Menopause

The story behind hormone therapy

In 1999, over 26% of postmenopausal women used hormone therapy. However, when the WHI study was published, most women were abruptly taken off of hormone therapy for fear of breast cancer or heart attacks. Most of the data from that study has since been refuted — yet today, still only about 5% of postmenopausal women use hormone therapy.

These are the questions worth asking:

• Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) safe?
• Are there health benefits to MHT?
• Am I a candidate for MHT?
• What if I am over 60, or more than 10 years from menopause?
• What is the deal with MHT and breast cancer?

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

There is so much misinformation about Menopausal Hormone Therapy, even among health professionals. Most women are candidates for hormone therapy. When started at age under 60 — or within 10 years of menopause — the benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks. Hormone therapy can help not only with hot flashes and night sweats, but also with other symptoms of menopause, including:

• Sleep disturbances
• Brain fog
• Joint pain
• Mood (depending on how soon it is started)
• Fatigue
• Vaginal symptoms
• Skin (increases moisture and skin thickness)

Non-Hormonal Therapy

For women who prefer to avoid hormones, or who cannot take hormonal medication for medical reasons such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Previous heart attack
• Previous stroke
• History of breast cancer
• History of advanced endometrial cancer

…there are non-hormonal medications that can help with hot flashes and night sweats. These include medications such as:

• Antidepressants (SSRIs / SNRIs)
• Gabapentin
• Clonidine
• Oxybutynin
• Veozah