Menopause – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

May 7, 2009 by Helpful Menopause Tips  
Filed under About Menopause

Menopause is not a disease or an illness. It is a transition between two phases of a woman’s life. Menopause occurs when a woman permanently stops menstruating (having periods). Many women experience a variety of symptoms as a result of the hormonal changes associated with the transition through menopause. Around the time of menopause, women often lose bone density and their cholesterol may worsen, increasing their risk of heart disease

Menopause is a natural process that occurs because of a decrease in the function of the ovaries, which also control estrogen production. In addition to a decrease in estrogen levels, menopause results in decreased progesterone levels, meaning that any eggs that are released are less likely to be fertilized.

Menopause management should encompass a holistic approach to include discussion on life-style and dietary factors, as well as specific menopause treatment options. For many women, hormone replacement therapies can provide very effective relief of distressing menopausal symptoms, significantly improving their quality of life, and can provide an important preventive role, reducing the risk of debilitating disease such as osteoporosis.

When does Menopause occur?

The occurrence of menopause is different for each woman. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. The age of when menopause occurs is affected by several factors, including Nutrition. Malnourished women begin menopause about 4 years earlier than well-nourished women. Early onset of menstruation. Women who begin menstruation at an early age are more likely to begin menopause later

Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause), you can no longer become pregnant.The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, declining libido, osteoporosis, ageing skin, lack of energy, joint pains, weight gain, headaches and changes in hair quality. Interestingly, men also experience a lot of these symptoms, with irritability, a declining libido, changes in weight, ageing skin and hair, depression and anxiety.

Treatment

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the main treatment for menopause symptoms. Many physicians believed that HRT was not only good for reducing menopausal symptoms, but also reduced the risk of heart disease and bone fractures from osteoporosis. However, the results of a major study called the Women’s Health Initiative has led physicians to change their recommendations.

Menozac is a herbal menopause treatment that has been specially developed to ease the transition period of perimeopausal and menopausal women and to smooth and eliminate symptoms of menopause and early menopause almost immediately. It contains special herbs for menopause and other natural botanical extracts and additives. Among them are: Soy seed, Damiana leaf, Black Cohosh root, and Vitamin E.

Estrogen

Pros: Helps prevent vaginal tissue from thinning; also helps prevent bone loss; very effective against hot flashes

Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer if taken with a progestin; increased risk of uterine cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased risk of blood clots.



Thanks to samnickel6 for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:



Hormone Treatment For Menopause

The Menopause Info

The menopause or a woman’s change of life is a perfectly normal event which occurs in the mid

or late forties. It signifies the end of the female reproductive period of life which commenced at

adolescence in the early teens.

There are several misconceptions about menopause. Many women at this time feel that they are

growing old and that they are well past their full physical vigour. Other women feel that the

menopause brings a cessation of sexual pleasure. These apprehensions are far from true.

Menopause may be considered an end to women’s fertility but certainly not to her virility. It does

not decrease a woman’s physical capacity or sexual vigour or enjoyment.

Symptoms

During the menopause, the entire chain of endocrine glands is disturbed, particularly the

gonads, thyroid and pituitary. In a really healthy woman, the menopausal change takes place

without any unpleasant symptoms. The only sign that the “change ” taking place is the cessation

of menstrual flow. There are, however, many women who do not enjoy good health due to

dietetic errors and a faulty style of living. In these cases, the menopausal change often leads to

all kinds of distressing physical, emotional and nervous symptoms and manifestations.

Hot flashes, night sweats, nervous tension, menstrual disturbances, insomnia, diminished

interest in sex, irritability and depression are the typical symptoms of menopause. Other

symptoms are chilly feelings, fatigue, palpitation, dizziness, headaches and numbness. Not

every women will get these severe reactions. The severity or otherwise of the symptoms depend

on a variety of factors such as general health, previous surgery and radiation. Menopause and

its problems are usually over when menstruation stops.

Causes

The annoying symptoms associated with menopause arise from the fact that the ovaries are no

longer producing their normal amount of estrogen, the dominant female hormone. Anything

which interferes with the normal functioning of the ovaries may also bring about these

symptoms. The same strange feelings may occur if the ovaries are removed by surgery because

of disease. This can also result from heavy X-ray therapy or the use of radiation.

A lack of normal hormone balance may also result in a severe backache. This is caused by

thinning of the bones arising from the low level of estrogen in the bloodstream. Unless properly

treated, this may eventually lead to a collapse of one or more of the vertebrae.

Treatment

Although menopause cannot be avoided, it can be postponed for as long as 10 to 15 years and

it can be made a smooth affair when it comes, with a proper nutritional programme, special

supplements and the right mental attitude.

When a woman is affected by the menopausal change to any marked extent, it is a sure sign

that her body is in a toxic condition and in need of a thorough cleansing. For this purpose, she

should undergo a course of natural health building treatment.

Diet is of utmost importance in such a scheme of treatment. In fact the problems at menopause

are often much more severe than that at puberty largely because the diet has been deficient for

many years prior to its onset, in many nutrients such as protein, calcium, magnesium, vitamins

D, E and pantothenic acid.

The diet should be made up from three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii)

vegetables and (iii) fruits. The emphasis should be on vitamin E-rich raw and sprouted seeds

and nuts, unpasteurised high quality milk and home-made cottage cheese and an abundance of

raw, organically grown fruits and vegetables. Plenty of freshly made juices of fruits and

vegetables in season should also be included in this diet.

