Periods and Heavy Bleeding

“A heavy period is when you lose lots of blood each period.
The amount of bleeding can change
at different life stages”.1

Umbrella
What may the Periods and Heavy Bleeding Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
  • Heavy Bleeding
  • Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  • Heavy Periods
  • Heavy Uterine Bleeding
  • Menorrhagia

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

What is heavy menstrual bleeding?

DotS the definition of heavy menstrual bleeding may vary. The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:

“A heavy period is when you lose lots of blood each period. The amount of bleeding can change at different life stages. For example, in teenage years or before menopause (your last period). Heavy periods are common in women aged 30 to 50”.2

Menorrhagia

What is menorrhagia?

DotS the definition of menorrhagia may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) definition is:

“Menorrhagia is menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. It can also be bleeding that is very heavy”.3

The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Some women have menstrual bleeding that is heavy or lasts for more than a few days. This condition used to be called menorrhagia. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern. But most women don’t have enough blood loss for it to be called heavy menstrual bleeding”.4

Heavy or Not

How heavy is heavy menstrual bleeding?

In Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding the CDC explain:

“How do you know if you have heavy bleeding? If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding. If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor”.5

In Heavy Periods: How Do You Know If You Have Heavy Periods? the JH note:

“It can be hard to know if your period is too heavy, but there are some common signs. For example:

  • Your bleeding can’t be contained with a pad or tampon
  • You need to change your pad or tampon every two hours or less
  • You need to change your pad overnight
  • You notice blood clots that are bigger than a 50-cent coin
  • Your period lasts more than seven to eight days
  • Your periods stop you from doing things you normally do”.6

Cause

What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?

In Heavy Periods: Causes of Heavy Periods the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborate on:

“It can be normal to have heavy periods.

They can sometimes be heavy at different times, like when you first start your periods, after pregnancy or during menopause.

Sometimes, they can be caused by:

  • Conditions affecting your womb, ovaries or hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Some medicines and treatments, including some anticoagulant medicines and chemotherapy medicines
  • Stress and depression

Rarely, heavy periods can be a sign of womb cancer”.7

In Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“In some cases, the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is unknown, but a number of conditions may cause menorrhagia. Common causes include:

  • Hormone imbalance…
  • Dysfunction of the ovaries…
  • Uterine fibroids…
  • Polyps…
  • Adenomyosis…
  • Intrauterine device (IUD)…
  • Pregnancy complications…
  • Cancer…
  • Inherited bleeding disorders…
  • Medications…
  • Other medical conditions…”.8

Common or Not

How common is heavy menstrual bleeding?

According to the JH:

Periods and Heavy Bleeding“About one in four women have heavy periods (heavy menstrual bleeding)”.9

Bleeding Disorder

Is there an association between a bleeding disorder and heavy menstrual bleeding?

In Bleeding Disorders the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov quote the 2001 data:

“As many as one in 10 women with heavy menstrual periods may have a bleeding disorder”.10

Treatment

What are treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding?

On page two in Heavy Periods: Treatment the (British) Women’s Health Concern elaborate on:

“Treatment options depend on the type and duration of abnormal bleeding, the presence of specific disease or condition, your age, and desire for further pregnancies. Treatment can be medical or surgical”.11

In Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Treatment the CDC elaborate on different types of treatment and note:

“The type of treatment you get will depend on the cause of your bleeding and how serious it is. Your doctor also will look at things such as your age, general health, and medical history; how well you respond to certain medicines, procedures, or therapies; and your wants and needs”.12

Look for A PatternPeriods and Menopause

Can it be helpful to record period dates and symptoms?

In Heavy Periods the (Scottish) NHS Inform explain:

“It can be helpful to keep a note of your period dates and symptoms using a calendar, a diary or an app. You can then discuss this with your doctor who can decide if any tests or treatments might be needed.

If you’re seeing your doctor, there are some useful pieces of information to think about beforehand:

  • The first day of your last period (when it started)
  • How many days your period usually lasts
  • What was the shortest time between your periods (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
  • What was the longest time between your periods (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
  • How often you need to change your period products on a heavy day
  • If you are over 25, when you had your last smear test”.13

Health Care Provider

What if I have heavy menstrual bleeding?

If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Living With – When Do You Call Your Healthcare Provider If You Suspect Heavy Period Bleeding? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

“You should call your provider if you’re experiencing the symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding or anemia, or if your period bleeding has become abnormal. Tracking your periods using a calendar or app can help you identify if your periods are heavier and longer-lasting than usual. Share these notes with your provider.

You should also schedule an appointment if you notice that you’re having to double-up on menstrual products or if you’re skipping activities you enjoy because of heavy bleeding”.14

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“Seek medical help before your next scheduled exam if you experience:

  • Vaginal bleeding so heavy it soaks at least one pad or tampon an hour for more than two hours in a row
  • Bleeding between periods or irregular vaginal bleeding
  • Vaginal bleeding after menopause”.15

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Periods and Heavy Bleeding

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  2. About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
  3. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
  4. Adenomyosis
  5. Adenomyosis and Heavy Bleeding
  6. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  7. Bleeding Disorders
  8. Bleeding Disorders A-Z
  9. Bleeding Disorders In Women
  10. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Better You Know
    Periods and Heavy Bleeding
  11. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Bleeding Disorders In Women
  12. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Do You Have Heavy Periods?
    Periods and Heavy Bleeding
  13. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  14. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
  15. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Signs and Symptoms of Bleeding Disorders In Women
  16. Bleeding Disorders In Women: What Are Bleeding Disorders In Women?
  17. Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
  18. Dilation and Curettage
  19. Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
  20. Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods
  21. Endometrial Ablation
  22. Endometrial Ablation
  23. Endometrial Ablation
  24. Endometriosis
  25. Endometriosis
  26. Everything You Should Know About Menometrorrhagia
  27. FAQs: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  28. FAQs: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  29. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September, United States]
  30. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  31. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia)
  32. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Diagnosis and Tests
  33. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Management and Treatment
  34. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Diagnosis & Treatment
  35. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes
  36. Heavy Periods
  37. Heavy Periods
  38. Heavy Periods
  39. Heavy Periods [Other Languages and Formats]
  40. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  41. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  42. Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
  43. How Does the Mirena Coil Affect Menopause?
  44. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  45. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Menstrual Cups — Why the Recent Increase In Popularity?
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 2: Bye Bye Periods
  50. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Periods and Heavy Bleeding
  51. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  52. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
  53. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  54. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  55. Menstrual Calendar
  56. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  57. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  58. Menstrual Cycle
  59. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  60. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  61. Menstrual Diary
  62. Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
  63. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  64. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  65. PMS, PMDD and You
  66. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  67. Perimenopause
  68. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  69. Perimenopause: How do I know if changes in my periods are normal perimenopausal symptoms or something to be concerned about?
  70. Period Problems: Heavy Bleeding
  71. Periods
  72. Periods
  73. Periods and Heavy Bleeding – Easy Read
  74. Periods – Menstrual Cycle: Animation [Video]
  75. Periods: Period Problems
  76. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  77. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  78. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  79. Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
  80. Uterine Cancer Awareness
  81. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
  82. Vaginal Bleeding
  83. Vaginal Bleeding
  84. Victoryforwomen.org [Victory For Women, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation]
  85. Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
  86. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  87. Videos About Bleeding Disorders In Women [+ Video: Bleeds Don’t Define Me]
  88. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  89. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  90. Von Willebrand Disease
  91. Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
  92. What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
  93. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  94. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  95. You Need To Know [+ Video: Bleeding After the Menopause – An Important Message You Need To Know]
  96. Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 17 April 2024
  2. Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 17 April 2024
  3. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 17 April 2024
  4. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 17 April 2024
  5. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 17 April 2024
  6. Heavy Periods: How Do You Know If You Have Heavy Periods? Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 17 April 2024
  7. Heavy Periods: Causes of Heavy Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 03 November 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/#what-causes-heavy-periods Accessed: 17 April 2024
  8. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 30 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 17 April 2024
  9. Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 17 April 2024
  10. Bleeding Disorders. Page Last Updated: February 22, 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/bleeding-disorders Accessed: 17 April 2024
  11. Heavy Bleeding: Treatment. Publication Date: November 2022:2. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/heavy-periods/ Accessed: 17 April 2024
  12. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Treatment. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 17 April 2024
  13. Heavy Periods. Last Updated: 14 March 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/heavy-periods/ Accessed: 17 April 2024
  14. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Living With – When Do You Call Your Healthcare Provider If You Suspect Heavy Period Bleeding? Last Reviewed: 11 November 2021. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17734-menorrhagia-heavy-menstrual-bleeding Accessed: 17 April 2024
  15. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 30 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 17 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 17 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 17 April 2024

