It might be a relief not to have a monthly period anymore, but that doesnt mean youre rolling out the red carpet to welcome the start of menopause.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy
This stage in life, defined as 12 consecutive months without a period, can bring a slew of undesirable symptoms of its own. From hot flashes to hair loss and vaginal dryness to difficulty sleeping, menopause (and the lead-up to it, called perimenopause) may present a mixed bag of new issues.
The internet is full of rumored remedies for menopause. How do you decide whats right for you? Menopause specialist Pelin Batur, MD, weighs in on which ones to try, what to skip and when to see a healthcare provider.
When it comes to menopause, the word remedies is a bit of a misnomer. It insinuates that menopause is a condition that can be cured which simply isnt the case. This is a natural stage of life, and everyone with ovaries will, at some point, go through it. But there are some things you can do to lessen its impact, especially if youre facing just one or two relatively mild symptoms.
If your symptoms arent too bothersome, you may be able to make do with lifestyle changes like getting better sleep, Dr. Batur says.
She shares a few more tips that can help you regain a sense of control over menopauses impact on your body and your life.
Adopting a menopause-friendly diet can go a long way toward relieving vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, and other menopause symptoms like bone loss.
You should also cut back on:
If youre not sure what to start, try the Mediterranean diet, a heart-healthy, all-in-one meal plan that focuses on lean proteins, whole grains and plant-based foods. One study showed that people who followed this diet were 20% less likely to experience hot flashes and night sweats than those who didnt.
Like other aspects of menopause, vaginal dryness is caused by a decrease in hormone levels. It can make sex uncomfortable or even painful but over-the-counter products like vaginal lubricants can help. You apply them before sex to decrease friction and chafing.
More people use lubricants during sex than not, and we should normalize that, Dr. Batur says. Try a water-based lubricant, which is unlikely to cause irritation or, for a longer-lasting effect, you might prefer a silicone-based lubricant.
Vaginal moisturizers can also help. You apply them regularly to your vagina, just like you put moisturizer on your face every day, to treat and prevent dryness.
When to talk to your doctor: If you cant solve vaginal dryness on your own, your doctor can prescribe a vaginal hormonal cream, vaginal ring or suppository to help. Treatments taken by mouth are also available. You dont need to suffer, Dr. Batur says.
Night sweats are vasomotor symptoms that occur at night essentially hot flashes that happen while youre asleep, often waking you up from your slumber in a pool of sweat. They can be incredibly disruptive to the sleep cycle, Dr. Batur confirms.
To deal with night sweats:
When to talk to your doctor: Night sweats can be a symptom of other health issues, so its important to ask your doctor to weigh in. There are more than 50 hormones in our body, and symptoms like night sweats arent always related to menopause, Dr. Batur says.
Stress plays a role in menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleeplessness and weight gain. And one study found that premenopausal people who struggle with anxiety were up to five times more likely to have hot flashes than their counterparts who learn to manage anxiety.
It stands to reason, then, that getting a handle on stress may help with your hot flashes.
The data is still weak, but it makes sense, from an overall health perspective, to try to minimize your stress by practicing deep breathing and mindfulness, Dr. Batur advises.
When to talk to your doctor: Even if you know you should relieve stress, its not always easy to do especially if youre dealing with depression or anxiety, to boot.
Studies show that even people with no history of PMS, postpartum depression or hormonal sensitivity can develop anxiety and depression during menopause, Dr. Batur says. So if youre struggling to get a handle on your mental health, talk to your healthcare provider to figure out the best course of action.
They may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, a structured form of psychotherapy that targets stress and anxiety and has been shown to relieve vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes.
Its normal to lose thickness, shine and volume as you age. And estrogen loss can also cause hair loss and thinning, further diminishing the thick mane you once had.
Though hormone therapy may treat tress troubles, its not the only way. You dont necessarily have to be on hormone therapy for hair loss, Dr. Batur says, You can fight it with other topical over-the-counter products.
Rework your regular routine to be sure youre taking the best care of your aging hair:
When to talk to your doctor: If your hair thinning is severe, ask your doctor if its OK for you to take biotinor iron supplements, or to massage 5% minoxidil (Rogaine) into your scalp once a day. They may also want to check your thyroid, iron and vitamin D levels to be sure its really menopause at the root of your mane issues.
You cant see this symptom in action, but its a big one: Menopause has a negative effect on your bones.
Estrogen is very important for bone development and maintenance of bone density, Dr. Batur explains. After estrogen loss, theres a pretty rapid drop in bone density, especially within the first five years.
To help boost your bone health, incorporate calcium-rich foods (think Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and tofu with added calcium sulfate) and foods rich in vitamin D (like salmon and canned tuna) into your diet. But dont start any supplements without the all-clear from your healthcare provider.
When to talk to your doctor: You cant remedy bone loss on your own. If youre in menopause or suspect youre approaching it, speak with your doctor about when a bone density test will be needed.
The placebo effect suggests that in some cases, your mind can be as powerful as treatment itself. And when it comes to menopause, thats not necessarily a bad thing.
For example, data shows that acupuncture does not consistently improve menopause symptoms but if you feel like youre benefitting, it cant hurt, either.
The placebo effect for menopausal symptoms is quite high, around 40%, Dr. Batur says. It makes sense. If negative energy going to your brain can drive hot flashes, why cant positive energy and the power of positive thinking help relieve them?
Just be careful about supplements that claim to relieve menopause symptoms. Theyre not regulated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may cause serious health problems. Speak with your doctor about any supplements youre considering, especially with respect to medication interactions and liver safety.
If your menopause symptoms become severe and start interfering with your everyday well-being say, you regularly wake up drenched from night sweats or your mood swings are unbearably miserable its time to check in with your healthcare provider.
When youre dealing with hormones, its important to be sure youre doing things safely, Dr. Batur says. If youre suffering, dont try to tackle things on your own. You really have to be an advocate for your health.
To learn more on this topic from Dr. Batur, listen to the Health Essentials Podcast episode What to Expect in Menopause. New episodes of the Health Essentials Podcast publish every Wednesday.
Excerpt from:
6 Ways to Find Relief from Your Menopause Symptoms - Health Essentials
