Tips For Delaying Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is an inevitable phase of a woman's lifecycle, a period where they undergo a sea of emotional as well as physical changes. This phase signifies the end of the fertility period as hormonal changes cause the ovaries to discontinue producing eggs due to which menstruation ceases. The average women experiences menopause after crossing the age of 50 but it isn't uncommon to see women aged between 35-40 years suffering from menopause symptoms.

No woman looks forward to menopause because it is period where you experience tremendous mood swings, anxiety, irritability, loss in sex drive and host of other problems. Additionally, following menopause, a female loses her reproductive ability which means that she can no longer have children. This is the reason why most women hope that menopause occurs to them as late as possible. And though you can't prevent menopause, it is very much possible to delay the symptoms provided that you incorporate a few lifestyle changes. In this article, we give you tips for delaying menopause symptoms.

Avoid smoking as smoking women are more susceptible to an early menopause. It has been found that women who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day are 40 percent are more likely to get an early menopause than non smokers. Studies reveal that nicotine acts on the central nervous system and causes it to secrete hormones that are involved with menopause. So if you are a smoker, then it is about to time to kick the butt.

The second tip is to follow a balanced diet. Menopause is most likely to occur when the estrogen levels in the body drop drastically, so in order to prevent this from happening, eat foods that boost estrogen levels. In this regard, foods such as soy and whole grains can help as they are rich in estrogen while herbs such as dong quai and black kohosh too have been known to postpone menopause symptoms.

One other way to boost estrogen levels is by taking Vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that acts as estrogen substitute and supplements of these can boost estrogen levels. However consult with your doctor before taking these so that you are saved the side effect risks.

Lead an active lifestyle. It is important that you exercise everyday as regular exercise keeps the blood flowing and plus boosts the body's hormone production naturally. This can go a long way in delaying menopause.

However a word of note here, all of these methods may help you to delay menopause but ultimately you will have to face the symptoms. So be headstrong and think of it as a passing phase that occurs just once and you will surely be able to get over it.

Causes Of Irritability And Tips To Treat Menopausal Irritability

What is irritability? Irritability is the extreme response to stimuli. When a woman is undergoing menopausal transition, she experiences various types of physical and emotional effects. According to a study, about 50% of the women in perimenopausal phase notice instability in their mood which is one of the prime causes of irritability. Many of them complain that because of everyday stress in their life, they get easily irritated - and this wasn't the case earlier. They also say that they are completely aware of this hyperbole reaction to their invokers, but find it difficult to contain.

Factors leading to irritation

There are numerous factors which cause irritation, but the root of irritability lies in the hormonal fluctuations during menopause. The good news is that irritability is very normal in menopause and women may or may not experience it during menopause. So what you really need to know is what your symptom is in order to determine the most effective way for managing it or alleviating irritation. Some symptoms of irritability are increased stress, sleeplessness, bursting in anger, over-reacting, less patience, decreased tolerance to people or their ideas, and frustration.

Menopause and stress

There is another school of thought who correlates adrenal cortex to short and long term stresses. The adrenal medulla responds to stress by producing "fight or flight" response. Adrenal glands are small 5 grams masses that are located in the lower back region of our kidneys. With menopause and as a woman ages, the function of adrenal glands tend to decline, and sometimes researchers refer it as "adrenapause". This contributes to stress and the causes of irritability during menopause.

How to treat irritability

The first step towards treating irritability is to make positive lifestyle changes. This can be done by adopting hobbies like gardening doing yoga and meditation. Eating a balanced diet with emphasis on proteins and vitamins helps naturally combating menopause. Regular exercises help in decreasing irritability because exercises increase levels of dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone that is also known as "happy hormone". It helps alleviating the mood by acting on neuro receptors which are responsible for mood alleviation.

Treatments coupled with natural remedies like aromatherapy, herbs and massage help further alleviating from the symptoms. This is because the natural remedies directly deal with the issues at the root level and correct the hormonal imbalances.

Some great estrogenic substances are alfalfa, soybeans, sprouts, flaxseeds, French beans, garlic, sesame, cucumber, apples, cabbage, olive oil and papaya.