/by

Bioidentical Hormones

“The use of compounded bioidentical hormone
replacement therapies is not recommended
given the issues related to their purity, potency and safety”.1

Umbrella
What may the Bioidentical Hormones Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bioequivalent Hormone Therapy
  • Bioidentical Hormone Medications
  • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
  • Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT)
  • Bioidentical Hormones
  • Bioidenticals
  • Custom-Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (C-CHT)
  • Custom-Made Bioidentical Hormones
  • Custom-Mixed Bioidentical Hormones
  • Hormone Therapy Alternatives
  • Natural Hormone Therapies
  • Pharmacy Compounded Hormones
  • ‘Compounded’ Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (cBHRT)
  • ‘Regulated’ Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (rBHRT)

Bioidentical Hormones

What are bioidentical hormones?

DotS the definition of bioidentical hormones may vary. On page one in Menopausal Hormone Therapy the European Menopause and Andropause Society’s definition is:

“‘Bioidentical hormones’ is a term used to describe plant-derived preparations (like approved MHT drugs) modified to be structurally identical to human hormones such as estradiol and progesterone”.2

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

What is bioidentical hormone therapy?

DotS the definition of bioidentical hormone therapy may vary. In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they? the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“The term bioidentical hormone therapy began as a marketing term for custom-compounded hormones. But it is taken to mean hormones that have the same chemical and molecular structure as hormones that are produced in the body”.3

On page 771 in The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society, published July 2022, and endorsed by multiply organizations, the NAMS also note:

“The term bioidentical hormone therapy (similar to endogenous) can be misleading because there are both government-approved and compounded bioidentical hormone therapies. Government approved (in the United States, FDA-approved) bioidentical hormones include estradiol, estrone, and MP, which are regulated and monitored for purity and efficacy. These are dispensed with package inserts containing extensive product information (based on RCTs) and may include black-box warnings for AEs. In contrast, compounded bioidentical hormone therapies are prepared by a compounding pharmacist using a provider’s prescription. These therapies may combine multiple hormones (estradiol, estrone, estriol, DHEA, testosterone, progesterone) and use untested, unapproved combinations or formulations or are administered in nonstandard or untested routes such as subdermal implants, pellets, or troches”.4

cBHRT

What is cBHRT (Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy)?

DotS the definition of cBHRT may vary. In Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies the British Menopause Society’s (BMS) definition is:

“cBHRT: Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Precise duplicates of human hormones which are produced by specialist pharmacies and do not follow the same MHRA regulatory pathway as conventional rBHRT”.5

rBHRT

What is rBHRT (Regulated Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy)?

DotS the definition of rBHRT may vary. In Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies the BMS’s definition is:

“rBHRT: Regulated Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Precise duplicates of human hormones developed in a conventional way by the pharmaceutical industry and authorised by the regulators such as the MHRA in the UK”.6

What is MHRA?

In this context MHRA can be an abbreviation for the (United Kingdom) Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Drug Compounding

What is drug compounding?

DotS the definition of drug compounding may vary. In Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – What Is Compounding? the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) definition is:

“Drug compounding is often regarded as the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. Compounding includes the combining of two or more drugs”.7

Approved or Not

Are compounded bioidentical hormones approved by individual Country Drug Regulatory bodies for example the FDA?

In Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – Are Compounded Drugs Approved By FDA? the FDA elaborate on:

“Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. This means that FDA does not verify the safety or effectiveness of compounded drugs. Consumers and health professionals rely on the drug approval process for verification of safety, effectiveness, and quality. Compounded drugs also lack an FDA finding of manufacturing quality before such drugs are marketed”.8

Natural or Not

Are bioidentical hormones natural?

In Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? Are bioidentical or natural hormones safer and more effective than hormones used in traditional hormone therapy for menopause symptoms? the (United States) Mayo Clinic author explains:

“The term “natural” means the hormones in the product come from plant or animal sources. They’re not made in a lab. But many of these products still need to be commercially processed to become bioidentical”.9

In Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones) the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

Bioidentical Hormones“Some doctors prescribe pharmacy-compounded hormones, which are also known as ‘bioidentical’ hormones. These are mixtures of different hormones made up in compounding pharmacies. The hormones are promoted as ‘natural’ and ‘exactly like our own’, which is not true.

Pharmacy-compounded preparations can contain oestrogens, progesterone and sometimes other hormones such as testosterone. The preparations are made into capsules, creams, gels, drops (applied to the tongue), lozenges or troches (soft square-shaped tablets) that are sucked inside the cheek.

All hormone therapies are manufactured synthetically. Hormones are only natural when they are in the human body”.10

Safe or Not

Are bioidentical hormones safe?

In Bioidentical Hormones: Risks and Benefits – What Are the Risks of Bioidentical Hormones?, published 15 May 2022, the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“Many healthcare providers who use bioidentical hormones claim they are safer than traditional hormone therapy treatments. But there have been no large research studies of bioidentical hormones to show evidence of this”.11

On page 771 in The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society, published July 2022, and endorsed by multiply organizations, the NAMS explain:

“There is a dearth of safety and efficacy data with little or no high-quality pharmacokinetic data to provide evidence of safety and efficacy of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy and insufficient evidence to support overall clinical use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy for treatment of menopause symptoms. Compounded bioidentical hormone therapy presents safety concerns, such as minimal government regulation and monitoring, overdosing and underdosing, presence of impurities and lack of sterility, lack of scientific efficacy and safety data, and lack of a label outlining risks”.12

Hormone Testing or Not

Is serum, saliva or urine hormone testing necessary to prescribe bioidentical hormones?

On page 771 in The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society, published July 2022, and endorsed by multiply organizations, the NAMS note:

“Compounded bioidentical hormone therapy has been prescribed or dosed on the basis of serum, salivary, or urine hormone testing; however, the use of such testing to guide hormone therapy dosing is considered unreliable because of differences in hormone pharmacokinetics and absorption, diurnal variation, and interindividual and intraindividual variability”.13

Recommended or Not

Do menopause societies and other organizations, recommend the use of bioidentical hormones?

In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical or “Natural” Hormones, last reviewed 07 February 2023, the (United Kingdom) NHS explain:

“Bioidentical hormones are made from plant sources and are described as being similar or identical to human hormones.

Some people claim that these hormones are a “natural” and safer alternative to standard HRT medicines.

However, bioidentical hormones are not recommended because:

  • They’re not regulated and it’s not clear how safe they are – there’s no good evidence to suggest they’re safer than standard HRT
  • It’s not known how effective they are in reducing menopause symptoms
  • The balance of hormones used in bioidentical preparations is usually based on the hormone levels in your saliva, but there’s no evidence that these levels are related to your symptoms”.14

In Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies, reviewed March 2024, the BMS include:

  • “cBHRT products are not recommended by the BMS they are not evidence based for effectiveness and safety and because rBHRT options are available”.15

In Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones), last updated 19 December 2023, the JH note:

“We do not recommend the use of pharmacy-compounded menopause hormone therapy”.16

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors also note:

  • “The prescription of individually formulated and compounded hormone preparations is not recommended”.17

On page four in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “The use of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapies is not recommended given the issues related to their purity, potency and safety. The potential benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy can be achieved using conventionally licensed products available through NHS prescribing without having to resort to compounded varieties from specialist pharmacies”.18

Body Identical Hormones

Are body identical hormones available?

