What is Menopause?
Menopause is the name given to the process by which the female reproductive system shuts down as a person passes through middle age. The ovaries stop producing estrogen and menstruation ceases. Once this happens the body goes through a period of adjustment to the reduced hormone levels, which is why some women experience symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings. The onset of menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 to 60 and lasts anywhere from six to thirteen years with diminishing symptoms as time passes.
Menopause is usually diagnosed by symptoms alone, but a blood test can also be preformed to confirm the diagnosis. If you suspect the onset of menopause you should see your doctor immediately.
Early Menopause Symptoms: Pre-Menopause
When menopause is about to begin, there is usually a span of time where periods become irregular; shorter or longer, heavier or lighter, or occur with uneven frequency. This is called perimenopause. It's a good idea to see your doctor about any dramatic changes to your menstral cycle even if you suspect perimenopause is the culprit. More information about perimenopause can be found here.
Menopause Symptoms: The Signs of Menopause
Don't let the size of this list scare you, not all women experience menopausal symptoms and not all women who experience symptoms experience all of these symptoms. Here are the most common:
* Hot flashes
* Night sweats
* Trouble sleeping
* Pain during intercourse
* Vaginal itchiness, dryness, or bleeding
* Increased urination frequency
* Increased urination urgency
* Incontinance
* Joint pain
* Muscle pain
* Back pain
* Thinning or sagging skin
* Mood swings
* Irritability
* Fatigue
* Impaired Memory
Menopause also increases the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, bone loss, and other diseases. You should see your doctor for a personalized risk assessment.
Premature Menopause
About one percent of women experience menopause before the age of 40. There are a number of reasons a women may hit menopause early, including thyroid disease, diabetes, and having undergone chemotherapy. Premature menopause is diagnosed by measuring the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the blood. When menopause occurs, blood FSH and LH levels spike.
Male Menopause
Before you start laughing you should know that just as women undergo a process where their reproductive system shuts down, so do men. In men the process is called andropause and involves the cessation of testosterone production. Men who experience andropause are usually between the ages of 40 and 60, and the process is usually much more gradual then that of menopause. More information about andropause
Treating Menopause Symptoms
Unfortunately, menopausal symptoms vary so widely from woman to woman that there isn't a single miracle cure to rid you of the suffering. If you're in the midst of menopause and looking for relief, the very first place to go is to your doctor to discuss your symptoms along with possible treatments for them.
The second place you should look for advice is from your mother. It is very likely that your experience of menopause will be very much like your mothers experience so she should have plenty of advice and experience to relate to you.
Aside from these two people, you should read and learn as much as possible. Menopause is a very complex process which cannot be covered adequately in a single article (that's why there are links to other resources scattered throughout this page). The more you know, the better prepared you will be to cope with the symptoms, and safeguard against the risks. You will find that a lot of the advice you read will point to general good health practices; working out, eating right, not smoking, taking supplements, etc.
Information on herbal menopause remedies and symptom-specific remedies can be found further down this page.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Hormone Replacement Therapy involves manually replacing the hormones that your body has stopped producing. It has been shown to greatly reduce the symptoms of menopause as well as the incidence of osteoporosis, however - it has also been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke. The decision to begin HRT is not one to be taken lightly, you should talk with your doctor and stuff your brain full of as much information as you can stand. Here are some good starting points:
* National Library of Medicine - Hormone Replacement Therapy
* MayoClinic.com - Hormone Replacement Therapy: Benefits and Alternatives
Menopause Home Remedies
Sometimes it can seem as if menopause is causing you to fall apart. Don't let it get you down, here's some remedies that can help you keep it together. Anything that is good for your overall health will help with your menopause symptoms. Take supplements daily, there are some formulated specifically for a woman's body as it undergoes menopause. There are also many herbal menopause remedies that may help.
night sweatsHot Flashes and Night Sweats
Ah, the most common symptom of menopause: hot flashes and night sweats. A hot flash is a sudden, intense sensation of warmth that travels through the body and often is accompanied by chills and sweating. Hot flashes can last from 30 seconds to 30 minutes and are often accompanied by a feeling of anxiety.
While there are no known ways to stop a hot flash that has already struck, many women have observed that there are environmental factors that seem to increase the frequency of hot flashes. Those are: Hot and humid weather, anxiety, alcohol, caffeine and other stimulants, spicy foods, and lack of sleep. The use of black cohosh has also been reported to help with hot flashes.
Painful Intercourse
Vaginal thinning and dryness are an unfortunate effect of menopause, especially since they're not always accompanied by a diminished sex drive. The bad news is that the thinning and dryness will continue to increase, the good news is that it can these effects can often be negated through regular sexual intercourse. The phrase "use it or loose it" comes to mind. Personal lubricants can help with the dryness and itchiness.
Bladder Control
When menopause begins, the muscles that surround the bladder begin to weaken and a sense of impending urination or some accidental leakage can result. This can be controlled by exercising these muscles through the use of Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles in your pelvis and can really help with the bladder control problems associated with menopause.
To perform a Kegel exercise, contract your pelvic muscles as if you were trying to tighten your vaginal opening, hold the contraction for a three-count and relax. Follow the link in the previous paragraph for more detailed instructions.
Wrinkles
Your skin becomes more prone to stretch marks and wrinkles during and after menopause due to the body producing less elastin and collagen. Start a daily routine of applying a high quality lotion to your body to keep your skin hydrated and elastic.
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