Managing the Impact of the Menopause

There are many supplements and nutraceuticals available which can help you manage the symptoms you are going through during the menopause. In addition many going through the menopause benefitted from supplements taken early in readiness. This is especially important if you know that your mother or older siblings have gone through difficult times during the menopause.

The following products can help with physical symptoms such as:

• hot flushes and night sweats
• fluid retention*
• breast tenderness*
• Sleep disturbance
• Vaginal dryness
• heart disease and stroke
• high cholesterol
• Osteoporosis

(*often a side-effect of HRT, commonly used to control adverse symptoms of the Menopause)

Producst which may help with psychological issues such as:

• Depression
• Mood swings & Irritability
• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Forgetfulness

include:

In some cases where supplementation does not work you may wish to consider medical treatment.

The primary treatment is HRT or its full name Hormone replacement therapy.

HRT alleviates the symptoms of the menopause by adjusting hormone levels. It involves receiving a small daily dose of oestrogen. Women who have not had a hysterectomy are also given a progesterone-like drug as part of the HRT. This is called combined HRT.

Combined HRT can be described as either sequential or continuous.

Sequential combined HRT is suitable for women who are perimenopausal, ie still experiencing erratic menstrual bleeding. Most preparations are designed to mimic the menstrual cycle and result in monthly periods. They are based around a 28-day cycle in which oestrogen is taken every day and a progesterone is added for the last 12 to 14 days of the cycle. For women who are borderline postmenopausal and have very infrequent bleeds, there is also a sequential preparation available that results in three-monthly bleeds.

Once a woman has not had a natural period for a year and is described as postmenopausal, continuous combined HRT is more suitable. This form of HRT does not produce periods and involves taking a daily dose of oestrogen and progesterone.

How is HRT taken?

There are many ways of taking HRT, with the most usual being a daily tablet. Alternatives include skin patches, a small pellet or implant under the skin, a gel applied daily to the skin, a ring inserted into the vagina, or a nasal spray.
What are the side effects of HRT?

The majority of women have no side effects, but the following are fairly common:
• nausea
• breast tenderness
• weight gain
• fluid retention.

These symptoms often settle after the first few months of treatment. If they don't, it's worth consulting your doctor or gynaecologist to adjust the medication.
How effective is HRT?

HRT is effective at relieving hot flushes and vaginal dryness and many women report an improvement in their general sense of wellbeing.

However, HRT is not a magic fix and if disturbed mood or behaviour is due to underlying problems at home or work, HRT cannot be expected to improve matters.

HRT is often taken for a short spell of six months to a year to relieve hot flushes.

The long-term benefits of HRT have recently been brought into question.

Previously it was thought that HRT prevented heart disease and strokes by slowing the development of hardening of the arteries. Several major research studies reported in 2002 and 2003 have shown this is not so.

The possibility that HRT users are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease is still to be confirmed, but it does seem that HRT offers some protection against developing bowel cancer.

The most important result of these research studies has been the confirmation that HRT increases the risk of developing breast cancer and endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the womb).