In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical or “Natural” Hormones the NHS note:

“Body identical hormones are different. Because they have been regulated, tested and thoroughly researched, they can be prescribed to treat menopause symptoms”.19

Government Approved

Are government approved bioidentical hormones available?

Yes. In Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom Compounded versus Government Approved published in 2020, the NAMS elaborate on:

“If you prefer to treat your bothersome menopause symptoms with hormones that are chemically identical to those you produced naturally before menopause, ask your healthcare provider to prescribe estradiol and progesterone products that are scientifically tested and government approved. Estradiol is available as an oral tablet, skin patch, topical gel, topical spray, and vaginal ring. Low doses of estradiol used in the vagina (to treat vaginal dryness and painful intercourse but not hot flashes) are available as a vaginal tablet, cream, and ring. Progesterone is available as an oral capsule (see table below for product names)”.20

In Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? Are bioidentical or natural hormones safer and more effective than hormones used in traditional hormone therapy for menopause symptoms? the author notes:

“Some FDA-approved products come from plants. Examples include Estrace, Alora and other products that contain estrogens, and Prometrium, a natural progesterone”.21

In Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones) the JH include:

“Note: in Australia, doctors can prescribe conventional menopause hormone therapies (MHT) that are identical to those hormones made in your body. These products have been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness”.22

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use bioidentical hormones?

If you choose to use bioidentical hormones it may be in your best interest to also choose to tell your health care providers you are doing this. The JH caution:

“It’s important to have a face-to-face meeting with your health practitioner to discuss the risks and benefits of different treatments for menopause”.23

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Bioidentical Hormones?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Bioidentical Hormones?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
  2. Are Bioidentical Hormones Superior To Hormone Medications?
  3. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women [British Menopause Society and Women’s Health Concern
  4. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  5. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  6. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  7. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  8. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy
  9. Bioidentical HRT
  10. Bioidentical Hormones
  11. Bioidentical Hormones
  12. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  13. Complementary/Alternative Therapies for Menopausal Women
  14. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  15. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  16. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  18. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  19. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  20. Emerging Research In the Management of Menopausal Symptoms
  21. Fact or Fiction? The Role of Regulated Body-Identical Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Women
  22. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  23. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels Test
  26. HRT: Summary
  27. Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical Hormones or “Natural” Hormones
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical or “Natural” Hormones
  30. Hot Flashes
  31. Hot Flashes
  32. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  33. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  34. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  35. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’ FDA Doesn’t Approve Compounded Drugs
  36. Joint Position Statement by the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  37. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  39. Looking At HRT In Perspective
  40. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels Test
  41. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle Changes To Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  43. Menopause
  44. Menopause
  45. Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones)
  46. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Bioidentical Hormones
  47. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  48. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  49. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  50. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  51. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  52. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  53. Menopause Treatment: Bioidentical Hormones
  54. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  55. Menopause and HRT
  56. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  57. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  58. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  59. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  60. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause – Treatment for Menopausal Symptoms [NICE Guideline]
  61. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  62. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Study on the Clinical Utility of Treating Patients With Compounded “Bioidentical” Hormone Therapy
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  66. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  67. Natural Therapies
  68. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  69. Neither Natural Nor Safe: Compounded Bioidentical Hormones Need Better Evidence
  70. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  71. Office of Dietary Supplements: Black Cohosh
  72. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  73. Safety and Efficacy of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (cBHT) In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  74. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  75. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: A Review of Safety, Effectiveness, and Use (2020)
  76. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
  77. The South African Menopause Society (SAMS) Statement on Compounded (Bioidentical) Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  78. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  79. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  80. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  81. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  82. Vaginal Dryness
  83. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  84. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  85. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  86. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  87. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  88. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  89. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  90. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  91. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 16 April 2024
  2. Menopausal Hormone Therapy. 2022:1. European Menopause and Andropause Society https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Menopausal-hormone-therapy.pdf Accessed: 16 April 2024
  3. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 16 April 2024
  4. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. July 2022:771. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 16 April 2024
  5. Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies. Reviewed: March 2024. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  6. Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies. Reviewed: March 2024. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  7. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – What Is Compounding? Content Current As of: 29 June 2022. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/pharmacycompounding/ucm339764.htm Accessed: 16 April 2024
  8. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – What Is Compounding? Content Current As of: 29 June 2022. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/pharmacycompounding/ucm339764.htm Accessed: 16 April 2024
  9. Burnett, T. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? 07 December 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/expert-answers/bioidentical-hormones/faq-20058460 Accessed: 16 April 2024
  10. Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones). Last Updated: 08 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  11. Bioidentical Hormones: Risks and Benefits – What Are the Risks of Bioidentical Hormones? 15 May 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15660-bioidentical-hormones Accessed: 16 April 2024
  12. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. July 2022:771. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 16 April 2024
  13. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. July 2022:771. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 16 April 2024
  14. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical or “Natural” Hormones. Last Reviewed: 07 February 2023. NHS https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  15. Bioidentical HRT: Summary of Key Terminologies. Reviewed: March 2024. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  16. Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones). Last Updated: 08 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  17. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy. Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 16 April 2024
  18. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 16 April 2024
  19. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms: Bioidentical or “Natural” Hormones. Last Reviewed: 07 February 2023. NHS https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  20. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom Compounded versus Government Approved. 2020. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/mn-bioidenticals.pdf Accessed: 16 April 2024
  21. Burnett, T. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? 07 December 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/expert-answers/bioidentical-hormones/faq-20058460 Accessed: 16 April 2024
  22. Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones). Last Updated: 08 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
  23. Menopause Management Options: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones (Bioidentical Hormones). Last Updated: 08 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 16 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 16 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 April 2024

/by

Women’s Health Checkups Checklist

“You will need different health checks throughout your life,
depending on your age, risk factors,
medical background and family history”.1

Umbrella
What may the Women’s Health Checkups Checklist Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Women’s Health Checkups
  • Women’s Health Checkups Checklist

Checklist

What checkups may a women’s health checkups checklist include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) these may include (in something resembling alphabetical order):

  • Blood Pressure Test
  • Blood Sugar Levels
  • Blood Test
  • Bone Density Test
  • Bowel Cancer Screening Test
  • Breast Cancer Screening Test
  • Breast Examination
  • Cervical Cancer Screening Test
  • Cholesterol Test
  • Dental Check
  • Diabetes Test
  • Heart Check
  • Kidney (Renal) Function Check
  • Mammogram
  • Medication Review
  • Pap Test
  • Pelvic Examination
  • Skin Cancer Check

Other Checkups

What other checkups may a women’s health checkups checklists include?

DotS these may include (in something resembling alphabetical order):

  • Depression
  • Eye Test
  • Hearing Test
  • Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Immunizations
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
  • Weight

Checkups

What health checkups may women require?

In Health Checks Throughout Your Life the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

Women’s Health Checkups Checklist“You will need different health checks throughout your life, depending on your age, risk factors, medical background and family history.

It’s recommended you have certain checks, regardless of your age. For example:

  • Have a skin check every year
  • Have an eye test every two years, or as needed
  • Have a hearing test if you notice any hearing loss
  • Have a dental check and clean every year (some dentists recommend every six months)”.2

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out what health checkups I require?

