If you're going through menopause and your symptoms are mild, you may not need any type of treatment. Everyone is different, so you may have mild symptoms or more severe problems that require medical treatments. Let your doctor know how you're doing and how bad your symptoms are so they can treat you when it's needed. Here are four menopause treatments to consider.

1. Make Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes might help you deal with some symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness if your symptoms are mild. Your doctor might advise you to get more exercise, improve your diet, stop drinking and smoking, adhere to a sleep schedule, give up caffeine, learn stress relief techniques, and use over-the-counter lubricants for vaginal dryness. Making changes in your lifestyle to control your symptoms might help you avoid prescription medications if that's your goal.

2. Take Hormones

Hormone therapy is often beneficial as a menopause treatment. Your doctor might recommend low-dose hormones or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. The type of hormones you take will depend on whether you still have your uterus and other factors. You may take estrogen or a combination of hormones. Your doctor will probably prescribe the lowest dose needed for the shortest period of time and then stop them once your symptoms have resolved.

If vaginal dryness is a problem, the doctor might prescribe estrogen to be used vaginally to help with lubrication and painful sex. Hormones may help with your mood, hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Your doctor can help you decide if you want to try hormone treatments to keep your symptoms under control.

3. Try Medications

You might need medications to help symptoms and side effects of menopause, especially if you don't want to take hormones. Your doctor might start you on medication to prevent osteoporosis if you need it. They might also prescribe medications to help with hot flashes. Some antidepressants and anti-seizure medications can sometimes help with hot flashes. Your doctor might recommend certain over-the-counter treatments such as herbs or melatonin that help with sleep difficulties and other menopause symptoms.

4. Treat Associated Conditions

You might have problems with incontinence when you go through menopause. Your doctor might need to provide treatment or medication for the problem if you're unable to manage it with natural methods. Depression may also require treatment as you go through menopause and your hormones change. Antidepressants may be necessary for your mood, and you may even need counseling until your condition improves.

Share