vasomotor symptoms - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines for Menopausal Hot Flashes

Approximately seventy percent of all women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms) during the menopause transition (Stearns et al. 2002). Until recently, estrogen therapy was the treatment of choice for most women who sought treatment for hot flashes. Since the results of the Women's Health Initiative in 2002 noted risks of prolonged use of hormone therapy in older postmenopausal women (Roussouw et al. 2002), many women pursue other treatments for their hot flashes, including over-the-counter complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), including soy isoflavones, black cohosh, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, there is limited evidence to support the use of these treatments for hot flashes to date.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:41:43-04:00May 29th, 2009|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Phytoestrogens and Menopause

For decades, estrogen was used as a component of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms and for anticipated preventative health benefits in women with prostesterone, or as a monotherapy hormone treatment in women after hysterectomy, but after studies reported that long-term estrogen increase the prevalence of cardiovascular events and breast cancer, many patients and researchers have looked into alternative treatments such as food or products containing phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are weak plant-derived estrogens that are structurally similar to estrogen hormones produced by the body.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:26:11-04:00January 20th, 2009|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Women with Breast Cancer

Many women report vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, during the menopausal transition. While estrogen is clearly one of the most effective treatments for vasomotor symptoms, recent concerns regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have made treaters much more reluctant to recommend HRT, even for short-term management of vasomotor symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T15:17:58-04:00September 30th, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

Sleep Problems in Menopausal Women

Peri- and post-menopausal women frequently complain of insomnia or poor sleep quality. Sleep disturbance is often attributed to nocturnal hot flashes; however, a recent study from researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine suggests that about half of these women may have a primary sleep disorder.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T10:44:52-04:00November 3rd, 2007|Menopausal Symptoms, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Sleep Disorders|Comments Off

Escitalopram for Menopause-Related Depression and Vasomotor Symptoms

Every year more than 1.7 million women in the United States enter into menopause. During this time of hormonal fluctuations it is typical for women to experience hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbance. More recently, studies have identified an association between menopausal transition and an increased risk for developing depressive symptoms (Harlow et al., 2003; Freeman et al., 2004). It is not clear how physicians and patients should deal with menopause-related physical and emotional symptoms. While hormone therapy effectively treats insomnia and hot flashes, the results have been mixed in treating mood and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, the safety of long-term use of hormone therapy is not known.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-23T14:19:33-04:00December 30th, 2005|Depressive Disorders, Medication, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off