Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

Replacing female hormones is not the only treatment for the symptoms of menopause. Throughout life, women can prepare for menopause by exercising, maintaining good general health, and getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones. Peri- and postmenopausal women can make changes in their daily habits or use non-prescription products that may help to relieve many common symptoms. For example:

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes occur commonly during the perimenopausal and early postmenopausal years. For some women, hot flashes are simply a nuisance. Other women experience hot flashes that are intense enough to interfere with work, social activities, and/or sleep. Some non-hormonal ways to relieve hot flashes include the following:

• Avoid highly-seasoned and spicy foods
• Avoid hot places as much as possible
• Drink plenty of water or cool, noncaffeinated beverages
• Limit the intake of alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, cola), and chocolate
• Try to determine what triggers hot flashes, and then avoid these triggers
• Wear layers of cotton or other lightweight clothing that can be removed as needed

While early results for non-prescription menopause treatments appear promising, they have not yet been proved more effective than placebos (sugar pills). However, many women have found relief by taking:

• Foods rich in isoflavones (such as soy-based foods)
• Vitamin E (no more than 400 units per day)
• Vitamin B (up to 50 mg per day)

Vaginal Dryness/Pain with Intercourse

The loss of estrogen associated with menopause may cause the lining of the vagina to become thin and dry. As a result, having sex may become painful. Vaginal infections may also be more likely to occur. Some non-hormonal suggestions for relieving vaginal dryness include the following:

• Drink plenty of water to help vaginal tissues stay moist
• Have regular sexual intercourse, which can maintain vaginal flexibility
• Use a vaginal moisturizer or a vaginal lubricant to make having sex more comfortable

Note: Hand creams, petroleum jelly, and baby oil are not good vaginal lubricants, though, because scented or oil-based products are more likely to irritate vaginal tissue. They may also interfere with the effectiveness of condoms.

Urinary Incontinence

After menopause, accidental leakage of urine is fairly common ? especially during exercise. Coughing, laughing, or sneezing may also cause urine leaks for some women. However, urinary incontinence after menopause may be temporary and it may be treatable. Non-hormonal prescription drugs (such as oxybutinin) are available to help control it. In addition, the following actions may also help lessen urinary incontinence:

• Limit salt and caffeine intake
• Perform kegel (KEE-gul) exercises several times throughout the day. Kegel exercise involves tightening the muscles used to stop urination. Recommendations are to tighten muscles for 10 seconds then relax them. The sequence should be repeated several times a day for a total of 50 to 100 repetitions. For more detailed information on Kegel exercises, see: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003975.htm

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.