Simply put, menopause is the end of the childbearing years for women. That is the biological intention of menopause. Women begin their childbearing years by going through a period called "puberty." That one isn't a lot of fun, but the end of the childbearing years for women is called "menopause," and that one is even less fun with the onset of a variety of menopause symptoms.
As the body stops producing the estrogen that is required for monthly ovulation (necessary for childbearing), the body also starts to object to this reduction by making a few chemical changes. It's too bad that there isn't just a switch that can be thrown and the whole process be completed on one fell swoop, then we wouldn't have to worry about menopause treatments.
Unfortunately, that isn't the way that the menopausal process works. It takes time, and during that time the menopause symptoms and side effects that are caused by the chemical change that is taking place aren't all that easy to deal with. They come in the form of menopause weight gain, hot flashes, cold sweats, and a variety of unpleasant, but not life threatening changes to the body.
The shortest route to alleviating the symptoms of menopause is HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). This means that the estrogen that is not being produced by the body is replaced by a man-made version of estrogen. When the body thinks that all the estrogen that it needs is in ample supply, the side effects subside - the body actually has that switch I mentioned earlier!
However, there have been many reports of late that indicate that HRT produces a significantly higher risk of breast cancer. If it isn't one thing, it is another!
Many women are simply toughing out the side effects caused by menopause and other menopause symptoms because they are worried about the breast cancer risk factor of several menopause treatments. Other women are opting to use HRT and hope for the best. Still other women seek natural hormone replacement therapies that pose no added risk for breast cancer.
There is no one right answer for all women on what menopause treatment is the best. You have to make your own decision based on your menopause symptoms, and your ability to deal with them for however long it takes.
