How to Choose Therapy for Menopause

Menopause is not a disease, so it doesn't require treatment. However, women can seek therapy for menopause to reduce their symptoms and delay changes brought on by the decline in estrogen and progesterone production.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Books On Menopause

1. Read as much as you can about menopause therapies. The more you know, the easier it'll be to decide if you want therapy and what type best meets your needs.
2. Talk to women who have already gone through menopause. Learn from their experiences.
3. Find out if they took hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with good results, had special herbs or teas that helped and which symptoms led them to seek treatment?
4. Ask your mother about her experience. A daughter's reproductive history often mimics her mother's.
5. Consider therapy if she had terrible hot flashes and mood swings. If she slid through menopause without noticing it, you may want to delay seeking therapy.
6. Seek the medical advice of an experienced and empathetic gynecologist. Look for one who is board-certified and has many perimenopausal and menopausal patients.
7. Understand that hormone replacement therapy can control your symptoms (hot flashes, moodiness, short-term memory loss,) protect against heart disease and osteoporosis, decrease vaginal dryness and keep skin looking younger.
8. Keep in mind there can be a downside: HRT increases your risk of some types of cancers.
9. Know that therapies other than HRT can reduce your symptoms but won't provide the cardiovascular and bone density benefits.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, it's your choice whether or not to seek therapy. Just because all your sisters used HRT and your gynecologist strongly recommends it doesn't mean you should feel obligated to follow anyone's advice. It's a personal decision that only you and your body can make.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.