Yahoo Lifestyle Nearly half a million Australian women are using alternative menopause therapy
New research has revealed nearly half a million Australian women receive alternative treatment for menopause symptoms. Photo: Getty
Almost 500,000 Australian women aged between 40 and 65 are using alternative and herbal treatments, a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia has found.
According to researchers from Monash University, the 2020 women surveyed were turning to alternative therapies often recommended by their doctors.
Experts have called for stronger education on the benefits of conventional treatment, such as hormone replacement therapy, which has in the past received a bad reputation over its safety.
Of the 2020 women surveyed, recruited from a representative database reflecting the Australian electoral role, 13.2% reported to having had at least one complementary therapy to treat symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushes, vaginal dryness and flushes.
The most common alternative treatments were phytoestrogens (taken from plant compounds, like soy), evening primrose oil and ginseng. They also found that 8.3% of women had seen an alternative health professional – such as a naturopath or chiropractor – for menopause symptoms.
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However researchers warn that when it comes to alternative therapies, “The effects are not always desirable with the known side-effects of ginseng including hypertension, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, skin eruptions and vaginal bleeding,” the study said.
“A national survey found that about a third of Australian general practitioners self-identified as practising complementary therapy, It is a cause for concert that a sizeable portion of Australian practitioners are recommending ineffective therapies.”
Bottom line: natural options may be worth a try, but perhaps its important to reconsider it as an alternative to more conventional options. In a lot of cases, hormone therapy is an effective fix: relieving everything from night sweats to mood changes to reduced sex drive.
Plus, HRT may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and colorectal cancer, so it’s important to discuss all your options with your GP.