If you would like to find out what health checkups you require, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Women’s Health Checkups Checklist?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Women’s Health Checkups Checklist?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 10 Embarrassing Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  4. BMS TV: Headaches, Migraines and the Menopause
  5. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  6. BMS TV: Menopause: Weight Gain, Nutrition and Lifestyle
  7. BMS TV: Osteoporosis
  8. Cervical Cancer Prevention Week [22 – 28 Jan 2024, United Kingdom]
  9. Cervical Cancer Screening—An Interactive Journey
  10. Cervical Health Awareness Month [January, United States]
  11. Choosing A Doctor: Quick Tips
  12. Contraception and the Menopause
  13. Diagnosing Menopause
  14. Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
  15. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  16. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
  17. Emotional Wellness In Menopause
  18. Endometriosis Before and After Menopause
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Get A Bone Density Test
  23. Get Checked – Women: A Cancer Prevention Plan for Women
  24. Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year
  25. Getting Help for Mental Health
  26. Gyn Care 101: What To Know About Seeing A Gynecologist
  27. Health Checks
    Women’s Health
  28. Health Checks At Different Ages
  29. Health Checkup
  30. Health Screening
  31. Health Screenings for Women Age 65 and Older
  32. Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64
  33. Healthy Living By Age
  34. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 20s
  35. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 30s
  36. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 40s
  37. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 50s
  38. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 60s
  39. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 70s
  40. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 80s
  41. Help! I’m Too Tired To Exercise
  42. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  43. Hormones and Heart Health: When To Get A Heart Check
  44. How Menopause Impacts Your Health
  45. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  46. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  47. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  48. Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle Changes To Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  49. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video]
  50. Menopause
  51. Menopause
  52. Menopause Checklist Podcast
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Women’s Health Checkups Checklist
  54. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Women’s Health Checkups Checklist
  55. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  56. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  57. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
  58. Menopause and Mental Health
  59. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection
  60. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  61. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  62. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  63. Mood and the Menopause
  64. NO MORE Global Directory
  65. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  66. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  67. Perimenopause
  68. Perimenopause
  69. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  70. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  71. Read My Lips
  72. Take Charge of Your Health Care
  73. Taking Care of Your Mental Health
  74. Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
    Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
  75. Top Health Checks for Women
  76. Top Tips To Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
  77. Updates on Exercise and Lifestyle Tips for Bone Strength with Joanne Fagerstrom, PT CFP
  78. Vaccines & Immunizations
  79. Video Series-2023: Life Expectancy: Do We Have Control?
  80. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  81. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  82. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  83. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  84. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Metabolic Syndrome In Midlife Women
  85. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause
  86. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  87. Webinars: Previous – Approach To Bone Health In the Perimenopause and Postmenopause?
  88. Well-Woman Exams: Who Needs Them and What To Expect
  89. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  90. Why Are Health Checks Important?
  91. What Is A Bone Density Test (DXA Scan)
  92. What Is Menopause?
  93. Women 20-40
  94. Women 40-60
  95. Women Over 60
  96. Women Under 20
  97. Women’s Health Checkup
  98. World Gynecologic Oncology Day
  99. You Need To Know [+ Video: Bleeding After the Menopause – An Important Message You Need To Know]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Health Checks Throughout Your Life. Last Updated: 19 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 13 January 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/health-checks/health-checks-throughout-your-life Accessed: 16 April 2024
  2. Health Checks Throughout Your Life. Last Updated: 19 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 13 January 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/health-checks/health-checks-throughout-your-life Accessed: 16 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 16 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 April 2024

/by

Healthy Aging

“Whether you’re concerned about weight gain,
sex drive or chronic diseases, a big part of healthy aging is
maintaining a healthy lifestyle”.1

Umbrella
What may the Healthy Aging Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Aging
  • Healthy Aging
  • Later Life
  • Older Adults Health
  • Seniors
  • Seniors Health

Key

What may be the key to healthy aging?

In Healthy Aging: Basics – Health Aging: Beyond 50 the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Health and vitality are important at any age. After 50, though, you may think more about how to promote good health as you get older. Whether you’re concerned about weight gain, sex drive or chronic diseases, a big part of healthy aging is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eating reasonable amounts of a variety of nutritious foods and getting physical activity every day can go a long way toward staying healthy as you age”.2

Postmenopause

Is there an association between postmenopause and aging?

On page four in Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause the IMS explain their Top 10 Prevention Tips for Chronic Disease In Later Life:

“The first 10 years post menopause is an important window for intervention and is where preventative measures can be most effective:

  1. Smoking cessation
  2. Reduction of alcohol consumption
  3. Healthy AgingRegular aerobic exercise
  4. Healthy diet
  5. Control of body weight
  6. Participation in mentally stimulating activities
  7. Regular screening for cancer
  8. Consideration of MHT in women younger than age 60, not only to help manage hot flushes and other symptoms of the menopause transition but also potentially, to help prevent CHD
  9. Consideration of specific prevention therapies for other diseases if you are at higher risk because of family history or other personal risk factor
  10. Be sure to discuss your options and prevention strategies with your healthcare professional”.3

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with healthy aging?

If you would like help with healthy aging, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Healthy Aging?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Healthy Aging?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 4 Benefits of Sleep Meditation and How To Do It
  2. 5 Healthy Aging Tips for Women
  3. 5 Ways To Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
  4. 8 Findings To Help You Stay Healthy As You Age
  5. Age-Related Hearing Loss
  6. AgeUK.org.uk [United Kingdom]
  7. Aging
  8. Ageing and Health
  9. Aging & Mental Health
  10. Aging Changes In Sleep
  11. Healthy AgingAre You Up To Date on Your Preventive Care?
  12. BMS TV: Menopause – Weight Gain, Nutrition and Lifestyle
  13. Brain-Building: How To Grow Your Cognitive Reserve
  14. Build Better Bones.org [International Osteoporosis Foundation]
  15. Chronic Pain Information Page
  16. Cognitive Health: Cognitive Health and Older Adults
  17. Consumer Health: Women’s Health and Living A Longer, Healthier Life
  18. Doing These 8 Things May Greatly Lower Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  19. Eating Well After 50: 5 Ways to Make Healthy Food Choices
  20. Exercise and Physical Activity
  21. Facts About Aging and Alcohol
  22. February Is American Heart Month
  23. Fitness
  24. Fitness Basics
  25. Flavonoids Are A Flavorful Way To Boost Heart and Brain Health
  26. Get Shots To Protect Your Health (Adults Age 50 or Older)
  27. Getting Help for Mental Health
  28. Grief & Loss
  29. Health Checks for Women
    Healthy Aging
  30. HealthinAging.org
  31. Healthy Aging: Beyond 50
  32. Healthy Aging: DHEA: Evidence for Anti-Aging Claims Is Weak
  33. Healthy Aging: In-Depth – Aging: What To Expect
  34. Healthy Aging: In-Depth – Human Growth Hormone (HGH): Does It Slow Aging?
  35. Healthy Body, Healthier Brain
  36. Healthy Choices
  37. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 50s
  38. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 60s
  39. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  40. How Does Aging Affect Your Bones?
  41. How Menopause Impacts Your Health
  42. How Mindfulness Meditation Improves Mental Health
  43. How Social Isolation Can Harm Health As You Age – and How To Prevent It
  44. How To Prevent Cancer: 6 Ways To Lower Your Risk
  45. How You Feel About Aging Could Affect Health. Here’s How To Keep the Right Attitude
  46. Lack of Evidence Supporting DHEA for Improved Overall Health for Women
  47. Healthy AgingLater Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause
  48. Life’s Essential 8
  49. Live Long, Be Well: Science-Based Tips for Healthy Aging
  50. Loss of Executive Function With Aging Can Make Learning New Skills Hard
  51. Maximize Memory Function With A Nutrient-Rich Diet
  52. Mayo Clinic Expert Offers Tips on How To Keep Joints Healthy As You Age
  53. Mayo Clinic Minute: 5 Things Your Blood Can Tell You About Your Health [+ Video]
  54. Mayo Clinic Minute: Aging and the Benefits of Exercising [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  55. Mayo Clinic Minute: Can the MIND Diet Improve Brain Health? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  56. Mayo Clinic Minute: Invest Now for Better Heart Health Later [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  57. Mayo Clinic Minute: Relationship Between Food, Disease Stronger Than You May Think [+ Video]
  58. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Women Should Know About Osteoporosis Risk [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  59. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Tips for Living Younger, Longer By Preventing Disease [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  60. Memory Loss is Not a Normal Part of Aging
  61. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause
    Healthy Aging
  62. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  63. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  64. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause Wellness
  65. Menopause: How Your Body Changes and What You Can Do
  66. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  67. Millionhearts.hhs.gov
  68. Mourning the Death of A Spouse
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  70. National Institute on Aging [United States]: Health Topics A – Z
  71. Non-Drug Pain Management
  72. Nutrition for Older Adults: Why Eating Well Matters as You Age
  73. Older Adult Health
  74. Older Adults Could Lower the Risks To Their Heart and Brain 500 Steps At A Time
  75. Older Adults and Mental Health
  76. Pathtogoodbonehealth.org [Your Path To Good Bone Health, Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
  77. People In the World’s ‘Blue Zones’ Live Longer – Their Diet Could Hold the Key To Why
  78. Personal Health Issues [Topics]
  79. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  80. Protect Your Health As You Grow Older
  81. Quit Tobacco Today [+ Video: Meet Florence – She Can Help You Quit Tobacco!]
  82. Science in 5 Episode #103 – Brain Health
  83. Seven Facts To Know About Women’s Health
  84. Sleep, Food, Exercise, Stress: Why Working on One of These Can Improve the Others
  85. Stay Active As You Get Older: Quick Tips
  86. Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
  87. Successful Aging: Tips for Keeping Your Body and Mind Sharp
  88. Top 4 Tips To Prevent Chronic Diseases
  89. Top Tips To Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
  90. UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) [Multiply Languages]
  91. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  92. Video Series-2023: Life Expectancy: Do We Have Control?
  93. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  94. Video Series-2023: Menopause and Heart Disease
  95. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  96. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  97. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How To Protect Your Brain Health At Menopause and Beyond
  98. Ways To Manage Chronic Pain
  99. Webinars: Previous – Approach To Bone Health In the Perimenopause and Postmenopause?
  100. Women’s Health and Aging: Expert Q&A

