The Latest Treatment Options to Consider
You may have been told that hot flashes are a “natural” part of menopause, but that doesn’t mean you have to tough them out, Cohn says.
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“Although menopause and hot flashes may be ‘normal’ or ‘common,’ that doesn’t mean that women have to suffer through them. If these symptoms are disruptive to your life, that’s a reason to seek treatment,” Cohn says.
And you get to decide what counts as disruptive. “I don’t get to be the boss of how severe their symptoms are,” Christmas says. Whether hot flashes interrupt your sleep, interfere with work, or simply make you uncomfortable, it’s worth discussing your treatment with your doctor. Here are some options to explore.
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Estrogen can be delivered through patches, gels, pills, or sprays, but if you have a uterus, you generally also need progestogen to protect its lining.[13]
Talk to your doctor about whether HRT is appropriate for you. If you have a more complex medical history, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or an increased risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease, Noble says it may be helpful to consult a menopause specialist.
Nonhormonal Medications For women who don’t want hormones or aren’t HRT candidates, there are effective nonhormonal options as well, Rahman says.
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Behavioral and Lifestyle Approaches Try not to think of treatment in silos, Christmas says. Medication can be combined with tools, such as psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.
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Wearing layers, practicing good sleep hygiene, and using a fan and lighter bedding can make episodes more comfortable, but Rahman says these measures don’t address the underlying physiology causing the hot flash.
“We don’t have to make women fail every lifestyle intervention before discussing medication,” Rahman says. “We have effective treatments.”
