Extract

What is menopause?

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual periods. Production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuates in the years leading up to menopause, then declines. Symptoms may include hot flashes and night sweats, disturbed sleep, vaginal dryness or itching, bladder problems, and mood changes.

Women have a number of options for treating menopausal symptoms, including estrogen—currently the most effective treatment for many menopausal symptoms—non-estrogen prescription drugs, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

What is CAM?

CAM refers to practices and products that are not usually considered to be part of mainstream medicine. CAM includes herbs and other plant-based treatments (botanicals), non-botanical supplements, and mind-body therapies.

What about CAM treatments for menopausal symptoms?

Many CAM treatments are available (see table). Some women find them helpful but most CAM treatments have not been proven to be more effective than placebo in scientific studies. (A placebo is an inactive treatment designed to resemble the treatment being studied.)

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