HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Hormone Treatment

Alex Rider asked:


Menopausal hot flashes range in their frequency and intensity widely, depending upon the individual and particular circumstances. Many cases involve mild flashes, although some unfortunate people get severe flashes which are mentally and physically draining.

This phenomenon of hot flashes is caused in women by their body thermostat, the hypothalamus, finding whether they are hot or cold difficult due to estrogen and progesterone decreases.

Check with your doctor that your flashes fall within the usual range, not posing a serious health issue or combining with or actually being a separate health issue.

Mild flashes are lessened by:

Remaining calm

Breathing deeply, which can be practiced from time to time

Putting clothes on in layers, when you’re hot you can easily cool down by discarding the desired number of items.

Wearing natural fibers like cotton or wool that are more able to disperse heat away from your body

Consuming foods that are less likely to trigger hot flashes (triggers: alcohol or spicy food)

Avoiding atmospheres that trigger hot flashes, e.g. hot weather or powerful emotions like anger.

If you suffer from hot flashes vitamin C consumption helps. This powerful antioxidant attaches to unstable molecules which make people more susceptible to cancer and damage body tissues. Additionally vitamin C helps boost your immune system and lowers your blood pressure which in turn promotes the longevity of your vascular system and heart.

Try also to consume vitamin B in its variety of forms, magnesium is has also been seen as beneficial. This will increase your bodily levels of these micronutrients that are decreased by hot flashes.

Citrus fruits are known to contain substances called bioflavonoids that shield fine blood vessels from damage or unwanted chemical deposition. Bioflavonoids are also able to lessen the occurrence or severity of hot flashes.

Supplements can be bought in pharmacies and many health food stores that combine with vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Seek out those products which contain 500-1000mg vitamin C and 200-500mg bioflavonoids per tablet/ capsule.

One such supplement is Peridin C. Bioflavonoids are also available in shops as rutin, quercitin or hesperidin. If you are considering choosing a supplement remember to always first consult your local GP so that you get advice specific to you and no complications arise.

Night sweats are combated well by wearing very few lightweight clothes, if anything at all, using silk bed sheets, opening windows, using bedroom fans and having a cool glass of bedside water ready.

Regular exercise should be built into your week so as to reduce stress and tension and gain in patience and perseverance.

Black cohosh extract, ginseng and motherwort are example of herbal supplements that can be taken to aid coping with hot flashes.

Keep at the back of your mind the knowledge that, as with all things menopausal, you will eventually get rid of the symptoms once and for all.



Samantha

Mike Herman asked:


Is a diminished sex drive after menopause a serious health issue?

Many otherwise healthy women experience a diminished sex drive after menopause.

This does not happen to every woman. Each woman is different and her health is a very unique thing.

Studies indicate that at least fifty percent of women encounter a drop in sexual activity either because of loss of libido or vaginal dryness. However, ten percent of menopausal women actually report an increase in their libido during this time.

When women go through menopause, there is a drop in several different hormones. This is a normal part of aging and is not a health problem.

However, it can create problems for a woman who normally had a healthy sex drive and after menopause, has a diminished sex drive.

The hormones that drop after menopause are estrogen, testosterone (Yes! It effects both men and women), and progesterone, among others.

Hormones decline naturally with age and for some women, this means they are just not as interested in sex as before menopause.

This can mean that women are not as easily aroused as before, and that they are less sensitive to touching and stroking than they were before menopause.

This is often frustrating for women who had a healthy sex drive before menopause.

Some women choose to have HRT, which is hormone replacement therapy. Taking small amounts of testosterone can help to increase your sex drive and your pleasure related to orgasm. However, some women choose not to do this, because HRT has been linked to some health problems, such as an increased risk of breast cancer.

The other problem is that the hormones used in HRT sometimes do not have the same effect as the hormones produced naturally in the woman’s body.

There are no quick answers to the health question of menopause and a diminished sex drive.

Most women consult their doctor to address this health issue, and some even consult a therapist to address any underlying causes of a diminished sex drive. Most women feel that improving communication in their marriage and making sure they have a healthy marriage can improve their sex drive.

Each woman must make her own decisions about whether or not to have HRT after menopause. For some women with a diminished sex drive, this seems to be the answer.

For others, there may be other health concerns. This is a decision that is best made with plenty of research and talking with a knowledgeable doctor.

Sources:

webmd.com



Gabrielle