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Healthy Aging: Beyond 50. 18 November 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/basics/healthy-aging-over-50/hlv-20049407 Accessed: 15 April 2024
  2. Healthy Aging: Beyond 50. 18 November 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/basics/healthy-aging-over-50/hlv-20049407 Accessed: 15 April 2024
  3. Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause: Top 10 Prevention Tips for Chronic Disease In Later Life. 2014:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-poster-english.pdf Accessed: 15 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 15 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2024

/by

Menopause Clinical Trials

“When you express interest in a trial,
a doctor or nurse is likely to tell you
something about it in person”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Clinical Trials Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Clinical Trials/Research/Studies

Research Studies

What are research studies?

DotS the definition of research studies may vary. In Get Involved In Research: What Are Research Studies? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“There are different types of research studies. Some studies might involve simple tasks like filling in a survey, taking part in a focus group or being ‘observed’ while you complete tasks over time. Other studies, often called ‘clinical trials’, are more involved and require scans, blood tests or taking medicines”.2

Clinical Trials

What are clinical trials?

DotS the definition of clinical trials may vary. In Clinical Trials the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“A clinical trial compares the effects of 1 treatment with another. It may involve patients, healthy people, or both”.3

In NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: The Basics – What Are Clinical Trials and Why Would I Want To Take Part? the (United States) National Institutes of Health(NIH) explain:

“Clinical trials can study:

  • New drugs or new combinations of drugs
  • New ways of doing surgery
  • New medical devices
  • New ways to use existing treatments
  • New ways to change behaviors to improve health
  • New ways to improve the quality of life for people with acute or chronic illnesses”.4

Goal

What is the goal of clinical trials?

In NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: The Basics – What Are Clinical Trials and Why Would I Want To Take Part Part? the NIH elaborate on:

“The goal of clinical trials is to determine if these treatment, prevention, and behavior approaches are safe and effective”.5

Participation

How do I participate in a clinical trial?

In Clinical Trials:How Do I Take Part In A Clinical Trial? the NHS explain:

“You can ask your doctor or a patient organisation if they know of any clinical trials that you may be eligible to join.

You can also search for information on a number of websites and register your interest in taking part in research”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to participate in a menopause clinical trial?

If you would like to participate in a menopause clinical trial, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Clinical Trials: What Should I Know Before I Sign Up? the NHS elaborate on:

Menopause Clinical Trials“When you express interest in a trial, a doctor or nurse is likely to tell you something about it in person.

You’ll also be given some printed information to take away.

You may come back with some questions you feel have not been answered”.7

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Clinical Trials?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Clinical Trials?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk [Be Part of Research, National Institute of Health and Care Research, United Kingdom]
  2. Clinical Trials
  3. ClinicalTrials.gov
  4. ClinicalTrails.gov: Glossary Terms
  5. ClinicalTrials.gov: Menopause
  6. ClinicalTrials.gov: Menopause Clinical Trials
  7. ClinicalTrials.gov: Perimenopause
  8. ClinicalTrials.gov: Perimenopause Clinical Trials
  9. ClinicalTrials.gov: Postmenopause
  10. ClinicalTrials.gov: Postmenopause Clinical Trials
  11. Finding Better Treatments for the Menopause
  12. Get Involved In Research
  13. Glossary of Research Terms
  14. Is A Clinical Trial Right for You?
  15. Learn About Clinical Studies
  16. Menopause Research Observational Studies
  17. Menopause Research Randomized Clinical Trials
  18. Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health Trials [MsFLASH]
  19. NIH Clinical Research Trials and You
  20. NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: Why Should I Participate In A Clinical Trial?
  21. Nihr.ac.uk [National Institute of Health and Care Research, United Kingdom]
  22. Studies Recruiting [Australia]
  23. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  24. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  25. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Metabolic Syndrome in Midlife Women
  26. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Clinical Trials: What Should I Know Before I Sign Up? Page Last Reviewed: 22 December 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-trials/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
  2. Get Involved In Research: What Are Research Studies? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/research/get-involved-in-research Accessed: 15 April 2024
  3. Clinical Trials. Page Last Reviewed: 22 December 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-trials/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
  4. NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: The Basics – What Are Clinical Trials and Why Would I Want To Take Part? This Page Last Reviewed on 03 October 2022. National Institutes of Health https://www.nih.gov/health/clinicaltrials/basics.htm Accessed: 15 April 2024
  5. NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: The Basics – What Are Clinical Trials and Why Would I Want To Take Part? This Page Last Reviewed on 03 October 2022. National Institutes of Health https://www.nih.gov/health/clinicaltrials/basics.htm Accessed: 15 April 2024
  6. Clinical Trials: How Do I Take part In A Clinical Trial? Page Last Reviewed: 22 December 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-trials/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
  7. Clinical Trials: What Should I Know Before I Sign Up? Page Last Reviewed: 22 December 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-trials/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 15 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2024

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Health Information Evaluation on the Internet

“There are websites on nearly every health topic,
and many have no rules for overseeing
the quality of the information provided”.1

Umbrella
What may the Health Information Evaluation on the Internet Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Health Information on the Internet/Web/World Wide Web
  • Internet Health Information
  • Online Health Information

Cancer Information

How may cancer information websites be evaluated?

In How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust: How To Find Trustworthy Websites the (United States) National Cancer Institute elaborate on:

“There are so many websites with cancer information that it can be hard to know which ones to trust. Credible sources of cancer and other health information should make it easy for people to learn who is posting the content. They should make clear the original source of the information, along with the expert credentials of the people who prepare or review the online material.

Ask the following questions to decide if health information online is credible:

  • Who manages this information?…
  • What are the letters at the end of the web address?…
  • Who is paying for the project, and what is their purpose?…
  • What is the original source of the information that they have posted?…
  • How is information reviewed before it gets posted?…
  • How current is the information?…
  • If they are asking for personal information, how will they use that information and how will they protect your privacy?…”.2

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out what health information on the Internet is applicable to me?

