menopause

Menopause:-The Lancet menopause study brings hope: You can manage without too much medication.

by

 The best way to treat hot flashes and night sweats is with hormone therapy, sometimes called Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

 Are you taking too many pills to deal with hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopause symptoms? Or are you using hormone treatments without thinking? A recent report from Lancet advises against taking too much medicine and suggests managing menopause symptoms with a personalized healthcare plan, counseling, and support groups like menopause cafes. These places are for talking about healthy aging, accepting, and not being afraid of menopause.

menopause

M Sivakami, a Professor at the School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, is one of the authors. She says the series is meant to provide women with accurate, consistent, and unbiased information. Sivakami, who is turning 50 this year, thought she had a good understanding of menopause until it hit her earlier than expected. She shares, “I’ve been working on menopause since 2004, but I wasn’t ready for 30 hot flashes a day and extreme meltdowns in my early 40s. My symptoms got worse by the time I was 46. That’s why it’s important for women to be informed about what to expect earlier, so their worries don’t pile up.”

menopause

What are the usual signs?

A study on menopause symptoms shows that about 80 percent of women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats, and more than a third of them find these symptoms to be moderate to severe by the age of 50, as stated by the authors of the series. These symptoms can disrupt sleep and affect daytime activities, including mood and concentration. Professor Martha Hickey from the University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne), who co-authored the series, says, “The severity of symptoms determines whether women seek treatment. Some women don’t take medication even with severe symptoms, while others take medication even with mild or no symptoms.”

Menopause :-Is hormone therapy a good choice for women?

The best way to treat hot flashes and night sweats is with hormone therapy, also known as Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This can help with sleep and mood, and MHT can prevent fractures in weakened bones. Professor Hickey also mentions that some women may prefer psychological treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy to improve sleep.
But there’s not enough proof about the benefits of menopause hormone therapy. Sivakami says, “We don’t have strong studies like Western countries do. Our research in Rajasthan, which doesn’t have many resources, shows that MHT is not common.” Professor Hickey mentions that using MHT can increase the chances of getting breast cancer. “The fast-growing rate of breast cancer in India is worrying. With MHT, it could get even worse,” Hickey adds. In this situation, making positive changes in lifestyle through diet, exercise, and sleep plans is a better choice. “Also, Indian women have different symptoms than European and American women. While MHT helps them, it might not work as well for Indian women,” says Hickey.
Will the Menopause Cafe idea be successful?

In 2017, Rachel Weiss started the first Menopause Cafe in Perth, Scotland, as a comfortable place where anyone could talk about it while enjoying cake and tea. This idea has spread to the UK, US, and Australia, leading to more open conversations about menopause in politics, workplaces, and the media. Weiss says, “We want to make it normal so that people aren’t afraid of it and can share different experiences, not just scary stories from celebrities.”

Leave a Comment