Women dread the coming of menopause not only because it signifies aging, but also for its bothersome symptoms: hot flashes, sweating, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, fatigue and bone weakening. For relief, women have often reached for the pill: hormone replacement therapy or HRT.
The latest on HRT
For many years, HRT was the accepted solution for menopausal symptoms, but results of the large-scale Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial may soon change all that.
The WHI trial involving 16,608 women is the first randomized study into the long-term consequences of hormonal intake during menopause. the study was started in 1997 and was supposed to run for more than eight year's. but one part of the study (involving intake of a combined estrogen/ progestin pill) was stopped after just a little over five years because researchers found that the women in that trial seemed to be at increased risk of invasive breast cancer, coronary heart disease and pulmonary embolism (blod clots in the arteries to the lungs).
The results showed that for every 10,000 women taking the combined estrogen/ progestin for a year, an additional seven women would suffer from a coronary heart disease, eight from invasive breast cancer, eight from stroke, and eight more from pulmonary embolism. however, results also indicated that there would be eight fewer colorectal cancers and five fewer hip fractures.
Safer options
Strategies may help to alleviate symptoms:
The latest on HRT
For many years, HRT was the accepted solution for menopausal symptoms, but results of the large-scale Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial may soon change all that.
The WHI trial involving 16,608 women is the first randomized study into the long-term consequences of hormonal intake during menopause. the study was started in 1997 and was supposed to run for more than eight year's. but one part of the study (involving intake of a combined estrogen/ progestin pill) was stopped after just a little over five years because researchers found that the women in that trial seemed to be at increased risk of invasive breast cancer, coronary heart disease and pulmonary embolism (blod clots in the arteries to the lungs).
The results showed that for every 10,000 women taking the combined estrogen/ progestin for a year, an additional seven women would suffer from a coronary heart disease, eight from invasive breast cancer, eight from stroke, and eight more from pulmonary embolism. however, results also indicated that there would be eight fewer colorectal cancers and five fewer hip fractures.
Safer options
Strategies may help to alleviate symptoms:
- Find support from others, especially from their partners.
- use a lubricant to combat vaginal dryness, or get a prescription for an estrogen vaginal cream
- Exercise regularly and keep fit to prevent osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises are good for your long bones.
- Try eating foods rich in phytoestrogens (natural estrogens contained in soy, beans, grains and some fruit and vegetables), which fortunately are also low in fat.
- Keep regular sleeping hours.
- Some women find acupuncture, massage,homeopathy or herbal remedies helpful. Counseling may help if you are emotionally distresses.
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