However, if symptoms of irritability continue for a longer time, it is best to get advice from a health care professional. You should essentially seek his advice if you suffer from extreme psychological condition like depression. Whatever you do, you start with changing lifestyle (which is the least risky approach), and then go for alternative therapies. If you don't get relief from any of these you must go for drugs to attack the causes of irritability.

Homeopathy

Alternative treatments like homeopathy have helped several women across the world through this change in their life. Homeopathy is a safe treatment as it stimulates natural hormonal balance without intervention of harmful drugs. As a matter of fact it is a safe alternative to HRT. Homeopaths prescribe medicines by which natural hormones are produced in a manner that your mood swings are taken care of naturally, thereby helping in relieving from irritability.

All About Menopause

Menopause and Climacteric

Definition. Menopause refers to final cessation of menstruation while climacteric means the period at which the woman gradually changes from the reproductive life into one of senescence. Meno¬pause is also referred by the laity as 'the change of life'. However both the terms are often synonymously used, menopause being the popular term used. These are physiological processes due to cessa¬tion of ovarian follicular function.
Aetiology. Menopause occurs as result of exhaustion of eggs from ovarian follicles and Consequent oestrogen deprivation.

Physiological Changes in Climacteric or Menopause and Post menopausal age.

Genital. Progressive atrophy of genital organs occurs with more and more deposition of fibrous tissue in them.

Ovary. They go small (5 gm. each), fibrotic with furrowed surface, Follicles get exhausted. Ovarian Vessels become sclerosed. Cortical stromal hyperplasia is a frequent finding due to high LH level in women aged 40¬46 years. Ovarian stroma becomes a source of small amount of androgens.
Fallopian tubes shrink with diminished mortility.

Uterus becomes small and fibrotic due to atrophy of muscle. Endometrium becomes thin and atrophic (senile). In some women, endometrial. hyperplasia may occur after menopause as a result of constant oestrone stimulation. Cervix atrophies and flushes with the vaginal vault. Cervical secretion becomes scant, thick and later 4isappears. The vaginal epithelium atrophies with loss of rugosity. Vaginal smear shows atrophic changes. Vagina contracts with shallowness of the fornices. Vulva gradually atrophies with narrowing of the introitus : pelvic cellular tissue becomes gradually lax.

Secondary sex characteristics. Breasts show gradual atrophy of the glandular tissue resulting in flabbynes. These become pendulous due to deposition of fat around. Pubic and axillary hair becomes sparse.

Physical. Body weight decreases after 65 years. There is decrease in cell mass of organs. Skin wrinkles, becomes less elastic with hair appearing on face. Subcutaneous fat deposition. occurs on the hip and thighs. Height diminishes postraenopausally after 65 years. Kyphosis may develop due to spinal osteoporosis.

Metabolic. Osteoporosis occurs as a result of oestrogen deprivation. Reduction in trabecular bone (collagen matrix) (Osteoblasts) and Calcium leads to oestrogen deprived Osteoporosis. Premenopausally woman is protected against ischaernic heart disease due to high HDL and low LDL cholesterol. The latter rises postmenopause, thus incidence of ischaernic heart disease also rises. Premature menopause natural or by oophorectomy suffers from increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (cardiac and cerebral stroke) and osteoporosis.

Digestive. Hypochlorhydria develops. Motor activity of entire alimentary tract diminishes resulting in dyspepsia and constipation in postmenopausal women. Bladder and urethral epithelia atrophy.
Psychosexual. Emotional upsets are common. At menopause sex urge may increase. After 60 years, sex urge wanes as an aging process.

Endocrinal. There is gonadal failure at menopause. Plasma Oestradiol level falls, oestrone remains normal, ovarian stroma however, produces andostenedione. Extraglandular conversion of androstenedione to oestrone occurs in fatty tissue. Postmenopausally, adrenal cortex becomes the source of oestrone derived from androstenedione. Oestrone becomes the predominating oestrogen after menopause. Postmenopausal daily oestrone formation has been estimated as 15 100 gg/day (Mac Donald et al, 1973) and serum level at 30 70 pg/ml. Progesterone secretion ceases from the ovary due to failure of ovulation. Total urinary oestrogen level falls to about 6 Pg1 24 hours at the postmenopausal period. Androstenedione level mostly from adrenal cortex, little . from ovary comes to one half that seen prior to menopause. Testosterone level does not appreciably fall because postmenopause ovary secretes more testosterone.

