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Estrogen therapy is recommended to treat the symptoms that are caused by lower level of estrogens such as hot flashes, breast tenderness, worse premenstrual syndrome. Past research has cause wary in doctors and patients to recommend or seek Estrogen therapy as an option when experience these symptoms. “Women are suffering unnecessarily from the negative impact of hot-flushes on their day-to-day lives when many of them could safely and effectively be treated with hormone therapy,” Kristen A. Matteson, MD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. There is current debate and discrepancy with the studies findings that the Womens Health Initiative conducted who came to the conclusion that estrogen therapy or hormone therapy as it is commonly known increases your risk of breast cancer along with heart disease and stroke. The recommended next step is to broach the conversation with your doctor as the risks vary from person to person but it is an option worth looking into.

1.“Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 24 May 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372.

2.Karras, Tula. “Estrogen Therapy Is Underused in Women in Their 40s and 50s, Due to Outdated Thinking.” EndocrineWeb, PracticalPainManagement, 17 Oct. 2017, www.endocrineweb.com/news/other-endocrine-disorders/57541-estrogen-therapy-underused-women-their-40s-50s-due-outdated-thi.

Mindfulness therapy
With hormone usage presenting health risks, non-medicinal remedies for menopause symptom management are increasingly available. New research presents the effect of mindfulness methods to manage hot flashes and night sweats. Mindfulness meditation, the active, non-judgmental focus on ones thoughts, improves emotional regulation and decreases stress and fatigue. A cohort of late peri-menopausal and early post-menopausal women took part in a 9-week mindfulness program where attention was brought to the body via stretches, scans, and meditation. The study showed improvements in sleep quality, anxiety, and stress culminating in an overall increase of self-reported quality of life.

The act of bringing attention to ones present experiences is shown to be a remedy for many psychological conditions but may also increase fear and anxiety if proper practice is not understood. Negative thoughts have shown to impact physical health resulting in higher pain symptoms. Depression is not uncommon during menopause and remaining present and aware of thoughts may reduce discomfort transforming the menopausal experience for women.

Mindfulness practice may reduce bother and intensity of symptoms but thorough research on the risks of inducing unpleasant health-related outcomes is scarce.

Cross Cultural Studies:
In rural Nova Scotia, Canada, a study examined the menopause experience in post menopausal women. Many said that education surrounding menopause related symptoms was needed. The lack of resources has made it hard for the women to understand and decipher what is a reliable source. As a result, most rely on social support as a way to "cope" from the stressors of menopause.

Similarly, a study was conducted in both pre and post menopausal women from Germany and Papua New Guinea. 63.7% pre-menopausal women from Germany had positive perceptions of menopause such as "no menstruations", "retirement", 95.2% of Papua New Guinea women said "no more children" and "no need to buy sanitary towels" as positive aspects of menopause. Hot flashes was the top negative symptom for pre and post menopausal women in Germany. Main negative perceptions of menopause for the women in Papua New Guinea was associated with old age and "fear of illness."

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512204002683 Kowalcek, Ingrid, et al. “Women's Attitudes and Perceptions towards Menopause in Different Cultures.” Cross-Cultural and Intra-Cultural Comparison of Pre-Menopausal and Post-Menopausal Women in Germany and in Papua New Guinea, (Feb. 2004).Retrieved Nov. 19.

2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04522.x Price, Sheri L., et al. “Menopause Experiences of Women in Rural Areas.” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Wiley-Blackwell, 1 Feb. 2008.Retrieved Nov. 19.