Menopause usually occurs in women that have passed 50. Its symptoms are usually treated or at least alleviated with the help of hormone replacement therapy or natural remedies.
In treating the occurring symptoms, a woman should consider different treatment options. Lifestyle changes are a necessary condition for easing menopause symptoms. Women are advised to go for a healthy diet and a regular exercise program which will surely help in minimizing the symptoms of menopause and in maintaining an overall good health. It is also recommended to quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol. Other helpful advices are to dress lightly and in layers and avoid potential triggers like caffeine and spicy foods.
For common condition such as vaginal dryness, moisturizers and nonestrogen lubricants are recommended. Remaining sexually active will also help to preserve the lining of the vagina.
Menopausal women should also consider the treatment. Hormone replacement therapy, a treatment with estrogen and progesterone can be prescribed for women that still have their uterus. Hormone replacement therapy will reduce the symptoms of menopause and will help prevent osteoporosis. This combination is not prescribed in case the woman has hysterectomy or no longer has its uterus. In these cases the treatment resumes at estrogen.
This treatment was recommended for all cases until a large study known as the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) shed new light on how HT is viewed.
According to this study a long time hormone replacement therapy increases the risks for many conditions such as heart disease, breast cancer, blood clots and stroke. Treatment only with estrogen was believed to be a cause for increasing the risks for blood clots and stroke but did not worsen a woman's chance of getting breast cancer or heart disease. Even if this study was considered a relevant one, specialists proved the opposite.
A later study agreed that the Women's Health Initiative results may have been obtained because of the advanced age of the participants. It also proved that for younger women hormone replacement therapy is decreasing the risk of heart disease.
If these studies did not convince you, you should consider medications that can be prescribed in order to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Among these alternative treatments we have to remember antidepressants for mood swings and difficulty sleeping. Clonidine and gabapentin can help in reducing hot flashes related to menopause. It is highly recommended to see a doctor because you might need these medicines in addition to hormone replacement therapy.
Nontraditional therapies are also used in easing the menopausal symptoms. Acupuncture, meditation and relaxation techniques are all ways of reducing the symptoms. Many women choose herbal or natural remedies such as black cohosh, dong quai or ginseng.
For more resources about menopause or about male menopause please review http://www.menopause-info-guide.com/male-menopause.htm
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