Should i take hormones for hot flashes

As with any medication, talk with your doctor about whether this is the right medication for you and how you might manage any possible side effects. Some women may choose to take hormones to treat their hot flashes or night sweats. A hormone is a chemical substance made by an organ like the thyroid gland or ovary. During the menopausal transition, the ovaries begin to work less effectively, and the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone declines over time.

It is believed that such changes cause hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Hormone therapy steadies the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. It is a very effective treatment for hot flashes in women who are able to use it. They can also help with vaginal dryness , sleep , and maintaining bone density. Hormone treatments sometimes called menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT can take the form of pills, patches, rings, implants, gels, or creams.

Patches, which stick to the skin, may be best for women with cardiac risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease. Skip to main content. Hormonal system endocrine. Home Hormonal system endocrine. Hormone replacement therapy HRT and menopause. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. These side effects will usually settle within the first few months of treatment and may include: breakthrough bleeding breast tenderness bloating nausea.

Breast cancer and HRT Women over 50 years of age who use combined oestrogen and progestogen progesterone replacement for less than five years have little or no increased risk of breast cancer.

Cardiovascular disease and HRT Women over 60 have a small increased risk of developing heart disease or stroke on combined oral tablet HRT. Venous thrombosis and HRT Venous thromboses are blood clots that form inside veins. Endometrial cancer and HRT The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Ovarian cancer and HRT The increased risk of ovarian cancer is very small and estimated to be one extra case per 10, HRT users per year.

Cholecystitis and HRT Cholecystitis is a disease in which gallstones in the gallbladder block ducts, causing infection and inflammation. HRT does not cause weight gain Weight gain at the menopause is related to age and lifestyle factors. Long-term use of HRT It is currently believed that, overall, the risks of long-term more than five years use of HRT outweigh the benefits.

HRT for breast cancer survivors It is advisable for women with a history of breast cancer to avoid HRT unless other treatments are ineffective, and their quality of life is made intolerable by menopausal symptoms. Phytoestrogens and history of breast cancer It is not recommended that women at high risk of breast cancer , or breast cancer survivors, take highly processed soy supplements which are high in phytoestrogens , but eating moderate amounts of whole soy foods appears to be healthy.

Other treatments for menopausal symptoms Studies have shown that some prescription medications can reduce hot flushes and sweats. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all hormonal system endocrine. From other websites Australasian Menopause Society. Hormone replacement therapy, Therapeutic Goods Administration. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Diagnosis Your doctor can usually diagnose hot flashes based on a description of your symptoms. Treatment The most effective way to relieve the discomfort of hot flashes is to take estrogen, but taking this hormone carries risks. More Information Paced breathing: Help with hot flashes?

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Hot flashes: Manage without medication? Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Hot flashes adult. Mayo Clinic; Santen RJ, et al. Menopausal hot flashes. Accessed Feb. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. Reaffirmed Lobo RA, et al. Menopause and care of the mature woman. In: Comprehensive Gynecology. Elsevier; Hormone therapy is most often used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.

Hormone therapy has also been proved to prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women. However, there are risks associated with using hormone therapy. These risks depend on the type of hormone therapy, the dose, how long the medication is taken and your individual health risks. For best results, hormone therapy should be tailored to each person and reevaluated every so often to be sure the benefits still outweigh the risks.

Hormone replacement therapy primarily focuses on replacing the estrogen that your body no longer makes after menopause. There are two main types of estrogen therapy:. If you haven't had your uterus removed, your doctor will typically prescribe estrogen along with progesterone or progestin progesterone-like medication. This is because estrogen alone, when not balanced by progesterone, can stimulate growth of the lining of the uterus, increasing the risk of endometrial cancer.

If you have had your uterus removed hysterectomy , you may not need to take progestin. In the largest clinical trial to date, hormone replacement therapy that consisted of an estrogen-progestin pill Prempro increased the risk of certain serious conditions, including:. All of these risks should be considered by you and your doctor when deciding whether hormone therapy might be an option for you. If you haven't had a hysterectomy and are using systemic estrogen therapy, you'll also need progestin.

Your doctor can help you find the delivery method that offers the most benefits and convenience with the least risks and cost. You may be able to manage menopausal hot flashes with healthy-lifestyle approaches such as keeping cool, limiting caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and practicing paced relaxed breathing or other relaxation techniques. There are also several nonhormone prescription medications that may help relieve hot flashes.

For vaginal concerns such as dryness or painful intercourse, a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant may provide relief. You might also ask your doctor about the prescription medication ospemifene Osphena , which may help with episodes of painful intercourse.