Menopause

WomanThe menopause has been in the headlines a lot in the last few years. And for good reason. Researchers found that commonly prescribed hormone therapy did not have the longterm benefits many experts previously thought it had. For women who struggle with severe menopausal symptoms, this disappointing news did not make life any easier.

That is why we set out to find what is known for sure about the benefits and harms of hormones and other options. While there are many alternatives offered to women with menopausal symptoms, most have not been proven to give relief. The most research has gone into oestrogen-based hormone therapy, including combined oestrogen-gestagen hormones. These can provide relief for many women who have severe symptoms. But the same thing is true for hormones as for all other drugs: if they are effective, they can also cause unwanted side effects.

Table of contents

  1. The personal impact of the menopause
  2. Background
    1. About menopause
    2. When the menopause starts
    3. Hormone changes
  3. Menopausal symptoms and health
    1. Effects of the menopause on health
    2. Hot flashes and sweats
    3. No major influence on sexuality
  4. What a woman can try for menopausal symptoms
    1. Diet
    2. Exercise and physical activity
    3. Relaxation
    4. Complementary or alternative therapies
    5. Herbal remedies and dietary supplements
    6. Medications other than hormone therapy
  5. Hormone therapy
    1. Weighing up the pros and cons
    2. Effectiveness of short-term use
    3. Effectiveness of longterm use
    4. Risks of hormone therapy
    5. What happens when you stop taking hormones
    6. Table: Benefits and harms of hormone therapy
  6. Sources

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  • Created (German version): February 14th 2006 10:00
  • Last update: September 17th 2007 14:51
  • History: Show list

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