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T H R O U G H
MENOPAUSE
75
Percent of women who
will have hot "ashes
1to10
Number of minutes that
most hot "ashes last
lifeand health
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11
Hormone
therapy: To use
or not to use?
That’s a question only you and your health-
care provider can answer after a thorough
discussion of its risks and bene#ts.
The bene#ts.
A drop in hormone levels
is responsible for the bulk of menopause’s
unpleasant symptoms. Replacing those
hormones—in pill, patch or an alternative
form—can ease some of those symptoms.
Hormone therapy can reduce hot
+ashes, relieve vaginal dryness and lessen
night sweats. It also may help lower your
risk for osteoporosis (weak, thin bones).
The risks.
Estrogen and progesterone
(progestin) are two of the most common
components in hormone therapy. Using
estrogen alone increases a woman’s risk
for uterine cancer. Adding progestin to
the mix lowers that risk, according to the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Hormone therapy also may raise some
women’s risk for:
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Breast cancer.
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Heart
disease.
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Stroke.
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Blood clots.
The bottom line.
Symptoms like hot
+ashes and night sweats usually disap-
pear over time. Until they do, however,
they can be severe and disruptive.
Under those circumstances, hormone
therapy can be a possible solution. You’ll
want to work with your provider to #nd
the lowest e*ective dose, however, and
use it for a limited time.
Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Source: National Institute on Aging
When dealing with perimenopausal
symptoms, your healthcare provider
may recommend a variety of ways
to $nd relief. For example, to reduce
hot &ashes, he or she may suggest:
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Avoiding possible triggers, like
spicy foods, alcohol and ca%eine.
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Dressing in layers that you can
remove quickly.
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Drinking a cold glass of water at
the $rst sign of a &ash.
To ease vaginal dryness, you may
be advised to use:
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A water-based lubricant, such as
K-Y Jelly, during sex.
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A vaginal moisturizer, like Replens.
Hormone therapy may relieve
moderate to severe menopausal
symptoms, but ask your provider
about the risks and bene$ts.
Menopause and beyond
When you’ve gone a full year
without a period, you are o*-
cially past menopause and are in
postmenopause.
You can no longer get pregnant,
and your body’s levels of hormones—
especially estrogen—have dropped.
"at means you lose estrogen’s
protection against two major health
risks: bone loss (osteoporosis) and
cardiovascular disease. "ankfully,
there are steps you can take to pro-
tect your bone and heart health:
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Talk to your provider.
Having
your blood pressure, cholesterol
levels and body mass index checked
and identifying your personal risks
for osteoporosis and heart disease
are sound ways to help safeguard
your health.
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Stay physically active.
Regular
activity is not only good for your
heart and bone health, it also im-
proves sleep, eases stress and helps
control weight. Aim for a minimum
of 2½ hours of moderate activity
every week.
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Eat a healthy diet.
Your goal
should be to get the most nutrients
for the fewest calories. To help
reach your goal, focus on fruits,
vegetables and whole grains.
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Don’t smoke.
Smoking dramati-
cally increases your risk for both heart
disease and osteoporosis. For help
quitting, visit
smokefree.gov
.
Additional sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecol-
gists: North American Menopause Society