Pituitary gonadotrophins. FHS and LH are secreted in increasing amount due to the absence of negative feed back control by the ovarian steroids. LH ovulatory surge disappears, the mean basal serum menopausal gonadotrophin levels are in the range of 50 150 rn LU/ml FSH and 50 100 m IU/ml LH. FSH level is 15 times higher than premenopausal level by 3 5 years after menopause while LH level is increased 3 fold. Prolactin level falls.

Timing. The process of climacteric may gradually start 2 3 years before menopause but may continue 2 5 years after it. The age at which menopause occurs varies widely from 40 to 55 years with mean age of about 47 years. Genetic makeup, race and climate influence age of menopause. Women of tropics get earlier menopause than those in colder climate. Some believe that the early the menarche starts, the later would be the menopause while late coming of the menarche is associated with early menopause. Early or delayed menopause is considered when menopause happens before 35 years or after 55 years respectively. Early menopause may be due to ovarian failure, oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation.

Delayed menopause is usually due to some pelvic pathology like uterine fibroid or in association with disease e.g., diabetes mellitus.

Clinical Features of Menopause and climacteric

Menstrual Symptoms. This occurs in forms of (a) progressive scanty menstrual loss followed by cessation of menses, (b) menses at prolonged intervals finally ceasing, (c) sudden cessation of menses. Prior to menopause menstrual cycles become anovulatory. Any excessive menstrual loss or irregular haemorrhage is not menopausal as in commonly believed by lay public but is due to some pelvic pathology.

Other symptoms. Most women remain asymptomatic. They adapt nicely the physiological changes of menopause. Some may have mild symptoms of putting on weight, joint pains, increase of sex desire followed by its gradual decrease.

Signs. The following signs appear gradually in a normal woman in the menopausal period and thereafter.

1. General signs. Increase in weight, deposition of fat on the hip, buttocks, around breasts. Breasts are examined.

2. Genital signs.
Vulva. Progressive atrophy with scanty hair with narrowing of the vaginal introitus.
Vagina. This becomes narrow with 'tenting' of vaginal vault,, thinning of mucous membrane and 18ss of rugae.

Cervix. Portio vaginalis atrophies and gets flushed with vaginal vault.
Uterus. Body is felt small and hard.

Adnexae. Ovaries become impalpable.

Diagnosis. This can be made from clinical features aided by atrophic vaginal smear and elevated serum FSH level of 50 mIU/ml and above. Elevated plasma LH level is less helpful. Urinary or serum oestrogen level shows value similar to follicular phase and thus less reliable for diagnosis.
Differential Diagnosis. Stoppage of menses due to menopause may be simulated by that due to pseudocyesis or pregnancy.

Treatment. Psychotherapy. Explanations for the condition and reassurances are to be given to the woman passing through climacteric when seeking advice for cessation of menses. Improvement of health by dietetic adjustment, adequate rest and exercise and regular evacuation of bowel are to be ensured. For sleep disturbance, diazepam (Valium) 5 mg. or Lorazepam 1 or 2 mg. is taken orally at bed time.

Menopausal or Climacteric Syndrome

Menopausal Syndrome refers to group of symptoms that are experienced by some women during climacteric. Hot flushes (vasomotor instability symptom) that last for one year in 80% are characteristic of menopausal syndrome. It diminishes of its own by 3 4 years. The cause of hot flush is unclear but follows oestrogen withdrawal in women with poor vascular control. Rise of hypothalamic endorphin is implicated. It is experienced by, 25% women with psychological background, particularly following oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation at younger age.
Flush depends on rate of oestrogen loss and extragonadal oestrone formation. The body gradually adjusts itself to natural decline of oestrogen and flushes gradually pass off.
Symptoms. These appear as follows: vasomotor and other symptoms usually follow but even precede cessation of menses.

