An Integrative Approach to Menopause

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Perimenopause has been on your radar for a few years now. And over time, you have started noticing symptoms. Hot flashes, poor sleep, weight gain, and fatigue have started raising their head, and you feel like your body is changing rapidly. Your moods are fluctuating, and you encounter brain fog. 

Nevertheless, you stand firm, enduring and holding steady as you have learned to face the strong winds in your life before. Your confidence is shaking, and you start to wonder how long you will be able to weather the storm. Is this you? Then read on, you have come to the right spot. 

Well, the good news is that you are not alone! In fact, about half of the world’s population is on your side. Menopause is not a topic to be shy about and you need not bear the burden alone. You need not suffer and persevere in quiet solitude. Scientific advances in menopause are surging and women are speaking out like never before. We are reaching a pivotal point where women are asking for research and for options. Women can now choose among various personalized strategies for menopause support. Hormones, non-hormonal therapeutics, vitamins and supplements, and natural remedies are widely available. So, get your research hat on and read, ask, discuss, and reach out to your physician. Get the help you need, find out what’s right for you, and make an informed decision, for you need not be miserable. You can live and age gracefully, in your own terms, in a way that is truly yours!

Hormone Use: Yes or No?

Hormone use in women during menopause has been debated for decades. Historically, hormone replacement therapy or HRT was considered a breakthrough in the mid-20th century. Thought to increase health, vitality, and bone strength, these were widely prescribed. And why not? Who would not wish to prolong youthfulness and alleviate those nasty symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats? However, while the advent of HRT was seen as a milestone in scientific discovery and innovation, the risks eventually surfaced and evoked widespread fear and concern. Large scale studies showed that these medications could increase risks of diseases such as endometrial cancer, breast cancer, blood clots, stroke and heart disease. Result? A black box warning was issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on systemic hormonal formulations so that patients and doctors became cautious about using and prescribing these comfortably. Fast forward to November 2025, after more than 20 years, a comprehensive review of scientific literature prompted the FDA to remove the black box warning on HRT products for menopause. A press release by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced “a historic action to restore gold standard science to women’s health”. 

What does this mean to you? Is there still a risk or not involved with taking hormones? The answer is based on an individualized approach, and not a one size fits all. An evaluation of risks is required by a medical professional to see if you are a candidate for hormone replacement therapy or HRT. Timing is of utmost importance and hormones are best started within 10 years of menopause or before the age of 60. FDA approved, bioidentical hormones which mimic natural human estrogen and progesterone are now available, increasing options for women. Transdermal patches that bypass the liver provide further mitigation of risks of stroke, blood clots, liver and metabolic dysfunction. A discussion about duration of therapy and periodic monitoring by a physician is necessary. 

Used correctly, HRT has a myriad of benefits from reducing risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and bone fractures, besides providing women with a better quality of life by reducing menopausal symptoms. Bottomline? HRT has come a long way and need not be approached with fear anymore! It is a great option when used correctly, at the right time and for the right candidate, with remarkable benefits for a woman’s health and wellbeing. But always, always, discuss the pros and cons with your physician and choose wisely!