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Managing your Menopause

From the time women enter puberty until the end of the last
menstrual period every woman is aware of the ebb and flow of
constant hormonal changes in her body. This complex interplay of
hormones continues until she reaches her late 40's or early 50's. Hormone replacement therapy offers a solution to the many physical symptoms of menopause.

What is menopause?

Menopause is a normal change in a woman's life when her period stops. That's why some people call menopause "the change of life" or "the change." During menopause a woman's body slowly produces less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row.

What is hormone therapy for menopause?

Hormone therapy for menopause has also been called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Lower hormone levels in menopause may lead to hot flashes, vaginal dryness and thin bones. To help with these problems, women are often given estrogen or estrogen with progestin (another hormone). Like all medicines, hormone therapy has risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about hormones.

What are the early symptoms of menopause?

Every woman's period will stop at menopause. Some women may not have any other symptoms at all. As you near menopause, you may have:

* Changes in your period--time between periods or flow may be different.

* Hot flashes ("hot flushes")--getting warm in the face, neck and chest.

* Night sweats and trouble sleeping that lead to feeling tired, stressed or tense.

* Vaginal changes: vagina may become dry and thin, and sex may be painful.

* Thinning of your bones, which may lead to loss of height and bone breaks (osteoporosis).

Menopause Symptoms

• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Hot flashes.
• Emotional changes
• Low sexual interest
• Sleep disturbances
• Insomnia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Generalized itching
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Low concentration
• Memory loss
• Vaginal changes
• Urinary changes

Who needs treatment for symptoms of menopause?

For some women, many of these changes will go away over time without treatment. Some women will choose treatment for their symptoms and to prevent bone loss. If you choose treatment, estrogen alone or estrogen with progestin (for a woman who still has her uterus or womb) may be used.

What are the benefits from using hormones for menopause?
Hormone therapy is the most effective FDA approved medicine for relief of your hot flashes, night sweats or vaginal dryness. Hormones may reduce your chances of getting thin, weak bones (osteoporosis), which break easily.

What are the risks of using hormones?

For some women, hormone therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and gall bladder disease. For a woman with a uterus, estrogen increases her chance of getting endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining). Adding progestin lowers this risk.

Should hormone therapy be used to protect the heart or prevent strokes?

Do not use hormone therapy to prevent heart attacks or strokes.

Should hormone therapy be used to prevent memory loss or Alzheimer's disease?

Do not use hormone therapy to prevent memory loss or Alzheimer's disease.

Do hormones protect against aging and wrinkles?

Studies have not shown that hormone therapy prevents aging and wrinkles.

How long should I use hormones for menopause?

You should talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Again, hormones should be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time that you need them.

Does it make a difference what form of hormones I use for menopause?

The risks and benefits may be the same for all hormone products for menopause, such as pills, patches, vaginal creams, gels and rings.

Are herbs and other "natural" products useful in treating symptoms of menopause?

At this time, we do not know if herbs or other "natural" products are helpful or safe. Studies are being done to learn about the benefits and risks.

Who should not take hormone therapy for menopause?

Women who...

• Think they are pregnant
• Have problems with vaginal bleeding
• Have had certain kinds of cancers
• Have had a stroke or heart attack in the past year
• Have had blood clots
• Have liver disease

Hormone Replacement Therapy Benefits

• Increases in lean muscle
• Enhances sex drive
• Improves memory
• Improves mood
• Improves endurance
• Increases energy
• Improves skin tone
• Reduces body fat
• Lowers cholesterol
• Lowers blood pressure
• Diminishes wrinkles
• Eliminates cellulite
• Reduces muscle wasting
• Improves kidney function
• Improves recovery time
• Increases bone density
• Reduces stress levels