Menopause: HRT, ERT or Alternative Medicine?

Menopause happens to every woman. There is no way to avoid it, but there are ways to cope with the changes. Menopause is a transition in a woman's life when the ovaries stop producing eggs. This may happen over night or could take years before the process is completed. This is the time when the body stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Symptoms and the onset of menopause occur differently in every woman so it is difficult to say what each woman will experience and when. The normal age at which a woman begins menopause is anywhere from 40 to 55 depending on the woman. A study has been done and it has shown that woman who are malnourished tend to start menopause at an earlier age then women who are well-nourished. Another factor in when menopause will begin is when the woman began having menstruation. Women who start menstruation earlier tend to have menopause occur later in life.

The symptoms of menopause also vary from woman to woman. The most common symptoms include hot flashes, missed period, sleep disruption, mood swings (changing mood), vaginal dryness, hot flashes and a low sex drive. These changes are caused by a change in your estrogen levels.

To combat symptoms of menopause, women have many options. There are two types of hormone therapy the first being hormone therapy replacement (HRT) is a combination of progesterone and estrogen and the second, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). HRT is an excellent way to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, but it has its downfalls. Studies have shown that HRT does slightly increase your chances of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. If you are at high-risk for any of these consult your health care provider before using HRT.

With ERT, there are three different types of replacement therapy. The first method is by using the hormone estrogen by itself as a cream, vaginal or oral pill. The second method is similar to the way you use the birth control pill. You take estrogen pills or use the patch daily, but you also use progesterone for a set amount of days out of the month. The final one is continuous therapy, which is estrogen plus the use of progesterone pills taken a few times a day.

ERT has risk factors and side effects including premenstrual symptoms (PMS) such as bloating and tender breasts. There also is an increased risk for breast cancer, coronary artery disease, blood clots, gallstones, uterine fibroids and stroke. There is a possibility of weight gain while on treatment.

If a woman decides against hormone therapy, there are a number of different alternative practices she can use. Some alternative methods include starting an exercise routine, staying away from beverages and foods containing caffeine, avoiding alcohol and staying clear of spicy foods, all of which will help decrease hot flashes. An alternative to hormone therapy for hot flashes would be to use Paxil or Prozac. They have been known to help also. For vaginal dryness there are several over the counter lubricants that can be used.

There are many different ways to help ease the transition of menopause. The best option is to speak with your health care provider and give them a family history of any disease or illness. This will help you make an educated decision on what treatment is best suited for you.