| Symptom |
Treatment |
Pros
and Cons of Treatment |
| Hot
flashes |
Vitamin
E |
Pros:
May reduce number and severity of hot flashes
Cons: No toxicity of Vitamin E; some people get headaches
|
| Clonidine |
Pros:
Effective treatment; extra dosage can be given at night to
prevent awakening
Cons: Tiredness or dizziness in some women |
| Megestrol
acetate |
Pros:
Effective progestin treatment for hot flashes
Cons: Weight gain; not studied well in women who have had
breast cancer |
| SSRI
drugs |
Pros:
Shown to be effective for hot flashes and also for depression
Cons: Causes mood changes; can affect sex drive |
| Estrogen* |
Pros:
Very effective at relieving hot flashes; also helps prevent
vaginal thinning; prevents bone loss
Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer; increased risk of uterine
cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased
risk of blood clots |
| |
|
|
| Dry
vagina and painful intercourse |
Vaginal
moisturizers |
Pros:
Instantly effective moisturizer; over-the-counter solution
Cons: Some people don't like these products, because of consistency
or smell; does not thicken the vaginal lining |
| Water-soluble
lubricants |
Pros:
Instantly effective moisturizer; over-the-counter solution
Cons: Some people don't like these products because of their
consistency or smell; does not thicken the vaginal lining |
| Vaginal
estrogen ring |
Pros:
Helps keep vaginal tissue from thinning
Cons: Small increased risks compared with higher doses
of estrogen |
| Estrogen*
(by mouth) |
Pros:
Helps keep vaginal tissue from thinning; also helps prevent
bone loss; very effective against hot flashes
Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer; increased risk of uterine
cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased
risk of blood clots |
| |
|
|
| Bone loss |
Vitamin
D |
Pros:
Helps body absorb calcium
Cons: Large amounts of vitamin D can cause build-up of calcium
in blood, which could lead to heart and lung problems |
| Calcitonin |
Pros:
Slows bone breakdown
Cons: Headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, lack of desire for eating,
nose bleeds (with nasal form) |
| Bisphosphonates |
Pros:
Very effective against bone loss
Cons: Common to have gastrointestinal problems when taking
these drugs; can cause injury to esophagus unless taken with
lots of water while sitting upright or standing |
| Tamoxifen |
Pros:
Lowers risk of breast cancer; reduces risk of fractures
Cons: Increases risk of uterine cancer, blood clots; more
hot flashes; irregular vaginal bleeding |
| Raloxifene |
Pros:
May lower risk of breast cancer; prevents fractures
Cons: Increases risk of blood clots; hot flashes; leg cramps |
| Estrogen* |
Pros:
Helps prevent vaginal tissue from thinning; also helps prevent
bone loss; very effective against hot flashes
Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer; increased risk of uterine
cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased
risk of blood clots |
| |
|
|
| Depression
and mood changes |
Counseling |
Pros:
Can be empowering to understand your physical and mental challenges
at this time of life and discuss them with a mental health
expert
Cons: Can be expensive |
| SSRI
drugs |
Pros:
Shown to be effective for hot flashes and also for depression
Cons: May cause mood changes; can affect sex drive |
| Estrogen* |
Pros:
Very effective at preventing bone loss and preventing fractures;
very effective at preventing hot flashes; prevents vaginal
tissue thinning; may reduce the risk of dementia (in younger
menopausal women taking HT for 10 years or more)
Cons: Increased risk of dementia; increased risk of breast
cancer; increased risk of uterine cancer if estrogen is taken
without progesterone; increased risk of blood clots; increased
risk of dementia (in women 65 years and older taking HT for
five years or less) |
| |
|
|
| Breast
cancer risk |
Estrogen* |
Pros:
Women who have had breast cancer or who are at high risk for
having breast cancer probably should not take estrogen (estrogen's
benefits are discussed throughout this table)
Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer; increased risk of uterine
cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased
risk of blood clots |
| Tamoxifen |
Pros:
Lowers risk of breast cancer; reduces risk of fractures
Cons: Increases risk of uterine cancer, blood clots; more
hot flashes; irregular vaginal bleeding |
| Raloxifene |
Pros:
May lower the risk of breast cancer; prevents fractures
Cons: Increases risk of blood clots; more hot flashes; leg
cramps |
Menopause Care, Symptoms, Medications, Treatments, Resources and Current News