We often hear middle age women talking about menopause and menopause symptoms relief. Just what is menopause? Menopause is a natural biological process that every woman will face when she gets to the age of between 45 and 55. It is by no mean an ailment, infection or a medical disorder. This process is more of a time of physical and emotional changes. With the onset of menopause lower levels of female hormones are produced by the ovaries.

The majority of women do not have much trouble going through menopause. On the other hand, there are many that suffer from average to severe symptoms. Menopause symptoms include night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, hot flushes, anxiety, joint pain, headaches, depression, sadness and heart palpitations. It is different with every woman when it comes to these symptoms. They could in some cases get worse or tend to last for years.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the common pharmaceutical treatment for alleviating symptoms of menopause. With this method women are either given oral estrogen hormone alone or combined with another hormone Progesterone in the form of progestin. These hormones are in a synthetic form. Until recently Hormone Replacement Therapy delivers the best menopause symptoms relief especially night sweats and hot flushes. It was also believed that HRT could prevent strokes, heart attacks and osteoporosis.

Many women have been taking HRT for years and it is now reported that it carries certain health dangers. These risks include blood clots, breast cancer, high blood pressure and uterine cancer. Menopausal women are advised to only take the lowest dosage that would give them menopause symptoms relief. They are also encouraged to take HRT for the shortest time frame possible.

There have been menopause natural relief products available that work for some people. For those who have very severe symptoms they have to resort to Hormone Replace Therapy. Today on the market there are products for menopause symptoms relief that are both natural and effective. Generally such menopause natural relief products are formulated with a blend of herbal extracts such as black cohosh, soy, damiana, vitamin E and other phytoestrogen herbal ingredients. Throughout history these components have proved to be effective in correcting hormonal imbalance. The ingredients in these herbal menopause symptoms relief products are highly recommended by leading herbal experts as alternatives to HRT.

Such menopause natural relief works by restoring the hormone levels of the body to give menopause symptoms relief. Females who have had a hysterectomy can also benefit from these products. These menopause natural relief products do not generally have interactions with drugs. Manufacturers of such menopause symptoms relief products often also make other quality herbal supplements.

For years manufacturers of menopause natural relief products cautioned women about the risks of synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Herbal menopause symptoms relief products are highly recommended by doctors the world over as the safe and effective menopause natural relief. Reviews from consumers show that menopause natural relief products are effective for menopause symptoms relief.

Many specialists are of the opinion that menopause natural relief products are safe and work better than prescription drugs or traditional hormone replacement therapy. Many of these herbal products do provide effective and guaranteed menopause symptoms relief. These products also help to maintain the normal functions of the female body.

If you are presently going through menopause and suffering from menopause symptoms, you owe it to yourself to find out more about such menopause natural relief products and how they can benefit you mentally, physically and emotionally.



Thanks to Paulina Jenkins for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Menopause And Hair Loss

Can you answer ProudMommy_1’s question about Menopause?:

My mother was prescribed a bioidentical hormone in the form of a cream for her menopause. She is wondering if anyone knew the best time of day to apply the cream of does it not matter? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Alternatives To Hysterectomy

Experiencing endometriosis after hysterectomy is a likely possibility, and is why treatments such as mirena may still be needed. This may come as a surprise to you, especially if you have been under the impression that a total hysterectomy (removal of the entire uterus, ovaries, and part or the entire cervix) can provide relief from the painful symptoms caused by endometriosis.

Although it does sound logical that the removal of the organs infected by endometriosis would put a stop to the disease, this, unfortunately, is not the reality for a number of women. In fact it is estimated that 10-15 percent of women with endometriosis, who undergo a hysterectomy, experience an endometriosis recurrence after 1 - 3 years following the procedure, and as many as 50 percent have a recurrence after 5 years.

How can the return of endometriosis after hysterectomy be possible? First and foremost, there is no cure for endometriosis. Secondly, it’s a known fact that implants (endometrial tissue) can be found outside of the uterus and ovaries, and can occur throughout the pelvic cavity and beyond (I.E. bowels, bladder and rectum). Therefore, if implants occur in areas outside the uterus, a total hysterectomy will not remove all of the disease.

That being said, there are surgeons that will attempt to remove any implants they find in other regions aside from the reproductive organs. However, there is still a high possibility that some of the disease will be left behind, as some implants are microscopic and can go undetected.