If you would like to find out what health information on the Internet is applicable to you, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In How To Find Reliable Health Information Online: Trust Yourself and Talk With Your Doctor the (United States) National Institute of Aging elaborate on:

Health Information Evaluation on the Internet“Use your good judgment when gathering health information online. There are websites on nearly every health topic, and many have no rules for overseeing the quality of the information provided. Use the information you find online as one tool to become more informed. Don’t count on any one website and check your sources. Discuss what you find with your doctor before making any changes to your health care”.3

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Health Information Evaluation on the Internet?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Health Information Evaluation on the Internet?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated
  1. Health Fraud Scams
  2. How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust
  3. How To Find Reliable Health Information Online

  1. Careful! Health News Headlines Can Be Deceiving
  2. Evaluating Health Information
  3. Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial From the National Library of Medicine
  4. For Consumers [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
  5. Health Fraud Scams
  6. How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust
  7. How To Find Reliable Health Information Online
  8. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How To Make Sense of A Scientific Journal Article

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. How To Find Reliable Health Information Online: Trust Yourself and Talk With Your Doctor. Content Reviewed 12 January 2023. National Institute of Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-find-reliable-health-information-online Accessed: 15 April 2024
  2. How To Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust: How To Find Trustworthy Websites You Visit. Updated: 29 June 2023. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/using-trusted-resources Accessed: 15 April 2024
  3. How To Find Reliable Health Information Online: Trust Yourself and Talk With Your Doctor. Content Reviewed 12 January 2023. National Institute of Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-find-reliable-health-information-online Accessed: 15 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 15 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2024

/by

Health News

“If you would like to find out what health news is applicable
to you, it may be in your best interest to choose
to talk to your health care provider about this”.Meno Martha

Umbrella
What may the Health News Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Health Headlines
  • Health News
  • Latest Health News
  • NIH News
  • News and Events

Date

What can it be important to be clear about with health news?

It can be important to be clear about the date of all information including the date of health news because this information may have been updated.

Intended Audience

What can it also be important to be clear about with the intended audience of health information?

It can also be important to be clear about the intended audience of all information including the intended audience of health information, because this information may be different for you in your country.

Health News

Website Location

Where may I find Health News on a website?

You may find Health News on a website’s home page or the home page may point you in the direction of health news.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out what health news is applicable to me?

If you would like to find out what health news is applicable to you, it my be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Health News?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Health News?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. CDC Newsroom [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]
  2. Cochrane Evidence Essentials
  3. Cochrane: Our Evidence
  4. Decision Support Tools
  5. Ebola Disease
  6. Ebola Virus Disease
  7. FDA: Press Announcements [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
  8. Global Health Achievements 2023
  9. Health Essentials’ Best Tips for Health and Wellness From 2023
  10. How Do Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing Companies Protect Their Customers’ Privacy?
  11. NIH News In Health [National Institutes of Health, United States]
  12. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: 9 Questions To Help You Make Sense of Scientific Research
  13. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: The Facts About Health News Stories
  14. National Institutes of Health: News & Events – Recent News Releases
  15. National Minority Health Month [April, United States]
  16. Science In 5: Episode #116 – Is Green, Healthy Transport Possible?
  17. World Health Day 2023 [07 April]
    Health News
  18. World Health Organization
  19. World Health Organization (WHO): Playlists
  20. World Health Summit 2023 [15-17 October]
  21. Zika Virus
  22. Zika Virus Disease

Topic Last Updated: 16 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2024
/by

Vaginismus

Vaginismus. “This can happen before or during an attempt
to insert something into the vagina. For example, before
or during sex, when inserting a tampon or sex toy…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Vaginismus Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD)
  • Vaginal Spasm
  • Vaginal Tightness
  • Vaginismus

Vaginismus

What is vaginismus?

DotS the definition of vaginismus may vary. The (United States) Hope&Her’s definition is:

“When sex or penetration is painful or uncomfortable without explanation it is frequently due to a condition known as vaginismus. Vaginismus is vaginal tightness causing discomfort, burning, pain, penetration problems or complete inability to have intercourse. It may occur at any age, even after enjoying intercourse previously, and most women suffering with it don’t even realize they have it”.2

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Vaginismus is when your pelvic floor muscles involuntarily tighten. These muscles are in the lower third of the vagina. This can happen before or during an attempt to insert something into the vagina. For example, before or during sex, when inserting a tampon or sex toy, or during a vaginal examination”.3

Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD)

What is Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD)?

DotS the definition of GPPPD may vary. In Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD) the International Society for Sexual Medicine’s (ISSM) definition is:

“Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) refers to significant pain and difficulty with penetrative vaginal sex that lasts for at least six months.

GPPPD is actually an umbrella term for two sexual pain disorders: dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and vaginismus (a situation in which the muscles in the vagina contract to the point that penetration is difficult, and sometimes impossible)”.4

Vaginismus Types

What are the two types of vaginismus?

In Vaginismus: What Is Vaginismus? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Vaginismus is when your pelvic floor muscles involuntarily tighten. There are two types of vaginismus:

  • Primary — where vaginal penetration has never been achieved
  • Secondary — where vaginal penetration was possible but is no longer possible for different reasons”.5

Symptoms

What are common vaginismus symptoms?

In Symptoms: Common Vaginismus Symptoms Hope&Her include:

Vaginismus

  • “Burning or stinging with tightness during sex
  • Difficult or impossible penetration, entry pain, uncomfortable insertion of penis
  • Unconsummated marriage
  • Ongoing sexual discomfort or pain following childbirth, yeast/urinary infections, STDs, hysterectomy, cancer, surgeries, rape, menopause, or other pelvic issues
  • Ongoing sexual pain of unknown origin, with no apparent cause
  • Difficulty inserting tampons or undergoing pelvic/gynecological exams
  • Spasms in other body muscle groups (legs, lower back, etc.) and/or halted breathing during attempts at intercourse
  • Avoidance of sex due to pain and/or failure”.6

Causes

What may cause vaginismus?

In Vaginismus: Causes, last updated 07 December 2023, the JH explain:

“Vaginismus can occur for many reasons. It may be associated with physical factors, such as:

  • Medical conditions (e.g. recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), thrush, persistent pain syndromes, endometriosis)
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and ongoing pain after an STI has been treated
  • Vulval skin conditions (e.g. lichen sclerosis)
  • Vulval pain, including changes to the vulval skin and lining of the vagina, which happens at menopause.

Psychological factors may play a role. For example, fear due to trauma during childbirth or surgery, or negative messages about sex.

Fear may also be due to previous experience of:

  • Painful vaginal examinations
  • Painful sex
  • Sexual assault or rape.

Other psychological factors might include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Relationship problems
  • Feeling self-conscious
  • Fear of intimacy
  • Fear of pregnancy
  • Lack of arousal”.7

Vaginal Atrophy

Is there an association between vaginal atrophy and vaginismus?

In Vaginal Atrophy: When Sex Isn’t What It Used To Be… Atrophy Often Leads To Vaginismus Hope&Her note:

“When vaginal atrophy goes untreated and a woman continues to have intercourse with pain, the vaginal muscles tend to brace themselves and protect the body by tightening up. Over time, the vaginal tightening may become an automatic reaction that persists (vaginismus), even after the original atrophy condition is resolved.

Fortunately, both conditions are treatable. In fact, vaginal atrophy and vaginismus may need to be addressed simultaneously, as it is difficult to resolve one without managing the other”.8

Treatment

How is vaginismus treated?

In What Is Vaginismus? the ISSM elaborate on:

“Fortunately, vaginismus can be treated, and many women go on to have fully satisfying sexual relationships.

Treatment often includes the following:

  • Sex therapy. Through counseling, women can better understand their own bodies, their sexual response cycle, and the mechanics of vaginismus…
  • Pelvic floor physical therapy. In this type of therapy, women learn to control their pelvic floor muscles…
  • Vaginal dilators. Women work with sets of tube-shaped dilators, which are inserted into the vagina. Dilators help…”.9

Treatment Guide

Is a treatment guide available?

Your Country may have a treatment guide available similar to Hope&Her’s in Vaginismus Treatment.

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have vaginismus?