1. Menstrual. Menses stop as already described under menopause. A proportion of premenopausal women come with emotional symptoms, loss of libido and dry vagina during intercourse, Hot flushes and sweats are complained with scanty and delayed menses by some women.

2. Vasomotor. 'Hot flushes' (feeling of warmth) due to cutaneous vasodilatation are commonly experienced by these, women on the face and neck spreading all over the body; this feeling of heat may be followed by sweating. They may come once a day but sometimes every hour; they come particularly at night. These are characteristic manifestations of menopausal syndrome.

3. Emotional. This is manifested by headache, irritability, sleeplessness, giddiness, fatigue, depression, palpitation. There may be sensations of 'pins and needles' in the sole and palm. Disturbed sleep can be due to hot flushes and sweats.

4. Sexual. These are decreased libido and dyspareunia due to atrophic vaginitis and lack of vaginal lubrication during intercourse.

5. Musculoskeletal. These appear as backache, pain in joints due to laxity of ligaments and muscles.

Signs. These are same as described under menopause.
Diagnosis. This has been already described under menopause.
Differential Diagnosis. Pseudocyesis of spurious pregnancy may be mistaken by the patient for menopausal syndrome. In the former, amenorrhoea, enlargement of breasts and abdomen due to deposition of fat like that in pregnancy occur; there is also the false feeling of foetal movements due to flatulent dyspepsia. The patient should be assured that her symptoms are menopausal. In all these cases, pregnancy may also occur and should be carefully excluded by thorough examination, immunological urinary pregnancy test and pelvic ultrasound.
Premature Menopause

Definition. Menopause coming on a patient below 35 years is called premature menopause. Cause. Poor stock of ovarian follicles gets exhausted. Clinical Features, Symptoms, Secondary amenorrhoea for more than 6 months. In some hot flushes, mood instability, disturbed sleep, loss of libido, (menopausal syndrome). draying of hair. Signs. Atrophic vaginal epithelism, normal or small sized uterus. Investigations. Raised serum FSH above 50 mIU/ml.; ovarian biopsy showing no ovarian follicles is not done. Treatment Assurance, diazepam for poor sleep. Oestrogen therapy for menopausal syndrome are given. Menstruation can not be brought on hormone therapy.
Male Climacteric. About 10 per cent men experience climacteric symptoms at a later age than women due to androgen deprivation. The rest 90 per cent gradually adapt themselves without symptoms.

Foods to Eat For Vaginal Dryness - How to Cure Vaginal Dryness Naturally

Vaginal dryness is a very common problem specially among menopausal women. It is largely a result of a drop in the production of hormone estrogen. Low levels of estrogen tends to make walls of the vagina thin and dry. This can lead to various problems. Vaginal dryness is accompanied with constant itching in the vagina and it makes intercourse highly painful.

Often, women experience bleeding during intercourse. Not only this, it is also likely to affect your sex drive or libido since women tend to lose all their interest in sex. I am sure you would agree with me that this is something that can really jeopardize your relationship.

However, there are certain natural remedies to help you get over this sexual problem. The first step you need to take is to modify your diet. There are certain foods that can be highly effective in increasing lubrication.

Foods to Eat for Vaginal Dryness

Increase Your Water Intake

First and foremost, any dryness in your body can be a result of dehydration. As such, it is extremely important for you to ensure that your body gets enough of water. You must drink at least 8-10 full glasses of water in a day. You must also avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol in them since they tend to reduce moisture in your body. Moreover, having foods rich in water can also be a great help.

Increasing Estrogen is the Key

Remember that estrogen is the chief hormone that affects your vaginal lubrication. Certain foods can help your body produce more estrogen. Some examples include soy, flaxseed oil, nuts, apples, sesame, sunflower seeds etc.,

It is also extremely important to include Essential Fats like Omega 3 in your diet. This is because all anabolic steroid hormones are produced in cholesterol. Best sources include fish like salmons, sardines etc., nuts, beans, sunflower seeds, olives and olive oil etc.,

Natural Supplements and Lubricants

Last but not the least, there are some natural or herbal remedies in the form of supplements and lubricants that can also be a big help.

