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.