If you think you have vaginismus, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Vaginismus: What Is Vaginismus? the (United Kingdom] NHS suggest:

“See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:

  • You find it hard inserting a tampon into your vagina
  • You struggle with vaginal penetration during sex
  • You feel burning or stinging pain during sex

These are common signs of vaginismus”.10

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

In Vaginismus: What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor? A Note From Cleveland Clinic the (United States] Cleveland Clinic also encourage us to seek help:

“If you experience muscle spasms or pain that makes intercourse uncomfortable or impossible, don’t be embarrassed to talk to your healthcare provider. You don’t have to keep suffering. Many problems, including vaginismus, can cause painful intercourse. Almost all of these problems are treatable. A lot of people see significant improvements in their sex lives and their mental health after vaginismus treatments”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to the Vaginismus?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Vaginismus?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society: Patient Information
  2. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
  3. Caredownthere.com.au
  4. Causes
  5. Diagnosis
  6. FAQ
  7. Hope&Her
  8. ‘I wanted to have sex but it was physically impossible’: Life With Severe Vaginismus
  9. Information for Partners
  10. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Public
  11. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
  12. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease: Patient Handouts
  13. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  14. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  15. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  16. Medical Advice: Vulval Pain
  17. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  18. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  19. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  20. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  21. Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
  22. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  23. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  24. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  25. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  26. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  27. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
  28. VaginismusPatty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  29. Perimenopause
  30. Perimenopause
  31. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  32. Pudendal Neuralgia
  33. Pudendal Neuralgia
  34. Sex & Sexual Health
  35. Sexual Healthcare In Your-20s and Beyond
  36. Sexual Problems and Menopause
  37. Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
  38. Symptoms
  39. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  40. Treatment
  41. Vagina: What’s Typical, What’s Not
  42. Vaginal Atrophy
  43. Vaginal Dryness
  44. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  45. Vaginal Pain
  46. Vaginal and Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Vaginismus
  47. Vaginismus
  48. Vaginismus
  49. Vaginismus
  50. Vaginismus
  51. Vaginismus
  52. Vaginismus, Dyspareunia and Abuse History: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  53. Vaginismus: What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?
  54. Vaginismus: When Should I Call My Doctor?
  55. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  56. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  57. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  58. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Vulvo Vaginal Atrophy
  59. Vulva Irritation
  60. Vulva [Image]
  61. Vulva and Vagina
  62. Vulval and Vaginal Conditions
  63. Vulva, Vagina, Ovaries & Uterus
  64. Vulvodynia & Vestibulodynia
  65. Vulvodynia [Multiply Languages]
  66. Vulvovaginal Health
  67. Vulvovaginal Pain
  68. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  69. What Is Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD)?
  70. What’s Normal: What Is Normal Vulval & Vaginal Anatomy?
  71. When Sex Hurts – Podcast [Vaginismus and Vulvodynia]
  72. When Sex Is Painful
  73. Your Sexual Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Vaginismus. Last Updated: 07 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulval-vaginal-conditions/vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  2. Vaginismus. Hope&Her https://hopeandher.com/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
  3. Vaginismus. Last Updated: 07 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulval-vaginal-conditions/vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  4. Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD). International Society for Sexual Medicine https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-genito-pelvic-pain-penetration-disorder-gpppd Accessed: 15 April 2024
  5. Vaginismus: What Is Vaginismus? Last Updated: 07 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulval-vaginal-conditions/vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  6. Symptoms: Common Vaginismus Symptoms. Hope&Her https://hopeandher.com/pages/vaginismus-symptoms Accessed: 15 April 2024
  7. Vaginismus: Cause. Last Updated: 07 December 2023 | Last Reviewed: 26 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/vulval-vaginal-conditions/vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  8. Vaginal Atrophy: When Sex Isn’t What It Used To Be… Atrophy Often Leads To Vaginismus. Hope&Her https://hopeandher.com/pages/age-atrophy-vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  9. What Is Vaginismus? International Society for Sexual Medicine https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
  10. Vaginismus: What Is Vaginismus? Page Last Reviewed: 10 February 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginismus/ Accessed: 15 April 2024
  11. Vaginismus: What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor? A Note From Cleveland Clinic. Last Reviewed 28 October 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15723-vaginismus Accessed: 15 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 15 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 April 2024

/by

Menopause Irritability

“You may notice that menopause causes your
mood to change. This is due to changing hormone levels.
You might experience: …”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Irritability Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Irritability
  • Menopause Mood Changes

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and irritability?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“You may notice that menopause causes your mood to change. This is due to changing hormone levels. You might experience:

  • Irritability
  • Increased anger
  • Low mood
  • Depression and anxiety”.2

On page three in Menopause FAQs: What About Mood Swings, Memory Loss And Depression? with the permission of the Canadian Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society share:

“Many women often experience irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, poor concentration and mood swings as they go through menopause. But, are all of these things caused by menopause?

Mood swings vs. depression: Mood swings related to menopause and depression are two separate things. Menopause does not cause depression nor are there higher rates of depression among menopausal women. However, sleep disorders and hot flushes (flashes) are common, and these can contribute to feeling irritable and moody”.3

Stress

Is there an association between stress and irritability?

In Menopause and Mood: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) note:

“Feeling stress is common during middle age as personal and environmental changes take place. This can have a strong effect on mood in some women. Life circumstances that can impact mental health include:

  • Caring for children
  • Caring for elderly parents
  • Career changes
  • Relationship changes
  • Ageing
  • Body changes
  • Illness”.4

Management

Menopause IrritabilityHow may I manage my irritability?

In Menopause and Mood: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS explain:

“The menopause transition is an ideal time to take stock of all aspects of your health and consider lifestyle and other changes so that you can live the healthiest possible lifestyle.

Given the complex and overlapping nature of the physical and mental health changes during the menopause transition, speaking with your doctor is the best place to start”.5

Health Care Provider

What if my irritability makes me more irritable?

If your irritability makes you more irritable, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Menopause and Mood: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS elaborate on:


Menopause Irritability“Psychological therapies and social supports can be beneficial to women with mental health symptoms.

Women should have an individualised assessment with their doctor in order to discuss the most appropriate treatment pathway. Options may include lifestyle changes, psychological therapies and medications such as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or antidepressants”.6

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Irritability?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Irritability?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 4 Benefits of Sleep Meditation and How To Do It
  2. 5 Steps To Mental Wellbeing
  3. Alcohol and Menopause: A Balancing Act
  4. Anxiety
  5. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  6. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  7. BMS TV: Sleep
  8. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  9. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  10. Dr Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  11. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  12. Emotional Wellness In Menopause
  13. Exercise: Walking for Health
  14. Feeling Irritable? Why You’re Irritated and What To Do About It
  15. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  16. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  17. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  18. Help! I’m Too Tired To Exercise
  19. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  20. How Mindfulness Meditation Improves Mental Health
  21. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E17: Are Anxiety & Depression Destroying Your Life?
  22. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  23. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
  24. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  25. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  26. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  27. Managing Menopause
  28. Managing Your Symptoms
  29. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
  30. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  31. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  32. Menopause
  33. Menopause
  34. Menopause & Herbs
  35. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Irritability
  36. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Relaxation Techniques
  37. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Irritability
  38. Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
  39. Menopause Mindfulness: Living Your Best Work-Life Through the Menopause Transition
  40. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  41. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  42. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
  43. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  44. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  45. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  46. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  47. Menopause and Mental Health
  48. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  49. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  50. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  51. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  52. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  53. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  54. Mental Health & Emotions: Managing Psychological Symptoms
  55. Mental Health Myths and Facts
  56. Mental Health and Wellbeing
  57. Mental Health: Mental Health Self Help Guides
  58. MentalHealth.gov [National Institute of Mental Health, United States]
  59. Mentalhealth.org.uk [Mental Health Foundation, United Kingdom]
  60. Mindfulness
  61. Mood and the Menopause
  62. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: St. John’s Wort
  66. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  67. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  68. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  69. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  70. Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B6
  71. Perimenopause
  72. Perimenopause
  73. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  74. Self-Help Tool: Menopause and Mental Wellbeing
  75. Sleep Problems and Menopause: What Can I Do?
  76. Sleep, Food, Exercise, Stress: Why Working on One of These Can Improve the Others
  77. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health
  78. The Mental Health Issues That Can Accompany Menopause Often Go Unaddressed
  79. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  80. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  81. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  82. Top 7 Benefits of Vitamin B6
  83. Types of Talking Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  84. Types of Therapist: How To Find & Choose A Therapist – What Is the Difference Between A Psychologist, Psychiatrist & Counsellor?
  85. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  86. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  87. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  88. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  89. Video Series-2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  90. Video Series-2023: Racial and Ethnic Differences In the Menopause Experience
  91. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  92. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  93. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  94. Webinar: Perimenopause
  95. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  96. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  97. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 14 April 2024
  2. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 14 April 2024
  3. Menopause FAQs: What About Mood Swings, Memory Loss And Depression? Page: 2. Canadian Menopause Society, and the International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMS-English-Factsheet-8-FAQ.pdf Accessed: 14 April 2024
  4. Menopause and Mood: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 14 April 2024
  5. Menopause and Mood: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 14 April 2024
  6. Menopause and Mood: Treatment Options for Mental Health Symptoms. Content Updated February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 14 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 14 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 April 2024

