It’s a feeling that is far too familiar for those women who are going through “the change.” If you’ve hit menopause, you likely have experienced the uncomfortable heat of an intense hot flash in public. You’ve probably also suffered the indignities of night sweats, soaking your nightclothes and sheets, pillows and anything else within reach of your sweaty body. Or have you been awakened by “something” and now cannot get back to sleep?
Menopause is a major life event for women; it means the cessation of fertility and hormones associated with it. Estrogen production subsides and other physiological changes occur to the urinary tract, bones, breasts, pelvic muscles, reproductive system, heart and blood vessels and the brain.
Symptoms of menopause include vaginal atrophy – about 30 percent of women experience this inflammation of the vagina because of dry and shrinking tissues; depression; hot flashes and cold night sweats; painful intercourse; increased anxiety or irritability; problems with memory or learning; need to urinate more frequently; moodiness; disturbed sleep; hair loss; loss of breast size, and fat buildup around the abdomen.
For many women, the symptoms are far too severe to handle alone. So they begin exploring their options. From hormone therapy to healing foods, there are a number of ways that females find relief. Here are five of the most in-demand alternatives to sweating it out.
Hormone Replacement Therapy – Is it for you?
Hormone replacement therapy, HRT, is safe for many women, but there is a certain population for which this is not an option. The older the woman and the higher the dosage of estrogen and progesterone, the higher the risk for blood clots and strokes. Women with a history of blood clots should not be on HRT. With HRTs, there is also an increased risk of breast cancer, especially after four or five years of use.