Another problem that can cause endometriosis after hysterectomy is hormone replacement therapy. If a woman undergoes a total hysterectomy, she has lost her ovaries, and is, therefore, in full blown menopause. Although menopause can be beneficial in relieving endometriosis symptoms, because it stops the production of estrogen (the hormone that feeds the disease), the female body requires a certain level of estrogen in order to function properly.

In other words, while endometriosis may no longer be a problem, unpleasant menopause symptoms due to lack of estrogen (I.E. hot flashes, headaches, vaginal dryness, bone loss, etc.) will be. Hence, women who have undergone a total hysterectomy, and do not take hormone replacement therapy, may find relief from their endometriosis but not their menopausal symptoms, or vice versa. These women often find themselves in a no win situation.

Are their ways to treat endometriosis after hysterectomy? Yes. The following are some treatment methods you may want to consider -

- Control your diet - Find out what foods you should avoid that can trigger endometriosis symptoms or make them worse.

- Medical therapies - There are different remedies such as oral contraceptives, and the drugs Progestin and Danazol, which help to prevent the growth of endometrial tissue. You may also consider taking over-the-counter medication such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - I.E. aspirin, ibuprofen) to help alleviate painful symptoms.

- Alternative remedies - non-drug therapies that may be useful include acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, hypnosis, messages, herbal remedies, etc.

Essentially, when it comes to treatment, the best course of action you can take is to talk to your doctor about your options to find out which ones are right for you.

Finally, if you have endometriosis or know someone who does, and are thinking about having a total or partial hysterectomy, it is imperative that you explore other treatment options first. The chance of a recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy is high enough that it shouldn’t be ignored. There is no reason to put your body through the stress of such extreme surgery, when there are other options available to you.



Thanks to Shelley Ross for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Menopause And Hair Loss

Can you answer mzvtul’s question about Menopause?:

55 yrs old. Quit having periods 4 years ago, but the hot flashes and insomnia are still going on. Hot flashes extremely severe, especially at night. I’ve read reports that these types of symptoms should only last about a year. I have congestive heart failure, so I cannot use hormone replacement therapy. How much longer am I going to have to live with this?

Post Menopausal Osteoporosis

Hot flashes are common in women who are undergoing hormonal changes, often as a result of menopause. Accompanied by reddening and perspiration particularly in the face and upper body, the heart beat quickens and brings along a sense of panic to the individual experiencing hot flashes.

The exact cause of hot flashes is not known, however it appears to be associated with a reduction of the estrogen levels within the body. This correlates to the physiological change a woman goes through during menopause, and also helps explain why men who are castrated often experience hot flashes.

The main symptoms of hot flashes include a feeling of heat or warmth ranging from mild to intense, spreading throughout the face and upper body. This can be accompanied by red or blotchy skin, a rapid heartbeat and significant perspiration. Often a feeling of chill will occur as the hot flash subsides.

There are a variety of ways to treat hot flashes. Because of the hormonal nature of the condition, hormone replacement therapy is often recommended, however this is not a permanent cure. Lifestyle changes can reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. Remaining fit and busy and engaging in regular exercise is a good start. Drinking cool juice or herbal green tea and keeping the body cool before the monthly periods has shown to help as well.

Hot flashes can be particularly annoying at night as the heat and perspiration can interrupt sleep. Therefore, avoid sleeping in stuffy rooms and consider wearing light cotton nightwear to bed. Dietary changes include avoiding spicy foods, smoking, alcohol and caffeine. Yoga and deep breathing exercises have been shown to help as well.

So, what steps can you take to keep track of the symptoms and treatment options for hot flashes to know what works best for you? Keep a journal of any symptom that you may encounter. For instance, when you first feel reddening or perspiration related to hot flashes, make a note in a journal. Or when you experience the rapid pain or panic leading up to your period, make a note of it. Then on a regular basis keep track of any changes in these symptoms.

Once you have decided to try a type of hot flash treatment, keep another journal in which you describe the results. Have the symptoms improved? Are they worse? How frequently do you experience the symptoms and how long does it take for them to clear up?

If you are taking medication for your hot flashes, keep a record of what you take and when. Is it helping the symptoms? Are there any side effects? Keep track of when side effects occur and how severe they are. Having this information handy will help your doctor prescribe the treatment that best addresses your overall health.

Setting up journals like the ones described here is easy to do. You can use a paper worksheet, a computer word processing program, or even a spreadsheet program like Excel.

You owe it to yourself to take an active role in managing your own health. Hot flashes are a natural part of the body’s aging process, and there are ways to make them less intrusive. However you need to use every tool at your disposal to make sure you get the best results possible.



Thanks to Jason Jantzi for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

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