Is It Hot in Here? Everything You Need to Know About HRT for Menopausal Night Sweats
IS IT HOT IN HERE? EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HRT FOR MENOPAUSAL NIGHT SWEATS
Everything You Need to Know About HRT for Menopausal Night Sweats
The menopause transition typically happens between the ages of 45-55, and the transition process can take anywhere from 7 years to as long as 14 years! Menopause symptoms can be uncomfortable, and night sweats are often a part of menopause.
You don't have to suffer from night sweats. You need your rest. Here's what you need to know about HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for menopausal night sweats.
About Menopausal Night Sweats
About 85 percent of women have hot flashes during menopause. Hot flashes can happen for an average of 5.2 years. If you get them early in your menopause, they may last longer.
Women get night sweats and hot flashes during menopause because of the body's changing hormone levels. This includes both progesterone and estrogen. These hormones help regulate body temperature, so this is why women struggle with hot flashes.
A hot flush is a sudden feeling of warmth, excessive sweating, and flushing. The frequency of hot flashes varies between people, and some women experience them daily.
Ways to Stay Comfortable
There are a few ways you can treat these hot flashes and try to stay comfortable. Try dressing in layers, so you can remove clothing as you get warm. If you are staying up at night, try keeping your bedroom cooler during bedtime to help you sleep or having a fan near your bedside.
You should also avoid certain foods like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. These foods can make your menopausal symptoms worse. You should also eat a healthy diet and watch your weight because obese or overweight women experience more severe and frequent hot flashes.
Try managing your stress. You can try various programs such as yoga, meditation, or relaxation breathing.
You can also take a cool shower in the morning and before bed to help bring your temperature down. If you experience a hot flash during the day, run cool water on your wrists.
You can also try different medications to help replace these hormones and help you stay comfortable. This treatment is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What Is HRT?
When you enter menopause, your estrogen levels drop. The lower estrogen levels cause symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. HRT replaces these female hormones that the body no longer makes after menopause.
HRT can also be effective to help prevent bone loss and reduce risks for fractures.
There are various types of HRT depending on your health and medical history—for example, if you have had a hysterectomy.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
If you have had a hysterectomy, you may need to have a low dose of estrogen. There are a few options including:
Daily pills
Patches
Vaginal ring, gel, or spray
Topical estrogen
Most of these medications are used daily to help regulate estrogen levels and keep them consistent. Some of the creams can be used daily, weekly, or as needed.
Hormone Therapy for Estrogen, Progestin, and Progesterone
Another type of HRT is a combination therapy that combines various hormones. This type of therapy is typically used for women that still have their uteruses. Progesterone is generally used for birth control but can also help treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
Various types of combination HRT include oral pills. These pills should be taken daily just like birth control pills or other medication to help keep hormone levels regulated.
Why Consider HRT?
This can be the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. If you have any of the following, it may be beneficial for you:
Have lost bone mass
Experience severe hot flashes and other symptoms
Stopped periods before age 40
Women with early menopause or who have lost their ovaries before 45 are at a higher risk for the following medical conditions:
Heart disease
Osteoporosis
Anxiety
Depression
Parkinson's
Earlier death
Your age and menopause symptoms can affect your risks with hormone therapy. You should talk to your doctor about your risks.
Risks of HRT
People with these conditions should avoid HRT:
Heart attack
Breast, endometrial, or uterine cancer
Blood clots
Liver disease
Heart disease
Stroke
Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
There are also some possible side effects. You should call your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Mood changes
Breast tenderness or swelling
Headaches
Bloating
Vaginal bleeding
Nausea
If you are bothered by menopausal symptoms and started menopause after 45, you may be able to manage your symptoms with lifestyle changes. Your doctor will tailor your medication based on your body's history.
HRT risks vary depending also if you are taking estrogen alone or with progestin, dose and type, and other health factors including your family medical history. HRT can increase your chances of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, and blood clots.
Other Medications
Some people take herbal remedies to help with menopausal symptoms. There is little research about how effective they are, and herbal supplements can have harmful side effects or interact with your other medications. This is why you should always discuss with your doctor before taking any new supplements.
Common supplements to relieve hot flashes include black cohosh and phytoestrogens.
There are a few other medications prescribed for hot flashes if you can't do HRT. Antidepressants can relieve and reduce night sweats and hot flashes, but they are not as effective as HRT. They may be an option if you can't receive HRT.
A few other prescription medications used for hot flashes include Gabapentin, which is used to treat seizures, and Clonidine, an anti-hypertensive drug to lower blood pressure. You should discuss with your doctor because they are used to treat other conditions, so they may not work for you if you have other medical conditions.
Final Thoughts
You don't have to suffer from menopausal night sweats and severe hot flashes. Deciding on how to treat your menopausal transition is a personal decision you should discuss with your doctor.
Every person is different. Some women only have occasional hot flashes while others suffer from daily occurrences that affect daily life. You can try treating with the home remedies above or discuss medication like hormone therapy.
If you are interested in hearing more about hormone therapy, contact us today. We would be happy to answer your questions to help you feel and look young again.
