A Guide to Menopause Treatment
Menopause is a very tough transition time in any woman's life, and during this natural process, ovaries stop making the eggs, the body produces less progesterone and estrogen, and monthly cycles becomes less frequent, ultimately coming to an end. If a woman does not get periods for 12 months in a row, and there is no other medical cause for it such as illness or pregnancy, she has reached menopause.
Menopause usually happens after the age of 45, and it is beneficial to get enough information about it by talking to your doctor regarding symptoms that might be of concern so that you can get the right treatment at the right time. Termination of periods is the only common symptom of menopause, and for each woman, the experience of going through this phase is different.
Some of the most commonly experienced menopausal symptoms include change in the period pattern, vaginal dryness, hair loss, hot flashes, trouble sleeping through the night, trouble focusing, crying spells, flushed complexion, fuzzy thinking, weight gain, diaphoresis, breast tenderness, irritability, and forgetfulness. Certain menopausal symptoms can be treated by using herbal or other plant-based products such as soy in the form of powder or pill, or other sources of phytoestrogens such as black cohosh, dong quai, valelrian root and wild yam.
If used properly, menopausal hormone therapy can be quite useful in relieving the moderate to severe symptoms of menopause and also prevent the bone loss. MHT helps menopausal women by reducing hot flashes and night sweats, treats vaginal symptoms such as dryness and discomfort, increases the level of hormones progesterone and estrogen, eases mood swings and also slows down bone loss, but it may also increase the risk of certain medical conditions such as stroke, breast cancer and heart disease.
Menopause is not a disease and does not require any definitive treatment or cure. Using vitamin E, SSRI drugs, megestrol acetate, and neurontin for hot flashes, vaginal moisturizers, low dose vaginal estrogen ring, water-soluble lubricants and estrogen by mouth for dry vagina and painful intercourse, counseling, estrogen and SSRI drugs for depression and mood swings, and raloxifene, bisphosphonates, vitamin D, calcitonin, estrogen, and tamoxifen for bone loss during menopause have been quite helpful to alleviate the symptoms.
So far, estrogen has been the most effective treatment for hot flashes, but, the risks and benefits associated with this therapy need to be carefully considered. Meditation, massage, relaxation therapy, and acupuncture are few effective alternative therapies that can relieve symptoms of menopause, and for women who cannot take hormonal therapy due to its side-effect, these therapies are life-savers.
Menopause Symptoms – 7 Sure Signs Of Menopause Symptoms
It's a fact that menopause symptoms can create a lot of doubt and confusion to a woman especially when she notices strange things happening with her body.
It's also a fact that this confusion can be created by symptoms unrelated to menopause. So how do you know if that change in your life which you've thought about and dreaded has actually come knocking at your door?
In this article, we'll list seven sure signs that menopause is in your life. It's also worth pointing out that to be completely sure, you will need to visit your doctor to not only confirm it but discuss treatment options.
Seven Signs Of Menopause
1. One of the first tell tale signs of menopause symptoms are irregular periods. Although this is not an absolute guarantee, irregular periods which are either short, long or simply leave you guessing about whether you are actually having your period or not is a good sign that you could be in the early stages of menopause.
2. Hot flashes are one of the most common menopause symptoms and are caused as a result of dropping estrogen levels.
3. Lack of sex drive is another common symptom and there are varying factors contributing including vaginal dryness which makes having sex unfortable.
4. Outward irritability and mood swings which are particularly worrying especially if a woman's character and personality have never exhibited this behavior in the past can be another clue your body is starting to shut down it's fertility engine.
5. Depression is one of the main worries of menopause. A woman can be feeling particularly vulnerable at this time via thoughts of lack of hope as well as anxiety.
6. Lack of sleep is another sure sign of menopause symptoms. It's not so much a woman is unable to get any sleep through normal means but more about being kept awake or having her sleep broken because of night sweats and itching.
7. Increasing weight should be watched. Many women report weight gain during the early stages of menopause although, it's important not to get this confused with thyroid issues. When weight becomes an issue you should seriously consider looking at your diet and exercise regime.
