For symptoms of early menopause:
Here are some ways to treat your symptoms without choosing HT:• Clonidine is a blood-pressure-lowering drug that is also used to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate and megestrol acetate, progesterone-type drugs, may be used to treat hot flashes.
• The SSRI (Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) drugs are useful in two ways - treating depression and treating hot flashes.
• Counseling or support groups can also help you to handle sad, depressed, or confusing feelings you may be having as your body changes.
• Vaginal lubricants, such as Vagisil or Replens, can help women with thinning vaginal tissue or dryness.
• Low-dose vaginal estrogen is generally a safe way to take estrogen to solve vaginal thinning and dryness problems without substantially increasing the levels of estrogen in the blood.
• Lack of desire can be helped with more open communication with your partner, creating a pleasurable atmosphere at home, making a point to enjoy other activities with your partner, and counseling.
"Designer estrogens"
Tamoxifen (used to prevent breast cancer) and raloxifene (used to prevent osteoporosis) are drugs known as "designer estrogens." These drugs have been developed to act beneficially as estrogen on some tissue and to act as estrogen-blockers (anti-estrogens) on other tissue. These drugs also are known by the more technical name Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators or SERMs.The SERMs:
• help to protect your bones
• lower levels of bad cholesterol; and
• may lower the risk of breast cancer.
Tamoxifen, however, acts like an estrogen on the uterus, increasing the risk of uterine cancer. Raloxifene blocks the harmful effects of estrogen on the breast and does not stimulate the lining uterus, so women who still have a uterus may want to try raloxifene.
Menopause: lifestyle issues and prevention
Women have many choices in the ways they can treat symptoms of menopause. All women, however, should aim for a healthy lifestyle: Eat a healthy diet, including 1500 mg of calcium daily, lower the amount of fat in your diet, and the right balance of calories to maintain an active lifestyle; if overweight, weight reduction is advisable.• Quit or try to cut down on smoking;
• Use alcohol moderately;
• Exercise for 30 minutes at least three times a week;
• Avoid stressful situations; and
• Have a yearly mammogram and breast examination by a health professional.
Preventing disease will be a major concern after you go through menopause. Your risk of bone loss, bone fractures, heart disease, and other conditions increases as you age.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.mabels.org.uk/)
