Premenopause Treatments
Approximately 70 percent of women approaching menopause experience premenopausal symptoms. These symptoms of the imbalance of hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone can last for a few months, years or for the rest of their lives. Treatments range from conventional hormonal-replacement therapy to alternative medicine. Various female cancers, heart disease and other illnesses have been associated with the conventional medical approach. The alternative approach is called bio-identical hormone therapy.
Symptoms of a Hormonal Imbalance
Many women experience hot flashes, night sweats, hair loss, facial hair, mood swings, depression, lack of motivation in normal activities, weight gain and heart palpitations during premenopause. These symptoms can interfere with daily life, and the disruptions have sent women to their doctors and alternative health practitioners for solutions.
Conventional Treatment and Risks
After a blood hormone test, conventional medicine involves replacing estrogen or using a estrogen-progestin combination.
A study of women taking a estrogen-progestin combination were at a slightly higher risk of developing heart disease, breast cancer, stroke or blood clots than women taking a placebo. Estrogen remains the most effective treatment for relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. It can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse. For women taking estrogen alone, there was no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease, but there was an increases risk of stroke and blood clots as well as more abnormalities in mammogram tests.
Alternative Treatment and Risks
Alternative treatment involves lifestyle changes, acupuncture or herbal remedies. Since acupuncture can be costly and bring slow results, herbal remedies provide the easiest solution for most women. There are two types of herbs to help balance women's hormones during premenopause; phytoestrogen herbs such as black cohosh and dong quai, and non-estrogenic herbs such as Macafem that nourish the hormonal glands.
The risks aren't as life altering with alternative therapy, but there are some with the phytoestrogen herbs. Due to the fact that the they replace some of the missing hormones, women's bodies will produce less of their own and can cause the woman to become dependent on the herbs. Non-estrogenic herbs such as macafem pose a lower risk because they stimulate the woman's hormone glands to naturally produce the needed hormones rather than replace them.
Lifestyle Changes
Although a lifestyle change is the healthiest and safest way to eliminate premenopausal symptoms, it is the most difficult because of many restrictions and requirements. Some of these changes include a diet of estrogenic foods (including soy, yams, apples, cherries, and other healthy natural foods), a regular exercise program, reducing stress, and eliminating processed sugar and flour.
Before Starting Something New
Medicine isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Before making any changes, whether they're conventional, alternative or lifestyle, discuss them with your doctor.
Tags: heart disease, herbs such, women taking, blood clots, breast cancer, during premenopause, estrogen-progestin combination