Menopause Symptoms – 4 Tips Every Woman Must Know
Menopause is the particular point in time when the last menstruation occurs. If refers to that specific point of cessation of menstruation. But in ordinary language, menopause embraces both the times before and after the exact time of menopause. In medical terms, this is called Climacteric. In this context, the term menopause shall be used in ordinary sense that is covering the pre- and post- menstrual periods.
At puberty, the cells surrounding each egg in the ovaries form a follicle and produce two types of hormones, estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are vital to the reproductive life of a woman. It is these hormones that allow the eggs to be released. As from the age of 35, the production of estrogen begins to decline which means fewer eggs are released each month. From the ages of 44 and 48, menopause begins. Of course, this does not apply to everybody. Some women do not experience menopause until they are in their fifties, while some experience menopause before the age of 44.
Here are the 4 major menopause symptoms that tell a woman she is approaching menopause:
Irregular Menstruation
The first menopause symptom is the change in the menstrual period. As from the age of 35 or 40, a woman may find out that her period becomes irregular, or scanty. The flow may be excessive or prolonged. The period may come bi-monthly instead of monthly, or it may come every two weeks. All of these are signs and symptoms that should remind women that they cannot be fertile forever, that they are nearing menopause, even though the actual menopause may be 10 or 12 years away.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes present a menopause symptoms whereby you are sleeping peacefully in your bed, suddenly you wake up. Your body feels so hot that you think it's on fire. You begin to sweat profusely as if you have been running a marathon. You feel like stripping yourself naked or lock up yourself in a freezer. When you lie in your bed, the sheets are soaked with sweat. If you experience all or some of these symptoms, you are at menopause. These experiences can be disturbing to many women. Hot flashes at night result in insomnia. Women need to understand these menopause symptoms so as to adapt properly to them.
Vaginal Dryness
This is one of the most serious menopause symptoms that may cause marital problems if proper care is not taken. One effect of estrogen shortage is that the vaginal walls become dry and stiff. The walls become thin and lubrication diminishes or disappears altogether. The skin around the vulva becomes thin and dry and easily irritated. As time goes on, the vagina becomes shorter and narrower like that of a little girl. Sexual intercourse becomes very painful if not impossible.
Aches and Pains
Pains and aches all over the body are other menopause symptoms that women nearing menopause may experience. Some women have aches and pains before, but at menopause the pains increase. This is because of the decreased estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that nourishes and strengthens the body tissues, especially in the female genital track and the breasts. With the decline in estrogen, the tissues become weaker and prone to infections. They become stiffer causing aches and pains to arise.
Sensations
It often happens that at menopause, a woman begins to experience some sensations all over the body. Some feels as if ants are crawling all over their body. Some women feel sweats trickling down from their head to their cheeks, but when they reach to wipe it off, they feel nothing. Some feel tingling sensations in the face and prickles and tingles running around the body. The decreasing estrogen causes all these. If you are a health worker, you will notice that most of the women who complain of these signs and symptoms are between the ages of 40 and 50.
Menopause is one thing that must come in the life of every woman. Therefore, women should be armed with necessary menopause information that will enable them stand firm when menopause symptoms set in. Researching on issues bothering menopause and making proper inquiries from medical personnel are good way to get menopause information.
Menopause Symptoms and Naturopathic Treatment
Symptoms of menopause vary. It may be due to hormonal imbalance or can be emotional. The most common factor of menopause is aging, which is natural. Naturopathic treatment is found to be very effective in the treatment for premature menopause. Let us dig deep into the symptoms of menopause.
Blood Vasculature
Nonsmoking women have a virtual immunity to coronary heart disease before the menopause; unfortunately, after menopause the incidence of heart and vascular complications rapidly approaches that of men. During menopause, such temporary symptoms as hot flashes, night seating, and tension or migraine headaches contribute to the overall irritability and insomnia that normally occur during this time. Depending upon the severity of these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, using estrogen and sometimes progesterone, can be used as treatment. The years preceding the climacteric may be filled with patterns of irregular bleeding, heavy in some instances or frequent enough to produce anemia. Postmenopausal bleeding is a signal to seek immediate medical attention, because the incidence of uterine or cervical cancer after the climacteric ranges from 15 to 30% of women.
