Treatment options for perimenopause and menopause
There are a variety of treatment options available for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. While hormonal treatments such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) are effective, there are also many non-hormonal, complementary and lifestyle treatment options.
Hormonal treatments
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) can be used to treat symptoms of menopause. There are a variety of options when it comes to hormone treatments, including:
Oestrogen only HRT available in tablets, spray, patches and gel
Combined HRT (oestrogen and progesterone) available in tablets and patches
Mirena IUD, which can be used in combination with oestrogen
Testosterone replacement therapy for a persistent low libido
Local (vaginal) oestrogen available in a cream and pessary
Non-hormonal treatments
Non-hormonal therapies are medications or interventions that can be prescribed by your doctor, but do not contain hormones. These medications can be effective at relieving menopause symptoms and are suitable for women who don’t want to take or are unable to take HRT or MHT.
These can include:
Antidepressants
Epilepsy drugs
Medication for high-blood pressure
Beta-blockers
Stellate Ganglion block
Lifestyle options
Midlife is a great opportunity to reflect on our daily habits and improve our long-term health. There are many lifestyle and behaviour changes you can make to improve your overall health and help manage symptoms of menopause.
Some options include:
Maintaining a healthy weight
Exercising regularly
Eating a healthy, nutrient-dense diet
Making changes to your environment or clothing to keep yourself cool during hot flushes.
Complementary therapies
Evidence continues to show that complementary therapies during perimenopause and menopause can help alleviate symptom severity, while also helping improve your mindset around navigating this transition.
These are hormone and medication-free options, suitable to those of us who are unable or prefer not to choose hormone therapy.
If you are seeking complementary therapies, it’s important to see a specialist and obtain a plan that works best for you.
Some examples of complementary therapies include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Hypnosis
Yoga
Acupuncture