The Emotional Rollercoaster of Menopause

[OakLeaf]

I'm sure localized applications are way safer than oral hormones, but there's going to be some systemic effect from any hormones. There's a thread going on right now about someone who had systemic side effects from cortisone injections in her joints. Most of the OTC "bioidentical" hormones are applied on the skin and meant to have systemic effects.

The whole thing scares me, especially after this summer. I'd used the progesterone cream on and off during perimenopause, and now I don't know whether that caused the cell proliferation, slowed it, or had no effect. Osteoporosis is one thing, but menopausal symptoms would have to be really, really awful for me to consider hormones again.

There are also some homeopathic preparations that don't contain hormones, but are meant to stimulate the body to produce more of its own. I don't know anything about those, but it's maybe something to consider.