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Menopause Relief Aids

Menopause is a fact of life. Hot flashes and mood swings are just two of the symptoms that can make regular life irregular for thousands of women. With the advancement of modern medicine, menopause symptoms don't have to be a nightmare. Relief for symptoms ranges from exercise to hormone therapy. While these symptoms cannot be avoided, they can be treated, usually with positive results.

  1. The Facts

    • Menopause is a series of stages that are directly related to the female reproductive cycle. These stages are perimenopause (when symptoms of menopause begin), menopause (the end of reproductive years) and postmenopause (12 months after the last menstrual cycle), according to The National Women's Health Information Center. The hormonal changes during these stages can cause discomfort and create a sense of imbalance in everyday life for many women.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of menopause include changes in the menstrual cycle, hot flashes (night sweats), trouble sleeping, fatigue, dry skin, mood swings, physical changes (thickening waist, aching joints), muscle loss and changes in libido.

    Home Remedies

    • There are several lifestyle methods to relieve menopause symptoms. To relieve hot flashes, the Mayo Clinic recommends regular exercise, dressing in layers, and identifying and avoiding triggers. Some triggers include spicy foods, alcohol and hot or warm beverages. Optimizing sleep is another suggestion from the Mayo Clinic. Optimizing sleep includes avoiding caffeine before bedtime, exercising during the day to promote good sleep, and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga. Eating well is also suggested because a healthy diet provides necessary nutrients. Strengthening the pelvic floor with Kegel exercises can help some cases of incontinence, and vaginal dryness can be relieved with over-the-counter lubricants.

    Medical Treatments

    • To ease some of the conditions associated with menopause, the Mayo Clinic notes that hormone therapy (estrogen therapy) is "by far, the most effective treatment option for relieving menopausal hot flashes." Antidepressants are also effective in reducing hot flashes. Other medications that are not hormonal, such as Boniva or Fosamax, might be prescribed to treat or prevent osteoporosis. Selective estrogen receptor modulators are also prescribed to increase bone density.

    Warnings

    • Some supplements should be taken with extreme caution. Consult a physician before considering any herbal remedies. Just because these supplements may come from plants and seem to be natural, the "truth is we don't know enough about these supplements to know whether they are indeed safe and if they will really ease menopausal symptoms," according to the National Institutes of Health. Some herbs that promise relief can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects, including liver damage.

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