HRT Alternatives - Navani Menopause Clinic

Some women may wish to choose Complementary and Alternative therapies . Please refer to this factsheet for further information.

Non hormonal treatments may help vasomotor symptoms and mood changes and are usually recommended when HRT is contraindicated (e.g. in breast cancer survivors). Some patients make an informed choice of starting these instead of HRT.

Alternatives to HRT includes prescribed drugs such as some anti-depressants, and pain-control medications . I am able to guide you through these safe and effective non-hormonal options for symptom control.

Cognitive behavioural therapy maybe be helpful for women with hot flushes, anxiety, low mood and this can be accessed here.

Herbal treatments include black cohosh, red clover, sage, alpha alpha. There is some evidence that these can ease symptoms in the short term, but long term data is lacking. These should not be taken if you are at a moderate to high risk of breast cancer as they contain plant oestrogens and their safety is uncertain. They can also interact with anti-hypertensives and other medications.

There is a problem about purity, safety and quality with herbal medications but if a product is approved by MHRA it is given a THR stamp.

Some herbal remedies have a THR logo, a traditional herbal registration logo which is a certification by MHRA, a UK Regulatory Body.

Further information can be accessed here.

Diet

Certain foods may help alleviate the symptoms of the menopause. Phytoestrogens (plant oestrogens) are found in soya products such as soya milk, tofu celery, green beans, flaxseeds, linseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, burgen bread, lentils, red kidney beans, chick peas , haricot beans , Japanese tempeh and miso.

Omega 3 fatty acids in oily fish and eggs may improve joint pains, brain fog.

Lifestyle changes and Weight loss

This is an ideal opportunity to discuss life style intervention to reduce risk of heart disease and also improve menopausal symptoms. Regular exercise, maintaining or achieving a healthy weight, reducing alcohol intake and smoking will improve long term heath conditions and quality of life.

Research has suggested weight loss reduces hot flushes and sweats. Fat appears to be an insulator and interferes with heat loss.

Some women can identify specific triggers such as hot spicy food, alcohol, hot drinks, caffeine drinks which sets off vasomotor symptoms. Avoiding these and cooling down measures such as dressing in layers, wearing pure cotton may help reduce vasomotor symptoms.

Sleep disturbances may be helped by sleep hygiene measures and Magnesium supplements.