Such natural products have gained tremendous popularity off late and more and more women are now buying them to enjoy more fulfilling and satisfying sex. Such supplements are produced with herbs and other nutrients and vitamins that not only increase blood flow to the genitals but also boost the production of estrogen without the side effects of hormone replacement therapy.

High quality products are clinically approved and recommended by doctors as well.

If you want to get over Vaginal Dryness, check out the Best Female Sexual Enhancers that have helped many a women like you over the past decade.

Cool Off Menopause Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Inside and Out - Tips and Sleep Remedies

A high percentage of women in the premenopause and postmenopause years experience hot flashes and night sweats. In fact, the National Institutes of Health recently published a report called the "State-of-the-Science Statement on the Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms" (1). In this article, the authors write that 30% to 80% of women in menopause regularly experience this sudden, intense, hot, perspiring feeling in their face and upper body.

A diminished level of estrogen has a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling our body temperature, sleep cycles, and hormones. The menopausal drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus, which is sometimes referred to as the body's "thermostat", and makes it read "too hot."

Lifestyle Tips

Here are some things you can do to reduce the discomfort from hot flashes and night sweats.

Dress in layers so you can peel them off as you get warmer. Stick to loose clothing of cotton, linen or rayon and avoid synthetic fabrics and wool. Check into "Wicking Nightwear". These nightclothes are designed to whisk away sweat and moisture and keep you dry and comfortable while you sleep. Cotton sheets are best.

Have you heard of "Cleavage Coolers"? These are small fabric covered gel packs that can be frozen overnight. When a hot flash starts, place one inside your shirt or bra to help you cool down fast. These stay cold in your bra for up to three hours.

Use full-size fans, a ceiling fan, or an air conditioner to cool off your space at work or home. A portable hand-held battery-operated fan can also be kept in your purse. Also keep a thermos of ice water with you at work and at home.

Try a "Chillow" pillow insert for night sweats. The Chillow is filled with water and placed inside the pillowcase, on top of the pillow. It absorbs and dissipates heat to keep you cooler and doesn't require refrigeration. It is comfortably cool, rather than cold and it always stays dry.

Menopause Remedies

Hops flowers are best known for their role in brewing beer. You can also find hops extract in herbal remedies designed to calm and relax. In one animal study from the Journal of Endocrinology, the phyto (plant) estrogen from hops was found to be equally as effective as an estrogen drug in reducing hot flashes and lowering high body temperature in menopause. In fact, the beneficial effects lasted five days after the hops extract was withdrawn, compared to four days after the estrogen.

Vitamin E is a proven remedy for hot flashes. One study supporting vitamin E is from the University of Iran, published in "Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation" in 2007. 400 IU of vitamin E in a softgel cap was given to the participants daily for four weeks. A diary was used to measure hot flashes before the study and at the end. The researchers concluded that vitamin E is an effective, recommended treatment for hot flashes.

Sleep Remedies

According to the journal article on the management of menopause-related symptoms, women seem to have more sleep disturbances as they progress through the menopausal stages. The prevalence of sleep disturbance varies from 39% to 47% in perimenopause, and from 35% to 60% in postmenopause. Night sweats and hot flashes can become a form of insomnia in which a woman wakes up drenched in sweat and unable to sleep.

Regarding mineral deficiency at the time of menopause, Nutritionist Adelle Davis says, "The amount of calcium in a woman's blood parallels the activity of the ovaries. During the menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur, including irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and insomnia. These problems can be easily overcome if the intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are all generously increased and are well absorbed." (2)

It's important to note that a balanced ratio of calcium and magnesium is important to overall health, and that these two minerals should be taken together for best results. Digestibility and absorption are key factors in selecting the best types of calcium and magnesium to use as a sleep remedy. Look for supplements that contain several different forms of calcium and magnesium and have twice as much calcium as magnesium overall. Other ingredients that enhance the absorption of calcium are boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and horsetail herb. In addition, oils such as evening primrose have been shown to increase mineral absorption, reduce calcium excretion, and increase bone density.

So if you are suffering with hot flashes or night sweats, try some of the ideas above to stay cool as a cucumber!

References:

1) Annals of Internal Medicine: National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement: Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms, June 21, 2005 vol. 142 no. 12 Part 1 1003-1013.

