Menopause A to Z

 


Alternatives For Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Living with the symptoms of menopause is something some women can do. Not everyone suffers from severe hot flashes, painful vaginal dryness and irritation or even mood swings and chronic insomnia. Unfortunately, for many women, severe symptoms are just a part of the package. Fortunately, there are some treatments that can help. Some of them, such as hormone replacement therapy, can be a little scary to attempt. There are, however, some very good alternatives for hormone replacement therapy that can help battle some of the symptoms as they arise.

Alternatives for hormone replacement therapy are often sought out by patients and their doctors alike because of concerns about breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. The reality is these concerns are very real and alternatives for hormone replacement therapy might be the best route to go in some cases. Women with certain conditions or risk factors, for example, might not be advised to try hormone replacement therapy even if the symptoms warrant intervention. Others might simply find the risks too high and seek out alternatives for hormone replacement therapy instead of even considering the therapy in the first place.

What alternatives for hormone replacement therapy are the best to consider very likely will depend on the individual symptoms themselves. Sometimes medical advice is very smart to seek out, but there are alternatives for hormone replacement therapy that can be tried with little or no real risk.

Herbal and dietary supplements are often used as alternatives for hormone replacement therapy to help with such things as hot flashes and mood swings. From black cohosh and red clover to chamomile tea and ginseng, these alternatives to hormone therapy have shown results for some women. Beyond the regular grocery store teas, however, some of these supplements can have side effects. Although some women have reported great results in using them as alternatives for hormone replacement therapy, medical advice might be wise in the case of some of the less tried and tested herbal and dietary supplements.

Regular dieting changes, too, can work to help some women deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause itself. Switching to a healthy high fiber, fairly low carbohydrate diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables has helped some women gain a better overall nutritional balance, which can help. How well dieting alone can work as one of the alternatives for hormone replacement therapy will vary. It can, however, work wonders for assisting with overall health and weight control or loss.

Exercise is considered by many to be one of the greatest alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Many women report that exercise helps them deal with mood swings and irritability and can even assist with weight gain associated with this period of life. Since exercise is also an effect stress reliever and it can have other benefits as well, such as with combating insomnia, it is typically considered a very good choice on the list of alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. The best effects tend to come when aerobic exercise and some strength training, too, are both incorporated into the mix. If exercise is new to lifestyle, medical advice might be in order for this alterative for hormone therapy.

Meditation, aromatherapy, acupuncture and even hypnosis are all gaining fans as far as alternatives for hormone replacement therapy is concerned. These alternative choices have had mixed results and many require more study as far as the medical community is concerned. As long as the measures are safe, however, if the benefits are felt, many feel these alternatives for hormone replacement therapy are warranted.

In regard to vaginal dryness, irritation and itching, there are some alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. These will not necessarily replace the body's own natural fluid balance like hormone therapy can, but they can help. Many feminine product companies, for example, have created very mild lubricating mists and creams that can assist here without the introduction of hormones. Check with a doctor to see if any recommendations are possible.

With all the potential side effects for hormone replacement, many women and their doctors are scrambling to find alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Often the best advice comes on a symptom-by-symptom basis. It is possible for women and their doctors to find alternatives that can help. Locating just the right ones to do the trick might take a little trial and error, however.

 

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