/by

Hot Flushes

“More than 57% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hot Flushes Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cold Flashes
  • Hot Flash
  • Hot Flashes
  • Hot Flush (HF)
  • Hot Flushes
  • Menopausal/Menopause Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
  • Menopause-Related Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
  • Vasomotor Symptoms
  • “Power Surges”

Vasomotor Symptoms

What are vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?

DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.2

Hot Flush

What is a hot flush?

DotS the definition of a hot flush may vary. In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“More than 57% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face. They can also spread over your whole body. The flushes may feel like a burning, overheating sensation. You may also have reddening of the skin and different degrees of sweating. When a flush happens at night, it’s called a night sweat”.3

Hot Flash

What is a hot flash?

DotS the definition of a hot flash may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

Hot Flushes“A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. Your skin might redden, as if you’re blushing. A hot flash can also cause sweating. If you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward”.4

Night Sweats

What are night sweats?

DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night, and they may disrupt your sleep”.5

Cause

What is the cause of hot flushes?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the JH explain:

“We don’t know exactly what causes hot flushes. Lower oestrogen levels may affect parts of the brain that regulate your body temperature. Many studies suggest that stress and anxiety can influence the frequency and intensity of hot flushes. Some foods or alcohol can also have an impact”.6

Other Causes

Apart from menopause, what are other causes of hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic note:

“Rarely, hot flashes and nights sweats are caused by something other than menopause. Other potential causes include medication side effects, problems with your thyroid, certain cancers and side effects of cancer treatment”.7

Common or Not

How common are hot flushes?

In the United States, according to the NAMS:

“Hot flashes are reported by as many as 75% of perimenopausal women in the United States”.8

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence, published online 30 October 2023, the authors note:

“Findings from large Australian epidemiology studies have revealed that 74% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have VMS, 28% of postmenopausal women aged <55 years have moderate to severely bothersome VMS, and 42% and 33% of women aged 60–64 years and 65–79 years, respectively, still have VMS”.9

Impact

What impact may hot flushes have?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Hot flashes may impact your daily activities and quality of life. Nighttime hot flashes (night sweats) can wake you from sleep and, over time, can cause long-term sleep disruptions”.10

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“VMS severely impact well-being, the effect being similar to having insecure housing”.11

Depression

Is there an association between hot flushes and depressive symptoms?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence the authors note:

“Women with moderate to severe VMS are up to three-fold more likely to have moderate–severe depressive symptoms than other women”.12

Heart Disease and Bone Loss

Is there an association between hot flushes, risk of heart disease and greater bone loss?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications according to the Mayo Clinic:

“Research suggests that women who have hot flashes may have an increased risk of heart disease and greater bone loss than women who do not have hot flashes”.13

Lifestyle Changes

What are some lifestyle changes to improve hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes the (United States) National Institute on Aging elaborate on:

  • “Dress in layers that can be removed at the start of a hot flash
  • Carry a portable fan to use when a hot flash strikes
  • Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine. These can make menopausal symptoms worse
  • If you smoke, try to quit, not only for hot flashes, but for your overall health
  • Try to maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight or obese may experience more frequent and severe hot flashes
  • Explore mind-body practices. Some early-stage research has shown that hypnotherapy and mindfulness meditation could help with management of hot flashes”.14

Treatment Options

What are the two categories of treatment options for hot flushes?

In Hot Flashes: How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“In general, there are two categories of treatment options for hot flashes: prescription medications and over-the-counter (non-prescription) therapies. Some prescription medications are used as off-label treatments to help reduce hot flashes. Using a product “off label” means that it’s not FDA-approved for the treatment of hot flashes, but is often used because it can be safe and effective as a treatment option”.15

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy one of the most effective treatment for hot flushes?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use which “simplifies the data in the new NAMS Position Statement for women trying to make decisions about using hormone therapy” the NAMS note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats”.16

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“The most effective way to relieve the discomfort of hot flashes is to take estrogen, but taking this hormone carries risks. If estrogen is appropriate for you and you start it within 10 years of your last menstrual period or before age 60, the benefits can be greater than the risks.

Medications such as antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs also might help reduce hot flashes, although they’re less effective than hormones”.17

Alternative Therapies

Do alternative therapies improve hot flushes?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

“Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HRT”.18

Stop

When do hot flushes stop?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms and Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic NAMS explain:

“On average, hot flash symptoms persist for more than seven years. Some women have them for more than 10 years”.19

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my hot flushes?

If you would like help with your hot flushes, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Discuss the pros and cons of various treatments with your doctor. If hot flashes don’t interfere with your life, you probably don’t need treatment. Hot flashes subside gradually for most women, even without treatment, but it can take several years for them to stop”.20

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hot Flushes?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hot Flushes?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] [October 2023]
  3. An Ob-Gyn’s Top Tips for Managing Hot Flashes
  4. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  5. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  6. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  7. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  8. Can Hot Flashes Cause Nausea?
  9. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Cold Flashes During Menopause: Is It Normal?
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  12. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  13. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  14. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  15. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  16. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  17. Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
  18. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  19. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  20. Heart Palpitations
  21. Heart Palpitations
  22. Hot Flashes
  23. Hot Flashes
  24. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  25. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  26. How Fezolinetant Changes Management of Hot Flashes [Video]
  27. How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
  28. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  29. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  30. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  31. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  32. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  33. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  34. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Alcohol and Menopause Can Be A Dangerous Mix [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  39. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hot Flushes
  43. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Hot Flushes
  44. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  45. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  46. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  47. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  48. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  50. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  51. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  52. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  53. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  54. Menopause Wellness Hub
  55. Menopause and HRT [Includes Breast Cancer Risk]
  56. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  57. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  58. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  59. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  60. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  68. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  69. Natural Therapies
  70. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  71. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  72. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  73. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  74. Perimenopause
  75. Perimenopause
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  77. Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
  78. Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
  79. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
  80. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  81. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  82. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  83. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  84. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  85. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  86. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  87. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  88. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  89. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  90. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopausal Assessment and Management
  92. Webinars: Previous – Management of Menopause In Patients With Obesity
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  95. What Are Menopause Cold Flashes?
  96. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  97. What Does A Hot Flash Feel Like?
  98. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  99. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  100. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  2. Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 14 April 2024
  3. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  4. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  5. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  6. Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 28 March 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 14 April 2024
  7. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  8. Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/hot-flashes Accessed: 14 April 2024
  9. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  10. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  11. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Basic Physiology – Symptoms of the Menopause: Symptom Prevalence. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  12. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  13. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  14. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes. Content Reviewed: 30 September 2021. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-do Accessed: 14 April 2024
  15. Hot Flashes: How Do I Treat A Hot Flash? 21 March 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes Accessed: 14 April 2024
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 14 April 2024
  17. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  18. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  19. Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 14 April 2024
  20. Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 14 April 2024
Topic Last Updated: 14 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 April 2024

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