What's Happening?
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has found that self-administered hypnosis significantly reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal women. The randomized controlled trial involved participants who were divided into two groups:
one undergoing self-administered hypnosis and the other receiving a sham white-noise control. The hypnosis group experienced a 53.4% reduction in hot flash scores at week 6 and a 60.9% reduction by week 12, outperforming the sham group. The study highlights hypnosis as a safe nonhormonal treatment option, with only mild adverse events reported. This research adds to the growing evidence supporting nonhormonal therapies for vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes, which affect up to 80% of women during menopause.
Why It's Important?
The findings of this study are significant as they offer a nonhormonal treatment option for managing hot flashes, a common and disruptive symptom experienced by menopausal women. Hormonal treatments can have side effects and are not suitable for all women, making nonhormonal alternatives like hypnosis valuable. The study's results suggest that hypnosis can improve the quality of life for women by reducing discomfort, anxiety, and sleep interference associated with hot flashes. This could lead to broader acceptance and use of hypnosis in clinical settings, providing women with more choices for managing menopause symptoms.
What's Next?
The study's positive results may encourage further research into self-administered hypnosis and other nonhormonal treatments for menopause symptoms. Healthcare providers might consider incorporating hypnosis into treatment plans for menopausal women, especially those who cannot or prefer not to use hormonal therapies. Additionally, the study could lead to increased interest in developing and testing other nonhormonal interventions for vasomotor symptoms, potentially expanding the range of options available to women.
