Many women choose not to use hormone therapy during their menopause. Hormone Therapy (HT) is also known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT. It is a hormone treatment prescribed to offset the lower levels of estrogen and progesterone that happen naturally at the beginning of menopause.
Some of the reasons women choose not to use HT are:
There are many things you can do to help reduce the discomforts and symptoms of menopause.
You can make changes to your diet, such as:
You can get regular exercise. This may help you have fewer and milder hot flashes. It will also help to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease. For ideas on how to be active, visit Canada's Physical Activity Guide Web Site, or call 1-800-OCANADA to order a free copy.
If you have hot flashes, you can manage them by:
Some women find that certain foods trigger their hot flashes and that it helps to avoid them. Common triggers are:
To prevent and treat vaginal/genital dryness and itching you can:
Dryer, less flexible vaginal tissues can easily scratch or tear, increasing your risk for sexually transmitted infections. Practice safer sex to protect your health.
To help prevent urinary incontinence , do regular Kegel exercises. Kegels are repeated contraction and relaxation of the muscles that cause urine flow. Kegels can also improve vaginal sexual function and enjoyment. To learn more about the benefits and how to do these exercises, talk to your doctor or visit Exercising Your Pelvic Muscles.
Talk with and learn from other women going through menopause. Look for self-help groups, book clubs, or other ways to get together with women in mid-life. Menopause can be a time of great change and renewal in women's lives, and support from other women can be very important as we make our way through this time.
There are several herbs that some women find useful for symptoms such as hot flashes, poor memory, concentration, vaginal dryness, and irregular bleeding. Some of these herbs have undergone clinical trials-others are prescribed by health practitioners based on anecdotal evidence and historical use.
For the safest use of herbs:
A qualified alternative practitioner such as a naturopathic doctor or a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner can tell you about which herbs may deal with for your symptoms, and can help you to monitor the results. There are also several excellent books that can help you make herbal treatment choices.
Complementary or alternative therapy refers to natural, non-invasive therapies that focus on disease prevention. Some women use these therapies instead of conventional medicine; others use them in addition to their conventional health care.
Naturopathic physicians specialize in natural medicine. They may prescribe changes to lifestyle, diet, and use of vitamins, herbs or homeopathics for symptom relief and disease prevention. Some are also trained in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. For more information and to find a naturopathic physician in your area, contact the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
Other alternative practices may also provide symptom relief, improved quality of life, or a general sense of well being during your menopausal years. Consult the following Canadian associations for more information about practitioners' education, credentials, treatments available or referrals to a practitioner in your area.
The Canadian Chiropractic Association (1-416-781-5656)
Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists (1-905-886-2567)
The Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada ( 1-519-642-1970)
Homeopathic Medical Council of Canada (1-877-722-4622 )
The National United Professional Association of Trained Homeopaths (1-888-282-3878 )
Reflexology Association of Canada (1-877-722-3338)
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (1-800-551-4381)
Reviewed June 2006.
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