What should women do if they are concerned about taking menopausal hormones?
Although menopausal hormones have short-term benefits such as relief from hot flashes and vaginal dryness, several health concerns are associated with their use. Women should discuss with their health care provider whether to take menopausal hormones and what alternatives may be appropriate for them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently advises women to use menopausal hormones for the shortest time and at the lowest dose possible to control symptoms. The FDA publication Menopause and hormones provides additional information about the risks and benefits of hormone use for menopausal symptoms. This resource is available at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118624.htm on the Internet. • What are the alternatives for women who choose not to take menopausal hormones? To decrease the risk of chronic disease, women can adopt a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, limiting the consumption of alcohol, and not starting to smoke o
