Reports from Radio New Zealand have highlighted a national shortage of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) patches, a
crisis echoing the 2019 HRT shortage in the UK. The anxiety and stress caused by these shortages are ironically
exacerbating menopausal symptoms such as mood swings, hot flushes, and anxiety, the very issues HRT aims to alleviate.
The menopause transition significantly impacts many women, particularly in Western societies. Hormone replacement
therapy is widely recognized as the most effective treatment for managing menopausal symptoms. Studies have shown its
efficacy, although results may vary for women over 60 and different ethnicities. However, with the surge in HRT
prescriptions leading to a global shortage, what alternatives are available?
Otago and Waikato Alumni, Dr. Wendy Sweet (PhD) has explored women's health and ageing and the impact of menopause on
women’s exercise response, through her doctoral studies. This has led her towards better understanding of the impact of
menopause hormonal changes and subsequent symptoms on the quality of women's lives.
This has drawn her to become a global expert in the area of alternative lifestyle strategies for menopause symptom
relief, and she often presents on these at lifestyle medicine conferences. Her work is globally recognized for its
contribution to improving the quality of life for midlife women.
"I am not suggesting that women should stop using menopause HRT; this is a decision to make with their doctor. But
evidence is mounting that lifestyle changes can also effectively reduce symptoms," says Dr. Sweet, “especially when we
look at women’s health and ageing studies. Menopause is the ‘bookend to puberty’ so to me, exploring menopause symptoms
through the lens of women’s longevity studies made so much sense.”
Drawing from her doctoral studies on women's health and ageing, Dr. Sweet has identified several lifestyle evidenced
solutions that can benefit women during menopause. These strategies aim to reduce hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia and
much more.
The Science Behind Menopausal Symptoms
Dr Sweet explains that numerous changes occur around the body when reproductive hormones decline. For example, the
nervous system is ageing, and blood vessels are losing some of their elasticity. With both these examples, specific
nutrients are scientifically proven to target enhanced nerve function and reduce vascular stiffness.
A stressful lifestyle can also exacerbate menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, insomnia, and anxiety. Increased stress leads to heightened nervous system activity, elevated blood pressure, heart
rate, temperature, and metabolism. This stress overload, especially when combined with poor sleep, increases
inflammation, particularly in the gut and colon. Bloating and poor gut health is a common menopause symptom that women
report in the menopause symptoms quiz, available on her website. Over 500,000 women worldwide have taken this quiz.
Going through ‘the change’ means focusing on ‘lifestyle change’ too
Dr Sweet states “Women mustn’t forget that going through ‘the change’ means focusing on ‘lifestyle change’ too. Many
don’t understand that inflammatory changes are occuring in internal organs and tissues due to ageing. This is a newly
recognised phenomenon known as ‘inflammaging’. Positioning menopause into women’s ageing and longevity science, was
crucial to helping to better understand symptom management through lifestyle solutions.
She has dedicated her career to researching these changes, and helping women understand what they can do to take control
of their symptoms. More than 15,000 women have completed her program worldwide, achieving symptom relief while setting
themselves up for healthy aging.
Dr Sweet wants women to know that "As they enter their menopausal and post-menopausal years, there are powerful
lifestyle changes they can make to reduce symptoms and set themselves up to age healthily. She has taken these lifestyle
evidenced solutions and packaged them into easy to follow programs specifically tailored to the symptoms women are
experiencing.
You can learn more about Dr Wendy Sweet’s Online Lifestyle-Change Programs for Peri- to Post-Menopause Symptom
Reduction, Weight Loss and Fitness on her website MyMT™. You can also access her free Menopause Symptoms Quiz here as well.