Monthly Archives: July 2016

Menopause is the final period and occurs because a woman stops ovulating, her ovaries no longer produce oestrogen (one of the female sex hormones) and her monthly period (menstruation) ceases. It is a natural event that marks the end of the reproductive years, just as the first menstrual period during puberty marks the start. Many women, although not all, experience uncomfortable symptoms during and after menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance and vaginal dryness. These symptoms and physical changes can be managed in various ways, including lifestyle changes like healthier eating and increased exercise, and by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While HRT reduces the likelihood of some debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis, colorectal (bowel) cancer and heart disease, it may increase the chances of developing a blood clot (when given in tablet form) or breast cancer (when some types are used long-term). For women who experience menopause before the age of 45 (early or premature menopause), HRT is strongly recommended until the average age of menopause onset (around 51 years), unless there is a particular reason for a woman not to take it. There is no evidence to suggest that a woman with a family history of breast … Continue reading →

Email to a friend Close Window As women go through menopause, production of the female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) is dramatically reduced, resulting in low levels of these hormones in the body. This means that many women experience unpleasant symptoms as a result of the decreased levels of these hormones, particularly oestrogen. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as hormone therapy (HT), is prescribed by your doctor and replaces the bodys female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. There is an increasing range of alternative treatments for menopause symptoms available, but so far there is little good evidence that they are effective. Herbal medicines can have adverse effects and can also interact with other medicines. HRT that is available on prescription from your doctor therefore remains the most accepted treatment for relieving the symptoms of menopause that many women find troublesome. HRT helps treat 2 troublesome symptoms of menopause hot flushes and night sweats. It may also help with insomnia, mood swings, a dry vagina and muscle aches and pains. HRT helps maintain bone density and it reduces the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis (a condition that makes bones weak and brittle). However, other medicines are available for the … Continue reading →

Hormone replacement therapy can be administered through a skin patch or pill. istockphoto Most women in menopause who opt to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to manage symptoms that the "change of life" brings know there are risks that come with these drugs. While the hormones --synthetic estrogen and progestin -- can work magic to stop hot flashes, decades of research has identified a strong link between HRT and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and breast cancer. Now a new large scale study may add ovarian cancer to this list. An analysis of 52 studies involving 21,488 women, published Thursday in The Lancet, finds even short-term use of these drugs correlated with a higher risk for ovarian cancer -- as much as 40 percent higher than women who don't take hormones. The study is based on all prior research that investigates the connection. "This is the first big study like this to really come out and say ovarian cancer is an issue," Dr. Taraneh Shirazian, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a minimally invasive gynecological surgeon at The Mount Sinai Hospital, told CBS News. "So far, … Continue reading →