2) "Lets Get Well" by Adelle Davis

What is the Best and Safest Menopause Treatment?

The experience of menopause is different for different women. Some women do not experience any symptom at all. Such women do not need any menopause treatment except for regular medical check-up that ensures that there are no signs of osteoporosis or other complications.

However, women with more bothersome symptoms must think of a multi-pronged, comprehensive menopause treatment.

In general, the most common menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. The uncomfortable symptoms that accompany menopause are the direct result of hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance is a part of aging and nothing can be done to prevent it. Hormonal imbalance is what causes signs of aging, hot flushes, lack of sex drive, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other symptoms associated with menopause. The most effective way to re-establish hormonal balance is to supply the missing hormones in the right levels to the body. This can be achieved through hormone replacement therapy.

However, in recent years, hormone replacement therapy has been the subject of much speculation because synthetic hormones can cause severe side effects, like cancer and heart problems. An NIH-sponsored study showed that women on long-term hormone therapy had greater risk of developing endometrial cancer and stroke. These findings have led to a decline of interest in synthetic hormones.

In recent years, however, doctors have been using natural hormones in hormone replacement therapy. These hormones are called bioidentical hormones as they are similar in structure to natural hormones. Therefore, there have been no reports of any undesirable side effects associated with natural hormones.

The benefits of natural hormones are many:

* They are metabolized more easily by the body
* They mimic the action of natural hormones
* They may be administered in just the right dosages
* They may be administered transdermally, which means that these are not metabolized in the liver

However, for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to work as an effective menopause treatment, it is important to customize the treatment according to individual requirements.

Along with hormone replacement therapy, it is also recommended that patients adopt a comprehensive treatment for symptoms. This includes the intake of essential supplements. Alternative treatments for menopause are also effective in alleviating the discomfort associated with menopause. For instance, Black Cohosh is known to be helpful for hot flashes. Soy supplements are also helpful.

Women who are going through the symptoms of menopause should take particular care to eat a balanced diet. They must take in sufficient quantities of calcium to minimize the impact of osteoporosis. Kegel exercises relieve symptoms of incontinence. An active lifestyle and sound hygiene practices also help a lot.

How to Survive Menopause?

Menopause means "change of life cycles" or the cessation of ovarian cycles for women.
Women can start to experience symptoms of menopause as early as in their 30s regardless of average menopausal age of 50+.

These symptoms are triggered by hormonal changes as women approaching their midlife phase.

It is impossible to predict when a woman will have a menopause onset, it does not matter the age at which she starts having her periods or even, what age her mother became menopausal.

Often women become menopausal around the age of 55.

Menopause means that, the ovulation ceased, the ovaries do not produce eggs any longer and the woman body loss the ability to be fertile.

The woman body does not produce estrogen and progesterone anymore and menstruation cycle stop completely.

When the woman is undergoing a menopause she might experience some or all of these symptoms:

*Irregular periods... shorter and heavier periods, phantom periods, shorter or longer cycles
*Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
*Mood swings, irritability
*Fatigue and depression
*Anxiety and feelings of dread and doom
*Hot flashes, night sweats
*Sleeplessness
*Dry vagina and loss of libido
*Memory loss and lapses
*Difficulty in concentrating, mental confusion and disorientation
*Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons, muscles tension
*Headaches and migraines
*Itchy and sensitive skin
*Incontinence
*Thinning or hair loss
*Vertigo, episodes of losing your balance
*Changes in body odor
*Bleeding and sensitive gums
*Indigestion, nausea and bloating
*Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
*Ringing in the ears
*Fingernails break and crack easier
*Osteoporosis (after a few years)

One of the most annoying and bothersome symptom of menopause is not hot flashes but weight gain.

Studies show that there are factors that occur during menopause that may increase your ability to gain weight and have a harder time getting it off.

During menopause most women notice body and a skin change, one of the most common issues is a weight gain, especially around middle section of the woman's body.

These make women in their menopausal state more sensitive to weight issues and are sometimes insecure of the fat accumulating in their body naturally as they age.

One factor that could be a reason for weight gain is that you will have a lower estrogen level. Estrogen is the female sex hormone that is responsible for ovulation. Studies conducted with animals show that a lack of estrogen leads to a large amount of weight gain.

