifications is an excellent way to combat menopausal symptoms. Here are some recommendations:
- Quit Smoking: According to research, smoking tobacco is linked to early menopause. Moreover, quitting smoking can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis.
- Limit Alcohol and Caffeine: Limiting alcohol and caffeine can reduce the severity of hot flashes and better sleep.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight brings a variety of benefits including managing hot flashes and night sweats.
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in regular exercise, whether it’s strength training or aerobic exercise, can help manage menopausal symptoms while also improving heart health, mood, and bone density.
- Follow a Healthy Diet: Maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet filled with vegetables and fruits and low in sugar and red meat can help treat menopausal symptoms.
- Intake Calcium-Rich Foods: Taking calcium-rich foods like yogurt, kale, and milk can strengthen bones and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Include Vitamin-D Supplements: Taking vitamin-D supplements can help treat hot flashes and night sweats.
- Environment Control: As hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause, enhance the cooling of the environment to help manage it better.
- Engage in Relaxing Activities: Regularly engage in relaxing activities like yoga or meditation to improve sleep and reduce stress.
- Stay Connected: As menopause can be a challenging transition for some, it’s important to stay connected to loved ones to help manage symptoms better.
Get Help with Dr. Mozhgan
As you can see, menopause is a natural biological process that can be treated adequately. If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause and looking for a qualified female gynecologist to help you, contact Dr. Mozhgan. With over 20 years of experience and knowledge, she will help you manage menopause seamlessly.
Menopause Treatment by Dr. Mozhgan
FAQs on Menopause Treatment
Q1. How can I balance my hormones naturally during menopause?
You can balance your hormones naturally by following the recommended lifestyle modifications like following a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular exercise, limiting alcohol and caffeine, managing stress, taking supplements, etc.
Q2. What foods worsen the symptoms of menopause?
Certain foods that can trigger menopausal symptoms are [I] spicy foods, [ii] caffeine, [iii] alcohol, [iv] processed foods, [v] fatty meats, and [vi] sugary foods.
Q3. What foods alleviate the symptoms of menopause?
Foods that help manage symptoms are [I] cooling foods like apples, bananas, eggs, etc., [ii] high-protein foods, [iii] calcium-rich foods, [iv] whole grains, [v] fruits and vegetables, and [vi] omega-3 fatty acids.
Q4. How can I stop hot flashes quickly?
There are several ways to combat hot flashes quickly. They are: [I] dress in layers that can be removed at the start of hot flashes, [ii] keep a cool environment and have a few sips of cold water before bed, [iii] carry a portable fan, [iv] exercise regularly, [v] practice deep breathing, [vi] maintain a healthy weight, [vii] quit smoking, and [viii] take vitamin-D supplements.
Q5. Is there a treatment or cure for pre-menopausal symptoms?
Yes, several treatments help manage pre-menopause or perimenopause symptoms. Some of the options are [I] hormone therapy, [ii] antidepressants, [iii] birth control pills, [iv] Gabapentin, and [v] lifestyle modifications. It’s important to discuss your symptoms, treatment options, and their effectiveness with a qualified doctor before starting.
