My mother is beginning to enter the menopause and I was wondering what health problems it can cause. Anything like depression? Anxiety? Heart problems?
Kelly
My mother has been “sick” for about a year now. She finally went to a Dr and had multiple tests run including a pap. It was during the pap that she learned her uterus was the same size as an expecting mother 20 weeks along! Of course a preg test was done–negative(she 56 so very relieved). She had an ultrasound and the results revealed nothing. She had pollups removed and tested but they to revealed nothing as to why she has been so ill. Her symptoms are a fever every evening and she is extremely achy. Her doctor told her that the enlarged uterus was most likely caused from Menopause. Has anyone else ever heard or experienced this? If so, what course of treatment or remedies helped? I would like her to get a second opinion just incase. Any information you have regarding her situation would be greatly appreciated.
Willie
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.
Jamie
i am nearly 50 and my periods are now coming every two weeks, is it the start of the menopause? i thought u would have less periods?
Karl
Menopause is an inevitable phase in a woman’s life. However, some experience this stage earlier than others. Normally, the average age of women who go through menopause is 51. This cessation of the menses is usually due to the depletion of eggs in the ovary.In some cases, however, menopause is brought about by surgery, treatment for other diseases, ovarian failure or other problems. The condition wherein women younger than 50 find themselves facing menopause symptoms, regardless of the reasons, is generally known as early menopause.If you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s and are already experiencing symptoms of menopause, then you are probably suffering from early menopause. To know more about the nuances of this condition, read on and learn:Premature Ovarian FailureKnown more commonly as POF, Premature Ovarian Failure occurs when a woman experiences menopausal symptoms, including the ending of menses, before the age of 40. You will know that you have this condition if your hormonal tests show that your levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and estradiol levels are at post-menopausal stages.The most common reason why women with POF experience the cessation of menses is the inability of the body to respond to calls for ovulation, even when eggs are still present inside the ovaries. Since this is the case, women with POF may still ovulate or even bear children, but chances are dramatically slim.Reduced Ovarian ReserveIf your hormone tests show that your levels of FSH and estradiol are normal and that you experience periods every now and then but you are experiencing menopausal symptoms at an early age, then you are probably suffering from Reduced or Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Experts believe that this condition is a sign that you will be experiencing POF in the near future.Early Menopause Due To Medications Or SurgeryWomen who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatments often find themselves undergoing signs of menopause. In this case, it is clear that outside forces are the ones causing changes in your ovulation or hormonal processes. If such treatments do not cause an ovarian failure, then there is a chance that your monthly menses will become normal again after a few months of stopping the medication.Pelvic surgery or the removal of both ovaries can also cause early menopause. Some women who had undergone pelvic-related surgery may suffer from poor blood circulation. When blood flow to the ovaries is impaired, there is a big chance for an ovarian failure. Women who had both their ovaries removed also go through early menopause because they are no longer producing sex hormones.PerimenopauseIf you are suffering from menopausal symptoms prematurely but you do not have POF, or your hormone levels are fluctuating but can still be considered normal, or you did not undergo pelvic or ovarian surgical procedures, or you are not taking any treatments for cancer, then you are just probably suffering from perimenopause. This means that you just feel the symptoms of menopause at an earlier age. Women who are at this phase are actually still ovulating and can still bear children. Basically, this phase is a precursor to menopause.It is common for women over 40 to experience perimenopause. Even if you are over 40, however, it is still wise to consult a doctor about your condition to rule out serious illnesses and conditions. Furthermore, you can also discuss with your doctor the best possible ways you can alleviate the nasty symptoms of menopause.Although the treatment of choice when it comes to menopause is HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, many women are afraid to get this medication because of fear of side effects. If you are one of the many who feel uncomfortable with HRT, then you can always use natural supplements to help you survive early menopause symptoms. One product that many women are using to help them cope with signs of menopause is Menersa. If you are interested in this product, just visit http://www.menersa.com/ for more information.
Gloria
I had cancer of the cervix, and the radiation treatment threw me into early menopause. What is a natural alternative to hormones?
Dennis
Menopause is a condition all women go through at some time in their lives. It means the cessation of the production of eggs and the cessation of the menstrual cycle. Women can undergo menopause in their thirties but generally undergo it in their early to mid fifties. It is preceded by pre-menopause or perimenopause, where the ovaries are still somewhat functional.
