Menopause

About 80 percent of post-menopausal women experience physical changes caused by the declining level of estrogen. The Korean Society of Menopause says the most common symptoms are hot flushes (61%), forgetfulness (48%), palpitation (47%), pain in bone or muscles (46%), perspiration (44%) and depression (39%). These symptoms tend to naturally die down, but you need treatment if they are acute.

Hormone Therapy-

On average, women experience menopause at the age of 51. Irregular periods and above-mentioned symptoms precede menopause. If you do not have your period at least six months after the last period, you can safely assume that you have reached menopause. If your symptoms are acute, you can take anti-depressants, hypertension medicines or hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy is the most common. Hormone preparations are a chemical drug, most of which are in the form of pills. They are convenient to take, but they can raise the level of triglyceride, which causes disruptions in the digestive system and vascular ailments. Hormone patches are free from the triglyceride problem, but can cause rashes.

More-than-five-years of hormone preparations can increase the risk of breast cancer and stroke. Avoid hormone therapy if your family has a breast cancer history or a breast cancer patient, or you have undiagnosed lumps in your breast. It is also better not to take the therapy if you have tumors in your ovary or have endometritis. If you have cholelithiasis, you should also avoid the therapy, since it could create blood clots which increase the incidence of stroke. Recently, doctors tend to prescribe low-dose hormone pills. You must take hormone preparations according to a doctor’s prescription.

Plant Hormones-

The downside of the chemical hormone preparations has prompted a therapy using estrogen extracted from plants. Plant hormones have no side effects but shows weak efficacy. As they are categorized as over-the-counter drugs or foods, you can buy them without prescriptions.

Black cohosh, isoflavon and gamma linolenic acid are among the materials which contain plant hormones. Black cohosh has been used for more than 50 years to treat post-menopausal symptoms in Europe. In Korea, “Feramin-Q” made by Dong Kook Pharm contains the material. The medicine was approved of its efficacy and safety through clinical tests by seven university hospitals of the country. The twice-a-day pill sells for 30,000 to 40,000 won per bottle.

Isoflavon, which is mainly concentrated in soys and elements in date palms and pomegranates, are known as sources of female hormones, but their effects are not clear. Kang Byeong-mun, professor at Asan Medical Center, said, “If taken continuously, plant hormone will be a viable alternative for not only ordinary people but also those who refuse to take the existing chemical hormone preparations and high-risk menopausal women who cannot receive hormone therapy.”

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