All processed, refined and denatured foods, such as white sugar, white flour and all articles

made with them, should be completely eliminated. Take special supplements such as vitamins

C, B6 and pantothenic acid, which have a specific property of stimulating the body’s own

production of estrogen or enhancing the effect of the existing estrogen.

During menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones can result in a severe calcium deficiency. For

this reason, a larger than usual intake of calcium may help greatly. Vitamins D and F are also

essential for assimilation of calcium. Any woman having difficulty at this time should supplement

her daily diet with 1,000 units of natural vitamin D, 5000 milligrams of magnesium and two grams

of calcium daily, which can be supplied by one quart of milk.

During the manopause, the need for vitamin E soars 10 to 50 times over that previously

required. Hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause often disappear when 50

to 100 units of vitamin E are taken daily. The symptoms recur quickly if the vitamin is

discontinued.

Of late, it has become popular to take estrogen to prevent or postpone menopausal symptoms.

Although hormone therapy is apparently successful and will, in many cases, help the patient to

feel and act younger, it cannot be recommended in all cases because of its carcinogenic effect.

If, however, estrogen therapy is undertaken, it should never be administered at the same time as

vitamin E therapy. Ingestion of estrogen and vitamin E should be seperated by several hours.

Beet juice has been found very useful in menopausal disorders. It should be taken in small

quantities of 60 to 90 ml at a time thrice a day. It has proved much more permanently helpful

than the degenerative effects of drugs or synthetic hormones.

Carrot seeds have also been found valuable in menopausal tension. A teaspoonful of the seeds

should be boiled in a glassful of cow’s milk for about 10 minutes and taken daily as a medicine in

this condition.

Plenty of outdoor exercise, such as walking, joggng, swimming, horse-riding or cycling, is

imperative to postpone menopause. Other helpful measures in this direction are avoiding mental

and emotional stress and worries, especially worry about growing old, sufficient sleep and

relaxation and following all general rules of maintaining a high level of health. The healthier a

woman is, the fewer menopausal symptoms she will experience.

The menopause can be made a pleasant affair by building bodily health and a sane mental

outlook. From puberty to menoapuse , a woman has been somewhat of a slave to her female

glands. At specified intervals she was inconvenienced by her menstural periods. She bore

children, enduring the pain and discomfort of pregnancy. Menopause relieves her of this

bondage to her femininity. She can now experience some of the happiest days of a woman’s life.

A whole new life is given to her, if she is wise enough to prepare for it and accept it as such.



Thanks to sulamita berrezi for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:



Alternative Hormone Treatment

3 Telltale Symptoms of Perimenopause

April 30, 2009 by Helpful Menopause Tips  
Filed under About Menopause

A lot of women who suffer from perimenopause, which is often referred to as the change prior to menopause, by the time they reach their late 30s and early 40s don’t know what to do. If you were in their position, you will also not be prepared to suffer the symptoms of menopause when you are barely 40. However, these things are pretty normal and the only thing a person suffering from perimenopause needs to do is to be prepared for any eventuality by knowing the signs of their condition and trying to find ways to alleviate them.

Perimenopause is a stage in a woman’s life that may last for about 4 to 10 years. This phase actually prepares you for a lot of changes in your body that you will have to face during menopause and post-menopause. The most common change that a person with perimenopause will experience is the difference in your menstrual period. Your menses might be longer, heavier, lighter or more frequent.Here are the other changes you need to look out for during perimenopause:

1. Hot Flashes

Studies have shown that around 75% of women suffering from perimenopause experience hot flashes. This symptom is characterized by brief bouts of heat emanating from the inside, which makes women perspire profusely. Many say that the nastiest hot flashes are experienced by women a year or two before the onset of menopause.You can get rid of hot flashes by taking black cohosh supplements everyday. Just about 40mg of this herb can significantly improve your situation. If you are not taking aspirin or any type of blood thinners, you may also want to try taking Vitamin E, which is helpful in normalizing your hormonal levels.Taking deep breaths, sucking on ice cubes or drinking a cold glass of water often will provide you immediate relief if you are experiencing hot flash for the moment.

2. Irregular Menses

Almost 95% of women have erratic periods during the perimenopause stage. As mentioned earlier, this may be one of the symptoms that will lead you to think that you are indeed starting to experience changes before The Big Change. The main reason why you have this symptom is your declining levels of sex hormones progesterone and estrogen.Eating soy products is one of the most effective natural solutions for irregular periods. If you are not into eating soya and related products, you can probably take supplements that contain soy.

3. Anxiety And Irritability

Many women undergoing perimenopause are misunderstood by their spouses, children, family, friends and colleagues. During this period, women are easy to get irritated and anxious. Again, this is primarily due to changing levels of sex hormones.

Getting into regular exercise can help ease your irritability and anxiety. Finding ways to eliminate stress is also helpful. Lastly, taking a supplement with the herb Kava kava has also been proven to minimize irritability and anxiety.If you do not know what supplement to take, you may want to find something that has all the ingredients above. One product that can help you with most, if not all of your perimenopausal problems is Menersa. You can find out more about this supplement by visiting http://www.menersa.com/.



Thanks to Janet Martin for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.



Menopause And Bleeding

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