The transition to menopause isn't always easy. Menopause—which usually occurs at around age 51—officially begins 12 months after your last period. But even before that, the hormone levels in your body begin to fluctuate up and down. These transitional years, called perimenopause, usually begin in your mid-40s.
One of the first things you may notice is a change in your menstrual cycle, such as skipping periods or having periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.
Menopause symptoms
Some menopause changes can be quite challenging. For example, you might experience:
• Hot flashes, which are sudden heat sensations in the upper body and face. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes or longer.
• Sleep problems. Hot flashes at night, also known as night sweats, can prevent restful slumber. You may also have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Vaginal dryness, which can cause pain during sex or more frequent urinary tract infections.
• Bladder problems, such as needing to urinate frequently or with an urge that's hard to control.
• Mood changes, such as irritability.
Not everyone experiences all these symptoms, and for some people, symptoms are relatively mild. But if any symptoms of menopause are disrupting your life, tell your provider. There are many ways to manage symptoms, and for some, hormone therapy may be the right approach.
What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy is medicine that can help relieve menopause symptoms. It works by replacing some of the estrogen and progesterone your body stops making.
There are different ways to receive hormone therapy:
• As a pill, skin patch, gel or spray, the medicines can be absorbed into the bloodstream to treat symptoms throughout the body—such as hot flashes.
• As a ring, tablet or cream, these can be used to release small doses of estrogen into vaginal tissues. Because they don't act on the whole body in small doses, these products can be a good option if your main symptom is vaginal dryness. In higher doses, they can help alleviate the other symptoms of menopause as well.
Safe and effective for most
For most healthy women, hormone therapy is a safe and effective way to treat hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Easing these symptoms may, in turn, help improve your sleep, mood and sex life.
However, hormone therapy may not be right for everyone. There can be risks involved with taking it. These risks depend, in part, on the form of hormone therapy, your age when you start it and your overall health.
For example:
• Estrogen alone can increase the risk of endometrial cancer (a type of cancer that starts in the uterus). Progestin decreases this risk. This is why, unless you've had a hysterectomy, you'll need to take estrogen plus progestin (combination therapy).
• Combination therapy may cause a small increase in risk for breast cancer and heart attacks.
• Estrogen-only and combination hormone therapies are both linked to a small increase in risk for blood clots and strokes.
These risks are generally very low if you're healthy and begin hormone therapy before age 60 and within 10 years of your last period. But you and your provider may decide that the risks outweigh the benefits if you're at high risk for breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease or endometrial cancer.
The decision to use hormone therapy depends on many individual factors. That is why it's important to talk with your provider about the pros and cons of using it in your specific situation.
Alternatives to hormone therapy
If hormone therapy isn't right for you, you still have options. Ask your
Watson Clinic OB-GYN specialist about non-hormonal medications that help treat menopause symptoms. Call 863-680-7243 to schedule an appointment.