Menopause Treatment

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Treatment Umbrella include?

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

  • Menopause Medications/Medicines/Therapies/Treatments
  • Menopause Symptom Medications/Medicines/Therapies/Treatments
  • Menopause Therapy Choices/Options
  • Menopause Treatment Choices/Options

Symptoms

How common are menopause symptoms?

On page one 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 menopause transition can have a significant impact on many women, with more than 75% experiencing menopausal symptoms and a quarter describing their symptoms as severe. A third experience long-term symptoms, which may last as much as 7 years or longer”.2

Different Differences

Is menopause treatment one-size-fits-all?

In Menopause Management Options the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Many women cope with mild menopausal symptoms and don’t need to take any medication or use therapies. Some women manage their symptoms with a healthy lifestyle, such as eating well and doing regular exercise. Other women with symptoms that affect their quality of life might choose to use medicines and therapies”.3

The JH also note:

Menopause Treatment“It’s important to seek accurate and reliable information before you start any treatment”.4

Treatments

What are some menopause treatments?

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Menopause requires no medical treatment. Instead, treatments focus on relieving your signs and symptoms and preventing or managing chronic conditions that may occur with aging. Treatments may include:

  • Hormone Therapy…
  • Vaginal Estrogen…
  • Low-Dose Antidepressants…
  • Gabapentin (Gralise, Horziant, Neurontin)…
  • Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)…
  • Medications to prevent or treat osteoporosis…”.5

Hormone Therapy

How effective is hormone therapy (HT) for the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits the NAMS explain:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life. Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats is the principal reason women use HT. Hormone therapy also treats vaginal dryness and painful sex associated with menopause. Hormone therapy keeps your bones strong by preserving bone density and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures. If preserving bone density is your only concern, and you do not have bothersome hot flashes, other treatments may be recommended instead of HT”.6

Hormone Therapy Risks

What are the potential risks associated with HT?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks the NAMS elaborate on:

“As with all medications, HT is associated with some potential risks. For healthy women with bothersome hot flashes aged younger than 60 years or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of HT generally outweigh the risks. Hormone therapy might slightly increase your risk of stroke or blood clots in the legs or lungs (especially if taken in pill form). If started in women aged older than 65 years, HT might increase the risk of dementia. If you have a uterus and take estrogen with progestogen, there is no increased risk of cancer of the uterus. Hormone therapy (combined estrogen and progestogen) might slightly increase your risk of breast cancer if used for more than 4 to 5 years. Using estrogen alone (for women without a uterus) does not increase breast cancer risk at 7 years but may increase risk if used for a longer time”.7

Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Is the use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy recommended for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

On page two in The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement, published 07 July 2022, the NAMS note:

  • “Compounded bioidentical hormone therapy presents safety concerns, such as minimal government regulation and monitoring, overdosing or underdosing, presence of impurities or lack of sterility, lack of scientific efficacy and safety data, and lack of a label outlining risks”.8

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 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”.9

Healthy Lifestyle

Can a healthy lifestyle improve menopause symptoms?

On page one 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 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms”.10

Complementary and Integrative Health

Can complementary and integrative health improve some menopause symptoms?

On page one 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 10 June 2022, 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”.11

In Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies) the JH explain:

“The use of herbs in menopause is based on longstanding traditional use, some of which is supported by scientific evidence (e.g. a recent study into the effectiveness of red clover). But more research is needed regarding the effectiveness and safety of some herbal therapies for the management of menopausal symptoms”.12

Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies) – Over-the-Counter Products the JH also note:

“The best way to seek guidance about these herbal remedies is to consult a health practitioner trained in herbal medicine use, such as a herbalist, naturopath or Chinese medicine practitioner”.13

Treatment Review

How often should menopause treatments be reviewed?

In the NICE Guideline Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care, the NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] elaborate on:

“You may be having different treatments or therapies to help your menopausal symptoms. To see whether treatment is helping you should be offered review appointments every 3 months to start with. If you are not having any problems you should then have appointments once a year. You should be offered an earlier review if you need it, for example if treatment no longer seems to be working or is causing side effects.

It is also important to keep going to all your routine health screening appointments (for example, breast and cervical screening)”.14

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with menopause treatments?

If you would like help with menopause treatments, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The Mayo Clinic explain:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.15

The JH explain:

“Depending on your symptoms, you can also see a specialist. For example, a gynaecologist, psychologist, endocrinologist or dietitian”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Treatment?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Treatment?

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. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  3. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  4. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  5. CBD & Other Cannabinoids: Sex and Gender Differences In Use and Responses
  6. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  7. Complementary/Alternative Therapies for Menopausal Women
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  9. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  10. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Overview
  11. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  12. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  13. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  14. HRT & Menopause Extra
  15. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  16. HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
  17. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  18. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  19. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) With Dr Nicky Peel & Prof. David Armstrong
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
  22. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  23. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  24. Hot Flashes
  25. Hot Flashes
  26. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  27. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  28. Index To Drug-Specific Information [United States]
  29. 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
  30. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  31. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  32. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  33. Looking After Yourself
  34. Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
  35. Managing Your Symptoms
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  38. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  39. Menopause Management Options
  40. Menopausal Symptoms: Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause
  43. Menopause
  44. Menopause
  45. Menopause
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause & Herbs
  48. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they?
  49. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. What is hormone therapy?
  50. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are there treatments for hot flashes?
  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Treatment
  52. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  53. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  54. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  55. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  56. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
  57. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  58. Menopause Management Options
  59. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  60. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  61. Menopause Treatment
  62. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  63. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  64. Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society
  65. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment
  66. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  67. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  73. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  74. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  75. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  76. Perimenopause
  77. Perimenopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  78. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  79. Sex and Menopause: Treatment for Symptoms
  80. Study IDs Non-Hormonal Options for Menopause Symptoms
  81. Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
  82. Testosterone and the Menopause
  83. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
  84. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  85. Types of Hormone Therapy
  86. Understanding Menopause – Booklet
  87. Understanding Premature & Early Menopause – Booklet
  88. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  89. Vaginal Dryness
  90. Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  91. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  92. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  93. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How To Protect Your Brain Health At Menopause and Beyond
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: The Menopause Blues
  96. Webinars: Previous – Osteoporosis for Midlife Women and Beyond
  97. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  98. What Is Menopause? How Can Symptoms Be Handled?
  99. 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. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  2. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  3. Menopause Management Options. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 06 March 2023
  4. Menopause Management Options. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 06 March 2023
  5. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 06 March 2023
  7. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 06 March 2023
  8. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement. 07 July 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/press-release/ht-position-statement-release.pdf Accessed: 06 March 2023
  9. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  10. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  11. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  12. Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies). Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 06 March 2023
  13. Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies) – Over-the-Counter Products. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 06 March 2023
  14. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care. NICE Guidelines [NG23]. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG23/ifp/chapter/Reviewing-your-care Accessed: 06 March 2023
  15. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 06 March 2023
  16. Menopause: What Can You Do To Help With Menopause? Updated June 2022:2. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/contents/documents/Resources/Fact_sheets/Menopause.pdf Accessed: 06 March 2023
Topic Last Updated: 14 April 2023  – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 March 2023

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