HRT Alternatives

Many women choose not to use HRT, or to use it only for a short time. If you don’t want to take or cannot take HRT, there are other options available. For example, if osteoporosis is a concern, there are other drugs that are used to prevent and treat it. (See our comprehensive osteoporosis segment.) If vaginal dryness is a problem, there are many types of lubricants that can be helpful. Ask your healthcare provider about what you can do besides HRT to manage your symptoms.

A healthy lifestyle is important whether you use HRT or not. Here are some ways to stay healthy and feel well through menopause and beyond.

• Eat healthy foods. Your diet should be low in fat, rich in fruits and vegetables, and provide adequate calcium and vitamin D. A multivitamin and calcium supplement may be helpful.
• Get regular exercise. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
• Don’t smoke.
• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all.

What about herbal remedies and other alternatives?

Some women turn to herbal remedies or to certain estrogen-like chemicals in plants (called phytoestrogens) for help. These products are not regulated through the same government system as drugs are. There is limited and conflicting research on their safety and effectiveness. Some of the herbal products can have harmful side effects or can interact with other drugs. Discover the function and the name of herbs commonly used for female health issues in our Herbal Allies: Introduction to Herbs. Discuss herbal remedies with a qualified healthcare provider before taking them, but do not summarily dismiss them because a medical practitioner has limited knowledge.

There are some products that seem to help some women. Soy and soy products are high in phytoestrogens and may help with menopausal symptoms. The evidence regarding soy is conflicting, however. Clinical studies have shown that soy has little estrogenic activity in the brain and, therefore, doesn't help greatly with hot flashes and night sweats. In breast tissue, soy may stimulate the growth of breast cells and thus large amounts of soy may not be advised for breast cancer patients.

Although phytoestrogens have some estrogenic activity and may have some of the same effects as HRT, their long-term safety is not clear and has not been adequately studied. Studies of black cohosh have found that it may reduce hot flashes and night sweats for some women. St. John’s Wort and chasteberry may help some women with depressed mood. Some recent studies comparing specific herbal products to placebo in controlled clinical trials have shown little or no effect for ginseng, dong quai, evening primrose oil, and red clover products on menopausal symptoms. However, there is a long tradition of the use of these and other herbal remedies in menopause.

Learn more about natural approaches which can be used instead of, or in conjunction with, conventional hormone therapy in our Remedies for Menopausal Symptoms.

This article was originally published in the site of Project AWARE. A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing menopausal and premenopausal women with complete and comprehensive information regarding all resources, therapies, and research data currently available, so that armed with this knowledge, women can make informed decisions regarding every healthcare option.

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