Hot flashes, night sweats, stress, mood swings, tiredness … Menopause is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, which can however be treated as long as you work well with your doctor. Here is a list of five key mistakes that make managing menopause difficult. *
You are taking supplements without mentioning it to your doctor
Certain vitamins and herbal supplements can relieve you of the discomfort associated with menopause. But you need to know exactly what you are getting and why. For example, you have heard that phytoestrogens fight night sweats, but it is a good idea to seek the advice of your doctor before choosing a related medicine.
You ignore the basics
If you do not get enough sleep, you do not include vegetables in your diet, you do not drink plenty of water and you do not rest, the symptoms of menopause worsen. In addition, it would be helpful to start menopause in good shape. If you approach menopause, try to keep your weight at a normal level with proper exercise and diet.
You believe that hot flashes are a temporary phenomenon
You drown in sweat but you think: “patience, it will pass”. You probably wouldn’t have that kind of resigned attitude, if you knew that this kind of hot flashes probably last more than seven years. If perspiration disrupts your quality of life, the best thing to do is to seek medical advice to treat the condition.
You find that hormone therapy is not for you
Hormone therapy is the most effective tool we have in preventing hot flashes and is safer than you might think, especially for women under the age of 60 or less than a decade before menopause. An experienced doctor can assess the expected benefit with regard to any risk you may be taking. If the latter is considered relatively high, your doctor may refer you to alternatives, one of which is formulations with very low content of a common antidepressant drug.
You give up your right to a quality sex life
Post-menopausal sex has no reason to be “lukewarm” – rather the opposite is true, given that in many families children have already left home. Talking about this with your doctor should in no way be a taboo, as it will help you solve problems, such as vaginal dryness, that degrade sexual intercourse.
* The notes are owned by Kathryn Macaulay, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Head of Menopause Health Program at the University of California.
