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Menopause and Perimenopause - Home Treatment
The years just before and after menopause (perimenopause and postmenopause) are an especially important time of your life to treat your body well. If you haven't been, now is the time to start.
- If you smoke, stop smoking to reduce hot flashes and long-term health risks.
- Exercise regularly to promote both physical and emotional health.
- Practice daily meditative breathing exercises. These exercises may reduce hot flashes and emotional symptoms.
- Limit alcohol intake to reduce menopause symptoms and long-term health risks.
- Make healthy eating a priority. Reduce your consumption of simple sugars and caffeine, which can make menopause symptoms worse. You'll not only feel better but may also prevent long-term health problems.
- Pay attention to how the emotional side of menopause is affecting you. Have a support network, and seek help as needed.
If you have symptoms of perimenopause, you may be able to handle them with self-care measures. Practical ways to manage hot flashes include keeping your environment cool, dressing in layers, and managing stress, especially with slow, rhythmic breathing (paced respiration) or relaxation exercises. Measures to improve vaginal dryness and muscle tone include using a vaginal lubricant and doing Kegel exercises regularly.
As the body ages, the risks of developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and other long-term health problems naturally increase. Your most powerful preventive and antiaging medicine is a healthy lifestyle.
- Reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Keep up your calcium and vitamin D intake by eating foods that are rich in calcium and by taking supplements.
- Improve bladder control with regular Kegel exercises. For more information, see the topic Urinary Incontinence in Women.
- Use birth control measures to prevent unexpected pregnancy during perimenopause.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Menopause and Perimenopause Topics
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
Ob-Gyn Laura Corio talks about the importance of exercise during menopause.
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