Musculoskeleton
And increased laxity of ligaments as well as reduced muscle tone and strength contribute to many of the symptoms occurring after ovarian failure. Backache and pain in the shoulders, elbows, knees and joints of the hands often occur. In addition, decreased muscle tone affecting the pelvic floor muscles, the bladder, and the urethra results in urine leakage and need to urinate frequently. Urinary tract and vaginal infections are more likely to occur because of the changes from a protective acidic environment to one that is less acidic.
Emotional Status
Anxiety or depression or, usually, a mixture of both may not result directly from the menopause; more importantly, these may be symptoms arising from the personal life of the individual. Many situations seem to coincide with the age of menopause, such as adolescence crisis in a child, departure or marriage of the children, declining sexual activity, the husband's own frustrations and anxieties, parental loss or parental dependence, or loss of the husband. Psychiatric therapy and help from an understanding sexual partner and family can be the most beneficial remedies. Hormone replacement therapy or anti-depressive drugs are not the solution for such emotional problems; in fact, this type of treatment present more difficulties, rather than relieving the situation.
Sexual Activity
About 20 to 25% of menopausal women experience dyspareunia, which is pain or discomfort during intercourse. In most instances, this problem arises from thinning of the vaginal wall and a lack of vaginal lubrication, both due to estrogen deficiency. This problem can be solved by applying a lubricant. The involvement of an understanding sexual partner can relieve emotional problems that cause declining sexual activity in some women. On the other hand, many women experience heightened libido because of such factors as a loss of the fear of pregnancy.
Alternative Therapy For Menopause – And Perimenopause
HRT is sometimes referred to as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), because the first medications that were used in the 1960s for female hormone replacement were estrogen compounds.
Alternative therapy for menopause came about because of the concerning risks associated with HRT and ERT.
Advocates assert the use of all natural treatments that are very effective and safe, especially when compared to HRT and ERT.
Many women thinking about about real health matters are looking back to alternative therapy for menopause in an effort to manage menopause symptoms without compromising good health.
Alternative therapy for menopause includes the use of holistic methods to remove or lower perimenopause and menopause symptoms. These include the use of proper vitamins and minerals, food and exercise, and a frequent taking of 100% natural plant based supplements to manage hot flashes, night sweats, and other popular symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause.
This requires a regular effort and vigilance to be truly effective. A complete change in attitude and possibly life-style is needed to see the best results.
In this way, it requires a specific mind-set and self-confidence combined with assertiveness and follow-through. Half measures won't do.
Many do take for granted that 100% natural plant derivative or herbal menopause supplements are don't have any side effects, especially dangerous ones. Dangerous poisons and toxins are also "natural," and it should not be assumed that "natural" automatically means safe.
This should not infer that all natural plant-based treatments for menopause symptoms are as ineffective or present a high level of risk.
Discover How to Lose Weight After Menopause
Weight gain after menopause is a subject that seems to come up more and more with some of my contemporaries, generally when contemplating dessert after a salad lunch [with no dressing, please!] It is not as if we really mention the words: "menopause" or "weight gain" goodness no! We talk of trimming down a little, just to fit into those new jeans. The reality is harsh enough, we gain weight after menopause, and unless we work a little harder at keeping fit and staying healthy, we will see our middle expanding. Mostly the gain is on the stomach, butt and chest; my bra size went from a C cup to a double E! As I look at my friends passed their menopause I would say that the average weight gain is 15 to 30 pounds, I am closest to the 30 pound mark.
Yet my cupboard is bare of sugar or sweet treats like chocolate cookies; butter on my toast is just a distant memory. As for carbs, I can only dream.