Menopause is generally a natural process; however there are certain medical conditions that trigger menopause earlier than normal. For example, if a woman has a hysterectomy and her ovaries are removed, she goes into sudden and immediate menopause. There is no perimenopausal phase when there is a surgical menopause.
Women who have chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer can have the ovaries affected enough to go into menopause. A total of 1 percent of women undergo premature ovarian failure, which involves having menopause before the age of forty. This is often due to genetic factors or due to autoimmune diseases but can be idiopathic.
A woman is considered in menopause if she hasn’t had a menstrual period for a year. The symptoms and signs of menopause, though, can appear for years before the actual time of menopause. Symptoms include decreased fertility, hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, increased fat around the midsection, thinning hair and a loss of the fullness of the breasts. The symptoms can be mild and not need any treatment or they can be so severe that treatment is necessary in order to get through it.
One can tell a person is in menopause just by tracking the symptoms a person has or the doctor can check an FSH level to decide whether or not the person is in menopause. FSH stands for follicle stimulating hormone and is a brain chemical that is normally blocked by estrogen and progesterone release from the ovaries. When the ovaries fail to produce estrogen and progesterone, the FSH level increases and above a certain value can indicate a person is in menopause. Doctors also recommend checking a thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH because low thyroid conditions are common around the time of menopause.
The treatment of menopause depends on the symptoms and how severe they are. Menopause itself doesn’t require any treatment unless a woman desires treatment. The mainstay of treatment is hormonal therapy in the form of estrogen and progesterone, which are good treatments for hot flashes. In some cases, low dose antidepressants have been found to reduce hot flashes, particularly the SSRI class of antidepressants. They can also help with the mood swings of menopause.
Neurontin, also known as gabapentin, is an anti-seizure medication that has been found to improve hot flashes. Clonidine, given as a pill or a patch is a medication used to treat high blood pressure but also reduces hot flashes in menopausal women. Bisphosphonates are often used to treat osteoporosis that is at an increased risk during and after menopause. It is commonly prescribed to women going through menopause as a preventative. Medications like Evista can also be prescribed in menopause for osteoporosis. Some women get by on vaginal estrogen cream that reduces atrophic vaginitis or vaginal dryness so common around menopause.
Nancy
Early menopause often creeps up on women in their forties in uncomfortable ways. It may leave them feeling like they are suffering from a chronic, if mild, case of the flu. It can wreak havoc on their emotions by precipitating severe mood shifts; and it can leave them absolutely bewildered about why they are feeling as they do. But early menopause is neither a physical nor emotional illness; it is simply a natural part of the aging process.
Determining If You Are A Candidate For Early Mopause
Early menopause is surprisingly common, and for those women who held off on starting families because they were busy with careers or other responsibilities, it can be a most unwelcome surprise. Many women, therefore, would benefit from learning early in life if they are likely to experience early menopause, so that they can plan their families accordingly.
Unfortunately, there is no definite indicator that one woman is more likely than the next to experience early menopause. The onset of menopause is as unpredictable as the onset of a girl’s first menstrual cycle, yet women would most definitely benefit if they could prepare for early menopause.
There is one hope: the tendency to early menopause may be inherited. To learn if you are a candidate for early menopause, you would need to talk to your female blood relatives to determine if they experienced it. If both your mother and her mother had early onset menopause, there is a high probability that you will as well.
The Advantages Of Early Menopause
While early menopause can eliminate the possibility of childbirth for some women who were looking forward to raising families, there are other women who find early menopause to be a blessing. Women who have moral objections to artificial forms of birth control, for example, will find early menopause the perfect solution to their desire not to have more children.
There are women who worry that early menopause will bring more difficult symptoms than menopause which occurs at a later age. But the severity of menopausal symptoms is more a result of your individual physiology than it is of the age at which menopause begins. If you are having real difficulty coping with early menopause, be sure to consult your gynecologist to see if there is any form of relief. Medicine has made terrific advances since the times when women simply had to live with the symptoms of menopause, so be sure you take advantage of them!
Lydia
Or, will you know you are starting menopause when you are on the pill? Will you still have normal periods? I am 32 and a bit young but the females in my family go through menopause young. I was just wondering because I am having horrible hot flashes at night and was wondering if the pill would mask menopause? Any help would be appreciated.
Grace
