How to Menopause

Content Warning: This section contains references to sexual content.

Fadal explores the various treatment options for menopausal symptoms, advocating most strongly for hormone therapy (HT). She admits that she spent years fearing HT due to the slightly increased risk of breast cancer (which was widely misreported in the early 2000s and left many women fearing HT). Fadal reached a point of desperation and finally decided to try it, and she never looked back. Her symptoms (like hot flashes and mood swings) did not disappear, but they were reduced enough that she could manage them.

Hormone therapy uses estrogen, progesterone, and occasionally testosterone. Despite common perception, it does not increase risk of death or heart disease and may even help prevent osteoporosis. HT can be taken in a wide variety of forms, from pills to patches to topical creams. Fadal asserts that vaginal creams do not get metabolized by the liver and thus do not carry the risks that pill-form estrogen can have. There are some side effects that could indicate an issue with HT use, such as blurry vision and fluid retention, but close communication with a doctor is key.