perimenopause - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

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|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

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|0 Comments

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|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

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|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

The Effects of Yoga and Exercise on Menopausal Quality of Life

Many women transitioning into the menopause request medical advice on ways to improve their quality of life and to relieve the symptoms associated with the menopausal transition. With concerns regarding the long-term use of estrogen replacement therapy, there has been interest in the use of non-hormonal strategies to manage these symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-12-01T17:21:13-04:00May 20th, 2014|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

Progesterone for Hot Flashes

Following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative report in 2002, there was a dramatic drop in the use of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) due to concerns about increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke. Since that time, various non-hormonal alternatives have been utilized for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, including gabapentin and various serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-07-21T11:32:00-04:00January 28th, 2014|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

Menopausal Hot Flashes More Severe in Cancer Survivors

In a recent study comparing hot flashes in 934 cancer survivors (90% of whom had breast cancer) and 155 age-matched control subjects who never had cancer, researches observed that cancer survivors reported more frequent, severe, and troubling hot flashes.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T08:56:48-04:00August 20th, 2013|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

Clinical Hypnosis is Effective for Menopausal Hot Flashes

In a recent randomized, single-blind, controlled, clinical trial, 187 postmenopausal women reporting at least 7 hot flashes per day received five weekly sessions of either clinical hypnosis or structured-attention control. Hot flash score were assessed by daily diaries on weeks 2 to 6 and at week 12.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T09:22:09-04:00July 26th, 2013|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

FDA Approves Nonhormonal Drug for Hot Flashes: Low-Dose Paroxetine to be Marketed as Brisdelle

The FDA recently approved a 7.5-mg formulation of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine mesylate for the treatment of hot flashes. It will be marketed under the name of Brisdelle.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T09:25:00-04:00July 15th, 2013|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

Hypnotherapy for Hot Flashes

Peri- and post-menopausal women have various options for the management of hot flashes, including hormone replacement therapy, SSRIs, and gabapentin. It looks as if hypnosis may also be helpful. In a recent study, researchers randomly assigned postmenopausal women to hypnotherapy or "structured attention," which was used as a control intervention.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T09:39:06-04:00October 28th, 2012|Menopausal Symptoms|2 Comments