Did you know that menopause is not actually called ‘menopause’ until one year after your last period? Menopause, the word, is a combination of two Greek words which mean month and terminate. Translated literally menopause means “the end of the monthlies.” The average woman reaches menopause about the age of fifty- one, although it can vary from your thirties to your fifties. Certain factors such as the age your mother began menopause and environmental influences may play a key role in determining when you begin to experience the signs and symptoms of perimenopause.
First, here are the most common symptoms of menopause:
• Anxiety and depression
• Endometriosis
• Fibroid tumors
• Foggy, fuzzy thinking and memory lapses
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Inability to handle stress
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Light or heavy menstrual flow
• Lumpy or tender breasts
• Mood swings
• PMS
• Sleep problems
• Vaginal dryness
• Water retention and bloating
• Weight gain
Other signs and symptoms
The most common is the hot flush. However, women may sometimes experience several of the symptoms listed below:
* hot flushes and night sweats
* aches and pains
* crawling or itching sensations under the skin
* headaches
* vaginal dryness
* reduced sex drive (libido)
To obtain menopause help for menopause signs symptoms, understand female hormones, the menstrual cycle and how hormone imbalance happens. In a healthy menstruating woman, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. Ovulation then signals the female body to produce progesterone, which occurs for the next 12 or so days. Progesterone and estrogen levels will drop at around day 28 if there’s no pregnancy, and menstruation begins.
Some women begin to have early menopause signs, symptoms and complaints in their late thirties. Changes in menstrual periods and more severe premenstrual symptoms may be related to menopause. If a woman stops menstruating before the age of 40, it is considered premature menopause. Sometimes this happens naturally and may be a result of genetics. In other cases it is caused by treatment for a medical condition, such as removal of the ovaries due to cancer. Women who experience an unnatural premature menopause typically have more severe menopause symtoms and medication is often necessary.
Alternative therapy may be beneficial in helping one to cope with menopause signs and symptoms. Acupuncture and relaxation techniques are natural therapies that could provide some relief to sufferers. Herbal remedies can be found online but before using them talk to a doctor and make sure they are safe to take. Interactions and interference with prescription meds is possible with taking certain herbs. Severe reactions have been documented so be sure and check on these remedies before taking them.
Living Life after Menopause
Many women are anxious, worried and even scared about going through menopause. Yes, it can be difficult to stop menstruating and no longer be able to bear children. However, many women find menopause to be a happy and exciting time in their lives. You are no longer bound to periods and hormones and can live without the worry of pregnancy. Through education and acceptance, menopause can become one of the most enjoyable stages in your life.
Terri
My girlfriend and I were talking about the new birth control that makes it so you only have 4 periods a year. She brought up an interesting question though: Does having less periods mean having a later menopause?
Information I’ve been able to find seems 50/50. Some sites say menopause is directly related to a lower egg count in a woman’s overies, while others state its due mostly to general aging of the overies.
Can anyone shed some light on this question?
Jackie
If indeed menopause is a time of transition for the “wise woman” , shouldn’t it be a time to celebrate rather than a struggle?
Charles
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 diseaseMenopause 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 laterMenopause 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.SymptomsSymptoms 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. TreatmentHormone 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.EstrogenPros: Helps prevent vaginal tissue from thinning; also helps prevent bone loss; very effective against hot flashesCons: 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.
Claude
For some woman, the onset of menopause in mid life is a blessing; sadly for others, it’s a continuation of the curse.
It depends upon one’s view of the glass; is it half full or half empty? Is the remaining pie on the plate half eaten, or is there half left? How to accept and experience menopause in a positive way and travel the menopause journey in comfort is the subject of this discourse.
While menopause is considered to be another phase in the cycle of a woman’s life, each and every woman reacts differently to its arrival. There are some who view it as having a “new lease on life,” encompassing all of the physical, emotional, and sexual freedom associated with it, however others see it as an end to that part of life which is fulfilling and nurturing.
Despite the symptoms, one can look upon menopause in a positive manner and comfortably enjoy the journey, while simply dismissing the associated drawbacks as just a part of the overall process.
The acceptance of menopause, when viewed as a positive benefit, is most likely associated with these immediate benefits:
1. No longer do you have to deal with monthly menstrual cycles which include the cramping, the bloating, and the mood swings
2. You can have sex as often as you like without having to worry about becoming pregnant or needing to avoid the monthly interruption of periods. Reportedly, sex is even better than before!