When I was younger and in the full arrogance of youth I would look at those matronly dowagers and wonder why they couldn't just stop eating and start exercising, I would see their excess weight as the direct result of indulgence in rich foods and easy living. As if it was so easy!
As we begin the early stages of menopause, avoiding weight gain becomes more difficult.
Middle aged spread is a result of many factors:
o Heredity
o Hormonal changes Hormones have a direct influence on our appetite, metabolism, and body fat storage. We also then develop insulin resistance and this in turn is encouraging our bodies to store fat, rather than burn calories
o Stress levels
o Health and fitness
o Diet
o A more sedentary lifestyle
o Insulin resistance. "Insulin resistance" is why our body changes how it metabolizes the food we eat.
o Thyroid function
o Digestive health
o Allergies and food intolerance
All those elements are linked; it would be very hard to pinpoint one particular reason for gaining weight after menopause. Women often have greater stress during this period in their life, children growing up [those teenage years], job difficulties, marital problems and just the stress of growing older in an ever increasing youth oriented culture. Stress cause adrenal fatigue and this will frequently lead to reliance on stimulants like caffeine and/or over consumption of sugar snacks and carbohydrates, thus creating a vicious cycle.
Losing weight after menopause is a lot harder as our metabolism slows down.
Of a 1,000 calories ingested as food before menopause, 700 of them would be used and around 300 of would be stored. After menopause, 700 will be stored and only 300 will be used! This is a huge difference, and the outcome is weight gain!
I am pleased to say that since I started going to the gym 3 to 4 times a week I feel a lot more energetic and I watch my diet: no sugar where ever possible, no carbs after lunch and I snack on fruit, vegetables and natural unsweetened yogurt. I think the hardest part was starting, I felt ridiculous at first in my oversize t-shirt and baggy track pants, but really who would I kid, I am middle aged and overweight but at least I am doing something about it.
Hormone Effects and Menopause
Hair loss can have a devastating effect on a womans confidence, as her hair is very much a part of who she is. Losing an ecxessive amount of hair during menopause is usually a direct result of those pesky hormone levels. The two main hormones involved in hair growth are estrogen and testosterone. Another hormone, androgen, increases as the levels of estrogen decrease.
Normal hair growth is about half an inch per month, although this slows down as you age. Each hair remains on the head for two to six years, and during most of this time it is continually growing and renewing.
Usually there are approximately 100,000 hairs on a person`s head at any one time and it is quite normal to lose 50-100 hairs each day. When washing or brushing your hair you will possibly notice this loss the most. However, in some women undergoing the transition of menopause, the loss will be noticeably greater.
If you are experiencing hair loss and suspect that menopause is responsible, get yourself to your doctor right away just to make sure. There are other possibilities, such as anxiety and stress, trauma and certain medications. It is worth casting your mind back to around three months prior to the beginning of the hair loss, as to what was going on at the time. You may be able identify the events that triggered the loss.
Hair loss in menopausal women tends not be as noticeable as hair loss in men, with the thinning occurring over the entire head, rather than in specific bald spots.
Do keep in mind that not all hair thinning and loss is permanent. There have been cases of menopausal women, experiencing thinning and lost hair who went on to regain the thickness of previously lost hair, once their hormone levels had become balanced.
Relieve Night Sweats and Menopause Symptoms
Anyone of the female persuasion is perhaps already aware of the connection between night sweats and menopause. Many of us have already watched our aunts, mothers and grandmothers go through this process. Although it is a natural part of life but it is also a temporary hormonal imbalance.
So far, the process of menopause can take several years in a woman's life. And it is not something which can just be ignored. The menopause symptoms and discomforts during this time in life can be hard at best to manage.
Many doctors will suggest and prescribe hormone replacement therapy or other drugs to combat the menopause symptoms. Many women feel these artificial means are potentially harmful to their health and would prefer a more natural treatment to menopause and night sweats. Fortunately many women at this life stage have found relief with hormonal supplements. Here are a few more symptoms that this type of therapy can relieve.
