Managing Hot Flashes
Half of all women going through menopause report feeling irritable or depressed. One third will experience vaginal dryness, decreased libido (sexual interest), or painful intercourse. 85% will experience hot flashes, but only half of those women find them disturbing. 50% of women experience hot flashes for five years while more than 20% have hot flashes for less than a year.
TREATMENTS CLAIMED TO BE HELPFUL FOR HOT FLASHES
| TREATMENT |
UPSIDE |
DOWNSIDE |
|---|---|---|
| Estrogen |
Proven to control the symptoms in more than 90% of women |
Discussed above |
| Progesterone Cream |
Proven to reduce the symptoms in 83% of women |
Irritability, raises cholesterol |
| “Natural” Progesterone |
Reputed to reduce hot flashes, but so far there’s Reputed to reduce hot flashes, but so far there’s no scientific proof. Does not raise. Does not raise cholesterol. Suggested dose is 200mg. per day |
Fatigue and sedation (so usually taken at bedtime) |
| Exercise |
May reduce (severe) hot flashes in some women |
NO DOWNSIDE – you should exercise every day whether you have hot flashes or not!! |
| Soy |
Proven to reduce hot flashes by at least 30% |
You must take a large amount of soy daily (60 grams pure soy protein=250 extra calories/day) |
| Black Cohash (herb) |
Not proven to reduce hot flashes (conflicting test results) |
Not recommended for more than 6 months |
| Dong Quai (root) |
None |
No more effective than a placebo |
| Evening Primrose Oil |
None |
No more effective than a placebo |
| Antidepressants |
Not yet proven to help hot flashes |
|
| St. John’s Wort |
Not yet proven to help hot flashes |
|
NOT HELPFUL FOR HOT FLASHES: Flaxseed oil, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, red clover, ginseng, rice bran oil, wild yam, calcium, gotu kola, licorice root, sage, sarsaparilla, passion flower, chaste berry, ginkgo biloba, and valerian root
