What is the Best and Safest Menopause Treatment?

The experience of menopause is different for different women. Some women do not experience any symptom at all. Such women do not need any menopause treatment except for regular medical check-up that ensures that there are no signs of osteoporosis or other complications.

However, women with more bothersome symptoms must think of a multi-pronged, comprehensive menopause treatment.

In general, the most common menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. The uncomfortable symptoms that accompany menopause are the direct result of hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance is a part of aging and nothing can be done to prevent it. Hormonal imbalance is what causes signs of aging, hot flushes, lack of sex drive, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other symptoms associated with menopause. The most effective way to re-establish hormonal balance is to supply the missing hormones in the right levels to the body. This can be achieved through hormone replacement therapy.

However, in recent years, hormone replacement therapy has been the subject of much speculation because synthetic hormones can cause severe side effects, like cancer and heart problems. An NIH-sponsored study showed that women on long-term hormone therapy had greater risk of developing endometrial cancer and stroke. These findings have led to a decline of interest in synthetic hormones.

In recent years, however, doctors have been using natural hormones in hormone replacement therapy. These hormones are called bioidentical hormones as they are similar in structure to natural hormones. Therefore, there have been no reports of any undesirable side effects associated with natural hormones.

The benefits of natural hormones are many:

* They are metabolized more easily by the body
* They mimic the action of natural hormones
* They may be administered in just the right dosages
* They may be administered transdermally, which means that these are not metabolized in the liver

However, for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to work as an effective menopause treatment, it is important to customize the treatment according to individual requirements.

Along with hormone replacement therapy, it is also recommended that patients adopt a comprehensive treatment for symptoms. This includes the intake of essential supplements. Alternative treatments for menopause are also effective in alleviating the discomfort associated with menopause. For instance, Black Cohosh is known to be helpful for hot flashes. Soy supplements are also helpful.

Women who are going through the symptoms of menopause should take particular care to eat a balanced diet. They must take in sufficient quantities of calcium to minimize the impact of osteoporosis. Kegel exercises relieve symptoms of incontinence. An active lifestyle and sound hygiene practices also help a lot.