Energy production
Most women who are experiencing menopause believe that their lack of energy is usual and they must deal with feeling run down all of the time. Using an all natural hormone supplement can really help replenish the energy levels which are a part of living a happy and productive life. There is no reason to suffer in silence from lethargy and fatigue. As the hormonal imbalance has been corrected, there is no reason why women even in menopause can't enjoy the energy levels to experience this exciting time in their lives without the menopause night sweats can introduce as well.
Joint and muscle health
Menopause strikes in the age of 40 to 60 while about the same time many women are growing concerned about other health issues. We know that muscle production is reduced and joint problems such as arthritis are more likely as the body ages. Combating the hormonal imbalance which goes along with menopause becomes even more important in a woman's life.
Moreover our hormones affect just about every system of the body. As menopause is a natural part of the process, it still can't be allowed to harm other vital systems like the muscle and joints. The health care world too often focuses on only relieving the night sweats and menopause symptoms however the other systems must be protected as well.
Skin regeneration
It is no surprise to anyone that aging is always damaging to the skin. With the imbalance due to menopause, getting help putting things right is another method to hold back the hands of time on your face. And a balance hormonal system will assist the skin continues to rejuvenate itself.
Symptoms of menopause and night sweats can be treated and their influence limited on your life. Menopause treatment which mention in our website will help you do this through all natural means. It is also useful for treating night sweats and menopause symptoms.
Using Herbal Remedies For Menopause
There are various herbal remedies for menopause available today if you are not comfortable treating it the modern way. Well most women suffering the difficulties brought by menopause often choose to have it regulated through natural and safer ways because of the belief that the modern way of doing it will only worsen the situation.
Since most women develop allergies as one of the signs of menopausal, it is better indeed to have it treated the natural way. Soy and soy products are the most commonly used to help alleviate the symptoms of menopausal and provide relief to the sufferers.
It is because these products are rich in phytoestrogens, which help regulate the normal imbalance. The phytoestrogens are commonly derived from plants, which possess estrogenic activity and works relatively to that of HRT. Ginseng, black cohosh, dong quai and evening primrose are just some of the many examples of plants that are known to be alternative medicines, which are rich in the element that helps in menopause relief.
Early Menopause Symptoms – Facts on Menopause
Loss of interest for the sexual intercourse is one of the early menopause symptoms which are normally experienced by a lot of women. Hormones are what it drive any sexual desires in women and if at all it does not respond accordingly, then one will lose the interest of making love and this is exactly what normally happens in many women during the menopause period. Moreover, the vaginal dryness also plays a great role in making one to loose the sexual desire as it makes the intercourse to be painful.
Early menopause symptoms are also characterized by less vaginal lubrication which results to the loss of sexual desire. Once the estrogen levels drops in any woman, it will eventually lead thinning and drying of the vaginal walls which actually results in less lubrication and causing too much pain when one engages in any sexual activity. For this reason therefore, you will find so many women losing the sexual interest completely.
Changes that are experienced in the menstrual cycle are also one of the early menopause symptoms that many women undergo. Menopause will always cause the hormonal imbalance which will eventually lead to women getting their monthly cycles very early or to delay for a long period of time. Hormones is what it allows the production of the egg for any ovulation and once the hormones are tampered with, then it results to early or delayed menstrual cycles.
Hot flashes are also other very common early menopause symptoms which are normally encountered by women in this stage of life. Lack of estrogen during menopause period will always result to the cause of hot flashes. All this is normally brought about by the hormonal imbalance in the body which boosts the metabolism rate in the body. Hot flashes are also as a result of wrong signal derived from the adrenal gland which pushes extra energy.
Early menopause symptoms are clearly seen when one encounters some strange hair growth and more especially in the unwanted areas. Testosterone is what it determines the growth of hair in our bodies and once it is actually tampered with it will result to unwanted hair growth and even sometimes lead to hair loss. Once the estrogen drops, then it would result to the testosterone imbalance which will eventually result to the unwanted hair growth or the hair loss.