MENOPAUSAL HEADACHES: ORTHODOX TREATMENT
Treatment of menopausal symptoms is by replacing the oestrogen. Almost as soon as this is done, any true menopausal symptoms will disappear.
Oestrogens are powerful drugs and, used on their own, they can cause cancer of the womb to develop. But don’t be alarmed, there’s a simple way to get around this. Adding progesterone during the second half of your cycle removes this extra chance that you will get cancer of the womb. If you still have a womb in place, then you will need oestrogen and progesterone; if your womb has been taken away then you only need oestrogen.
What are the benefits and problems associated with hormone replacement? Firstly, the menopausal symptoms go – all the physical and mental symptoms improve and there is often a feeling of well-being where previously there was a vague sense of malaise. Secondly, as the normal drop in oestrogen at the time of the menopause causes the bones to lose calcium, artificially prolonging the time the bones are exposed to oestrogen keeps them stronger for longer, and in later life reduces the chances of developing osteoporosis or of getting a fracture.
The drawbacks of HRT are that the periods return again and there is a possibility of an increased chance of breast cancer. Overall, the statistics are in favour of the HRT user. The chances of dying following a fractured hip, from ovarian cancer, or from heart disease are all reduced by a greater factor than the chance of getting breast cancer from having HRT. About five times as many lives will be saved through using HRT by comparison with those lost by HRT.
However, HRT has not been in use long enough for us to be certain that there are no long-term side effects. Although HRT is probably safe for the first five years, and may well be safe for much longer, the statistics are not yet entirely conclusive.
If you would prefer not to be on HRT, but would like treatment for some of the symptoms, the drug clonidine may help with hot flushes; and oestrogen cream applied locally to the vagina may assist with vaginal dryness.
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