3. Your relationships reach an entirely new level of communication
4. Menopause is the quintessential sign you have reached an emotional and physical maturity to be able to handle anything that life throws at you
5. You now have the opportunity to create the life you desire as in most cases the children have grown and fled the nest, allowing more quality time with your partner and time to seek your own personal pleasures
6. Retirement will be soon approaching where you are not required to work everyday, but rather do what gives you joy
7. It’s now your turn!
Even though the symptoms accompanying the cessation of the menstrual cycle can be irritating to many, it doesn’t in any way diminish a woman or her role in society. In fact, it is important to note that there is no neurological disorder associated with menopause. Whether or not a woman experiences depression during this time is not any different than any other time in her life. The notion that a woman in menopause is somehow labeled as having emotional problems is ludicrous. So too is the stereotypical derogatory terms used just before a woman’s monthly cycle, and her experience of PMS. How often do you hear “Oh, she’s just hormonal!” Is it simply an excuse? A cover up of other issues that are occurring in her life? Maybe.
To say that life changes occur about the same time as menopause is another false notion. Women change every day; one thing has nothing to do with the other. Yes, children grow up and require a different kind of nurturing, parents become old, spouses retire and may sadly leave this world and decisions are made which alter one’s course in life; but that is the point. Changes are made based upon our needs at the time; our desire to change; to develop and grow; to become empowered by those changes. Menopause is just a fact of life, and simply another phase in a woman’s life cycle. It neither changes nor diminishes a woman, but indeed makes her stronger.
Think back to that day to the onset of your menstrual cycle, the day when you had your first period. In fact, you probably looked forward to that time with eager anticipation. While you may have felt a bit awkward or even embarrassed, nonetheless, your body changed, and you blossomed into a young woman. The same is true of menopause; during menopause there are some periods of awkwardness as you learn to adapt to your changing body, both physically and emotionally. However once you have passed through this period you will blossom once again into your mature self, an empowered women filled with wonder and excitement, and more importantly, freedom.
Similarly, as you accepted and embraced your rise to womanhood, it is important to recreate the same feeling of happiness at the time of your menopause. As the name suggests, it is merely meno-pause, definitely not meno-stop. It is not the end of life. This is another milestone in your life which should be embraced with positive mental and emotional thought. Loving relationships, intimacy, and communication are tremendous parts of the circle of life following menopause, so look forward to this time with gladness.
Why not accept menopause in a positive manner by embracing life and living it to its fullest? While most women accept the changes their bodies will undergo over time, menopause allows you the opportunity to embrace your body and the changes it is going through. Embrace these changes with dignity and with gratitude. After all, you deserve the freedom that menopause offers, and it makes sense to be proud of your achievements and that you have actually made it to this stage in your life. Remember, it is only mid life, and you still have another half of your life to live.
A wonderful method of gaining reassurance and comfort during this stage of your life is through guided creative visualisations.
As has been proven, the unconscious mind controls our every thought, feeling and behaviour so take a short time each day to allow yourself to relax, unwind and simply enjoy the powerful, positive messages contained in these amazing tools. Guided creative visualisations are tools to your freedom - physically, emotionally, spiritually and even financially if you so choose. Why not travel with comfort in menopause using these tools?
When you allow your unconscious to generate creative solutions to the changes experienced in menopause, then you’ll begin to see the results you desire. You can enjoy this phase in the life cycle because you’ve waited long enough for it to arrive, and you have earned the right to not only be comfortable but also to be happy. And you can, you know? Make the choice today to allow your unconscious mind to benefit and transform your conscious world in any way you desire.
So ladies, regardless of where you are in your life cycle, stand up, be proud of who you are, what you have achieved and of your valued place in society. With the techniques in guided creative visualisations to assist you on your journey, you can simply pass through this stage of menopause with ease, with comfort and even with delight! It’s your choice, so make the right one today.
Jeanette
Does menopause cause water retention?
I drink a lot of fluids and do not use much sodium, but lately my feet have been fat.
Annie
What are some of the thing that help with menopause. My test came back that I was in menopause. And oh boy do I have anger and crying and feelings of going crazy. I also have anxiety disorder. Any advice?
Angel
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death among American women. It causes more than ten times the number of deaths than breast cancer does.
Menopause symptoms are often confused with heart disease and menopause symptoms are generally widely known. Whether there’s a link or not between menopause symptoms and heart disease is being researched but without any conclusive evidence to date.
Menopause information abounds on the benefits of relief of menopause symptoms. Typically, with all the controversy over hormone replacement therapy, many women today are turning to natural hormone replacement therapy for relief of menopause symptoms.
Early menopause symptoms can generally be offset by an exercise regimen, which experts report can be as easy as walking for 20 minutes daily. Early menopause symptoms can further be treated with light stretching exercises with 20 minutes of walking.
It is very important to have a lifestyle that includes plenty of active exercise, 20-60 minutes per session, 3-5 times per week. This aerobic activity helps the heart work at its best by allowing it to pump more oxygen-rich blood with each beat, resulting in a slower resting heart rate.
