Article written by Dr. Ruth Campling
Menopause marks a major transition in a woman’s life – one that brings both physical and emotional changes. You’re considered postmenopausal after going 12 consecutive months without a period, which typically happens around age 51-52. But symptoms can begin well before this and may continue long after. These changes can impact both physical and mental health but understanding them is the first step toward managing them.
Common menopausal symptoms
Hot flushes: These are the most common symptom experiences by menopausal women – sudden, intense feelings of heat that can be uncomfortable and disruptive.
Night sweats: Hot flushes during sleep and can disturb rest and contribute to fatigue.
Mental health: Memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings may occur.
Sexual health: Libido can fluctuate – some women notice a decrease, others an increase, and some experience no change. Vaginal dryness and bladder irritation may contribute to decreased sexual desire and comfort.
Hormone therapy (HT)
In general, healthy eating, adequate hydration, and regular exercise will help with the menopausal transition. But for women experiencing persistent and disruptive symptoms, hormone therapy (HT) is a highly effective treatment option available by prescription. HT comes in various forms – pill, patch, spray, gel, or vaginal ring – and contains estrogen and progesterone hormone. If you’ve had a hysterectomy (no uterus), you likely won’t need progesterone. HT remains the most effective treatment for relieving vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats.
There are plenty of benefits of hormone therapy (HT):
- Symptom relief (reduces hot flushes and night sweats)
- Relieves vaginal dryness
- May reduce overactive bladder symptoms
- Helps protect bones and treat osteoporosis
- May lower the risk of cardiovascular disease when started between ages 50-59
And you may ask – is hormone therapy safe? HT can be both safe and effective, but like all medical treatments, it comes with some risks. Whether it’s right for you depends on your health history and symptom severity.
Potential risks of HT include:
- Breast cancer: Risk may slightly increase after 5+ years of use beyond the average age of menopause. It’s unclear whether estrogen causes breast cancer or allows an already existing cancer to grow.
- Stroke: The evidence is mixed. Lower doses and transdermal preparations (patches/gels) may carry a lower risk.
- Blood clots: The risk is lower with skin-applied HT options like patches and gels.
Overall, these risks are considered low for most healthy women in their 50s, especially when HT is started early in the postmenopausal years.
Speak with your doctor
Discuss your symptoms and treatment goals with your family physician. Usually, the lowest effective dose to treat the symptoms is the recommended approach. Menopause is a natural phase of life. With the right support and information, you can navigate it with confidence and comfort.