How can the symptoms of menopause be treated if non-medical interventions are not enough?
Specific treatment for menopausal symptoms will be determined by your physician based on:
your age, overall health, and medical history
current symptoms
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
your opinion or preference
Several therapies that help to manage the symptoms often associated with menopause include the following:
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves the administration of a combination of the female hormonesestrogen and progesterone during perimenopause and menopause. HRT is most commonly prescribed in pill form. However, estrogen can also be administered by using transdermal skin patches and vaginal creams.
The decision to start the supplementation or replacement of these hormones should be made only after you and your physician have evaluated the risk versus benefit ratio based on your individual medical history.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) - Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) involves the administration of estrogen alone, which is no longer being produced by the body. ERT is often prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy. Estrogen is prescribed in the following forms: pills, transdermal skin patches (where the estrogen is absorbed through the skin), and vaginal creams.
The decision to start the supplementation or replacement of this hormone should be made only after you and your physician have evaluated the risk versus benefit ratio based on your individual medical history.
Non-Hormonal Treatment - This type of treatment often involves the use of over-the-counter creams that do not contain estrogen to relieve some of the symptoms associated with menopause.
Estrogen Alternatives - Estrogen alternatives are the so-called "synthetic estrogens", such as raloxifene, which may offer the bone-building benefits of estrogen without many of the possible coinciding risks (i.e., an increased risk of endometrial cancer).
Alternative Therapies - Homeopathy and herbal treatments may offer some relief from some symptoms of menopause.
When approaching menopause, every woman should discuss her options - the potential risks and benefits - with her physician.
