Hot flashes and insomnia aren’t high on anyone’s list of things they want to deal with. But they are 2 of the common symptoms many women experience while going through menopause — and they can last a long time.
“We now know that hot flashes and night sweats last an average of 7 to 9 years,” says Stephanie S. Faubion, MD. She’s the director of the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health and the medical director of the North American Menopause Society. “And for up to a third of women, they can last a decade or more,” she adds.
As women age, their bodies make less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This decline in hormones leads to menopause, or the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), you’re officially in menopause for a year after your last period.
The transition to menopause often begins between ages 45 and 55, according to the NIA. Because hormones such as estrogen play a large role in your body, these changes can also bring on a bunch of rather unwelcome symptoms. Hot flashes, changes in your period, vaginal dryness and needing to urinate more often are just a few.
“The reality is that these symptoms may last a long time and are quite bothersome and disruptive for many women,” says Dr. Faubion. The good news: There are safe and effective therapies that are underused, she says.
Here are some ways to cope with these symptoms — and get back to what matters most.
(Another thing that matters: Finding the best price on prescription medication. Download our free mobile app to get started today.)
Coping strategy #1: Hormone therapy
Your doctor might recommend hormone therapy if menopause symptoms are affecting your quality of life. “Hormone therapy remains the most effective therapy for menopause symptoms and hot flashes specifically,” Dr. Faubion says.
It boosts your levels of estrogen and progesterone to help relieve symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Depending on what kind your doctor prescribes, it may be available as a pill, patch or cream. They come as estrogen-only (for example, Alora®, Estrace®), progestin-only (Provera®) or a combination of the 2 (Angeliq®, Activella®).
As with all medications, there are risks from hormone therapy. They include blood clots, stroke, gallstones and breast cancer with long-term use. “But for most healthy women under 60 and those within 10 years of their last menstrual period, the benefits typically outweigh the risks,” adds Dr. Faubion.
Coping strategy #2: Low-dose antidepressants
Certain antidepressants may help with hot flashes, anxiety and depression, says Cynthia Flynn, MD. She’s a gynecologist with the ask-an-expert site JustAnswer.com. They’re called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They increase the hormone serotonin in the brain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes are thought to happen when dipping estrogen levels cause your body’s thermostat (the hypothalamus in your brain) to become more sensitive to changing temps. The hot (or cold) flashes are your body’s way of coping.
How SSRIs help cool hot flashes isn’t really known. But it’s thought that serotonin may curb some of this sensitivity. In fact, the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil®, Brisdelle®) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat menopausal hot flashes.
Coping strategy #3: Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers
You don’t have to live with vaginal dryness. Lubricants and moisturizers can help. Some, such as Astroglide®, can be bought over the counter. Their effects are temporary, but they can help with discomfort during sex.
Others, such as Premarin®, are available by prescription. They contain estrogen, which may actually help rebuild vaginal tissue. In general, they come as insertable creams, tablets or rings.
Coping strategy #4: Osteoporosis medication
Your bones are constantly being remodeled. (In fact, your skeleton completely regenerates itself about every 10 years, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)
Estrogen helps keep this process in balance. And when the body stops making as much estrogen during menopause, it can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.
That’s why some doctors prescribe medication such as raloxifene (Evista®) to lower the risk of bone loss and breaks. Your doctor also might want you to take a vitamin D supplement to protect your bones, says Dr. Flynn.
