Menopausal Symptoms - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

What is S-Equol? Does It Really Work for Menopausal Symptoms?

Approximately 70% of all women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms or VMS) during the menopause transition. Although estrogen-containing hormone therapy is highly effective in managing these symptoms, various studies have raised concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone therapy and many women now use other non-hormonal options to manage their symptoms, including over-the-counter complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), including soy isoflavones, black cohosh, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, the data regarding the effectiveness of these alternative treatments has been mixed.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-03-13T12:29:59-04:00March 13th, 2015|Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Some Risk But No Impact on Mortality

While there are concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone replacement, an increasing number of studies suggest that the risk may be relatively low in certain settings. A study presented this week at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting which analyzed data from 43 randomized clinical trials suggests that menopausal hormone-replacement therapy does not appear to affect mortality either positively or negatively.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-05T10:19:09-04:00March 12th, 2015|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms Last Longer than Five Years for Most Women

Up to 80% of women experience vasomotor symptoms (VMS) as they transition into the menopause phase. While clinical guidelines suggest that VMS typically last from 6 months to 2 years, we often see women with VMS lasting for a much longer period of time. To more accurately assess the duration of VMS in perimenopausal women, researchers analyzed data from 1449 women included in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), an observational study of women entering menopause. Here is a summary of the key findings:

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-02-25T12:02:26-04:00February 25th, 2015|Menopausal Symptoms, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Vitamin D and Menopausal Symptoms

A recent study has explored the association between vitamin D levels and vasomotor symptoms in a group of postmenopausal women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-02-23T17:41:14-04:00December 10th, 2014|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms|Comments Off

New Guidelines Limit Testosterone Supplements for Women

Both men and women produce testosterone. The big difference is that the levels are much lower in women, around 15 to 40 ng/dL. In women, testosterone levels begin to decline gradually after the age of 20. In postmenopausal women, testosterone levels are between 0 and 20 ng/dL. Various symptoms have been attributed to falling levels of testosterone in midlife women, including lower sex drive, decreased muscle mass and bone density, decline in cognitive functioning, and depression. Some refer to this constellation of symptoms as “female androgen insufficiency syndrome”; others debate the clinical validity of this diagnosis in women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-11-18T14:43:18-04:00November 17th, 2014|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

Stimulants Improve Cognitive Functioning in Menopausal Women

Many women report cognitive difficulties -- forgetfulness, distractibility, feeling foggy ---during the transition to menopause. While much attention has been devoted to the treatment of vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats, less [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-29T09:55:04-04:00October 3rd, 2014|ADHD Medications, Cognition, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

CBT is Effective for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Recently, several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that CBT is effective for managing vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-02-23T09:55:30-04:00September 30th, 2014|Menopausal Symptoms, Psychotherapy, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Untreated Menopausal Symptoms: The Bottom Line ($$$)

Here's a new way to look at hot flashes. How much do they cost our society in terms of additional health care and lost productivity?

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-02-11T09:30:22-04:00September 23rd, 2014|Menopausal Symptoms, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Low Dose Paroxetine Improves Sleep in Postmenopausal Symptoms

Last year, the FDA approved the first non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes – a 7.5-mg formulation of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine which was marketed under the name of Brisdelle. A new study [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-06-09T17:53:30-04:00August 25th, 2014|Medication, Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Research from the CWMH: For Menopausal Women Venlafaxine Does Not Appear to Affect Sexual Functioning

While many midlife women are interested in pursuing non-hormonal options for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, they are understandably concerned about taking antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, that, while effective for treating hot [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-09T11:41:33-04:00August 13th, 2014|Menopausal Symptoms, Research at CWMH|Comments Off