Treatment Options
Finding the best treatment options for Menopause can be confusing. There is a lot of information available from all sorts of media, some of it misleading. We have put together some of the more relevant treatment options that we are able to provide at Como Diagnostic.
HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or is a form of hormone therapy which is used to treat symptoms associated with menopause in women.
It is particularly effective in alleviating hot flushes. The main types are based on hormones, such as oestrogen, progesterone & testosterone that occur in naturally in the body.
Current international recommendations say that the benefits outweigh the risks in women who are having significant symptoms from menopause and that HRT is effective and safe for most healthy women. (For more information regarding benefits & risks associated with HRT – click here)
Types of HRT
Bio-Identical HRT
Bio-identical hormones are specifically compounded by a compounding pharmacist, and can be prescribed at the lowest effective dose to reduce symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and disturbed sleep. There is some evidence to suggest that some women may benefit from non standard doses of HRT that compounded HRT can provide.
Bio-identical hormones can be compounded to specific dosage amounts and dosage forms including capsules, topical creams and gels, suppositories and sublingual trochesor lozenges.
HRT – Standardised Pharmaceutical HRT
Standardised Pharmaceutical HRT of pre-set dosages of hormones are effective in reducing symptoms of menopause and are available in a number of different forms – capsule, skin patch,cream etc.
For more information about HRT click here
Non Hormonal Prescription Medicine
There is a select group of women for whom hormonal treatment is not considered safe or for whom hormonal supplementation is not effective for relieving hot flushes
In cases such as these some anti depressants known as SSRIs(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and nerve pain medication such as Gabapentin have been shown to be effective in relieving hot flushes
Hair Loss Treatment
One of the main concerns we hear when a woman is progressing through menopause is hair loss or hair becoming dry and thinned. Hair begins to lack lustre,looks damaged and just isn’t as lush as it used to be and this can become problematic for many women.
HRT can have an impact on hair quality but there are a range of prescription medications, topical and oral that can improve hair quality & thickness.
Complementary Medicines
There are a number of supplements that can help alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause.
Our team of highly qualified Medical Nutritionists and Dr. Sandi can suggest appropriate therapies should the need arise.