Relieving your menopause symptoms with exercise starts by making sure you are in overall good health. Conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease should be treated and under control before starting.
Menopause symptoms such as hot flashes can be exacerbated by strenuous exercise so staying cool and drinking plenty of fluids is important during the exercise session. Night sweats may require more strenuous exercise to assure a good night’s sleep. One of the other signs of menopause is osteoporosis, which is significantly helped by exercise due to the strengthening of bone mass that occurs.
It’s not certain yet whether physical inactivity or the naturally occurring change in hormones during perimenopause and menopause cause the loss in muscle mass and increase in fat. Perhaps it is a combination of the two.
It is known, however, that these changes happen in menopause-aged women. Fat metabolism becomes lower as estrogen levels decrease, thus, body weight goes up. Lipids, or fats, in the blood increase during menopause, and that determines the cholesterol count.
Eating a diet rich in fiber, both soluble and insoluble, is beneficial in lowering cholesterol. That type of diet helps the body move extra cholesterol out of the system by binding it with bile.
Additionally, there is some evidence that some menopause symptoms, such as insomnia, depression and hot flashes, can be alleviated by exercise.
Signs of menopause can be offset by a regular exercise regimen; be sure to include plenty of fluids and light dress during the session. Natural hormone replacement therapy is an excellent complement to a regular exercise regimen to offset menopause symptoms.
Evelyn
Menopause is a natural occurrence in the reproductive cycle of the entire female population, eventually one way or another. But thankfully, millions of women have found a menopause treatment by taking a combination of herbs for menopause and vitamin E. This herbal menopause remedy has been utilized to prevent menopause hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and all the other 35 symptoms that are attributed to menopause. Let us take a look at what group of herbs for menopause have brought the most effective, lasting menopause relief to so many.
Soy, Black Cohosh, Damiana, and Vitamin E have been proven to work best in combination as a menopause treatment. Each has its own quality to relieve menopause symptoms, but in combination, these herbs for menopause provide the most optimum menopause natural remedy.
Soy comes from a seed and contains natural plant estrogens called phytoestrogens. No other food has a higher phytoestrogen content than soy. While phytoestrogens are weaker than human estrogens, they still behave similarly in the human body. Once in the body, phytoestrogens can balance a woman’s estrogen level by attaching themselves to the body’s estrogen receptor sites. After attaching, phytoestrogens have been shown to decrease estrogen levels in perimenopausal women and increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. Additionally, besides providing menopause relief, research has shown that soy can beneficially promote heart health.
Black Cohosh comes from the root of a perennial plant that is native to North America, and its extract is primarily used today for menopause treatment. Black cohosh was used in North American Indian medicine for treatment of gynecological disorders, malaria, rheumatism, kidney disorders, and sore throat. It was also used for backache, colds, cough, hives, constipation, and to induce lactation. In 19th-century America, black cohosh was used as a home remedy for rheumatism, fever, as a natural diuretic, and to bring on menstruation. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has stated that black cohosh can provide menopause relief for up to six months, specifically in the treatment of the menopause symptoms of sleep and mood disorder, and menopause hot flashes.
Damiana comes from a yellow-flowering shrub that typically grows in hot and humid climates such as Central and South America, and the state of Texas. Damiana has historically been used as an aphrodisiac and some claim it induces euphoria. It has been shown to alleviate depression and relieve anxiety, thus producing relaxation. Some studies have shown that people suffering from sexual dysfunction, resulting from stress or emotional troubles, could benefit from supplementation of this herb.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that many believe also relieves menstrual hot flashes. Studies done in the late 1940’s showed it to relieve hot flashes and postmenopausal vaginal dryness. There are other substantial benefits of this vitamin. A Nurses Health Study showed that women who took vitamin E over a two-year period reduced their risk of fatal heart attacks by 40%. Vitamin E is currently being studied for its possible effect on Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. It is maintained, by advocates of natural herbal treatments, that combining vitamin E with other antioxidants such as vitamin C, selenium, chromium, and beta-carotene may offer a plethora of relief for a number of maladies, and most likely work better together than separately.
Medical menopause treatment has radically changed over the past few decades. In the beginning, Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) was used extensively, but this gave way to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) using synthetic hormones. Lately, Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) is all the buzz. But all these medical treatments have been wrought with various adverse side effects, perhaps a return to the tried and true, safe and natural herbal remedies are a more prudent choice. You can learn much more about menopause and menopause treatment at GreatNewsHealth.
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Menopause symptoms can be alleviated through a menopause treatment of safe and natural herbs for menopause. Menopause information about treatments, cures, and a best selling menopause natural remedy can be found by visiting http://GreatNewsHealth.com today.
Ruth
