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 |
|