Menopause is a tough and hard to deal with. But there are many menopausal relief solutions available in the market today. You could try anti estrogen, hormone relief or simply use herbs. Herbal treatment might be more natural and less invasive way to treat symptoms of menopause. You will find that there are herbs that will provide menopausal relief naturally without any health risks involved.

*However did you know that there is such a thing as male menopause too?

Male menopause is called 'Andropause', it is usually though of not to exist because men usually do not have a definite period of menopause like women since they do not have periods.

However, you have to know that male menopause does exist. Male menopause is when the 'androgen' (testosterone) levels decline in the aging male or the state of having low testosterone. This decline happens not only when men age, but also might be caused by several diseases, like diabetes.

Some of the symptoms of male menopause include:

*Fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems.

Testosterone decline in men is usually a much slower process due to the drop of hormonal level in the body as women experience during that period of menopause. During 'Andropause', bodily changes occur very gradually in men and may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

Menopause is natural and totally normal so men do not have to fear it. However, most men experience this decline in hormone late in their lives (about 60s to 80s).

As we age, we have to remember to take care and ease into our age better by eating healthy, regular exercise and a positive outlook in life. We can battle the signs of aging by arming ourselves with knowledge and awareness about what happens in our body as we age.

Menopause or 'Andropause' will eventually catch up with us, but we can avoid being "cranky old people".

We all just have to find an easier way to ease into menopause and still lead a positive lifestyle.

Lost Your Libido? - 5 Herbal Remedies To Kick Start Your Sex Life After Menopause

If you'd rather curl up with a good book in bed than get cozy with your husband or partner, then you may be among the 20-40% of women who experience loss of libido during menopause.

A decrease in sexual desire in itself need not be a problem. In fact some women may see it as a plus if they don't have a sexual partner in their lives. However it can become a problem if you do have a husband or partner whose libido is higher than yours.

Your significant other may feel rejected and unable to understand why you've recently gone from sex goddess to ice-maiden almost overnight; you may not even understand it yourself!

Like many symptoms of menopause, hormone imbalance is the main culprit in the loss of your sex drive. But more complex physical, emotional and relationship issues can also play a part.

Menopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats can contribute to lack of sexual desire as painful intercourse and hot sweats may take all the pleasure out of intimacy.

Mood swings and feelings of stress and fatigue or even body image issues as you get older, can leave you feeling less desirable and consequently less able to respond to sexual overtures.

It's important for the health of your relationship to keep communication open with your partner so that they understand what's happening and don't take your lack of interest in sex as a personal rejection.

It's also important to realize that just because you're going through menopause, you don't have to accept that your sex life is over and it's not too late to start enjoying sex again.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to kick-start your flagging libido. The first step is to tackle the main culprit, hormone imbalance, at source. And if you are looking for natural remedies that will do just that, here are the five best herbal remedies for boosting your libido:

Sarsaparilla

Contains steroidal saparins that are thought to mimic the action of some human hormones. It is used as a supportive tonic for the female reproductive system. Sarsaparilla is also used as a tonic for sexual functions and as a rejuvenating tonic to support performance.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba is an herb derived from the Maidenhair Tree, which originates from pre-historic age in China, and is well known for its antioxidant and detoxifying properties. It is used to help many conditions including memory loss/inability to concentrate, mood disturbances, dizziness and sexual performance problems. Ginkgo is now one of the Top 10 herbs sold in the U.S.

Tribulus

Tribulus terrestris, also known as Puncture Vine, has a long history of traditional use in China, India, and Greece. In ancient times, it was recommended as a treatment to support female fertility and to maintain a healthy libido in both men and women. Recent studies performed in Bulgaria are the most current evidence regarding Tribulus. According to this research, Tribulus supports a healthy balance of hormones such as testosterone, DHEA, and estrogen. For this reason, Tribulus supports sexual function.

Ashwaghanda

(Withania somnifera) is the "ginseng" of Ayurvedic medicine, which is the traditional medicine of India. A major traditional use of the herb is in "balancing life forces," which may be regarded as an adaptogenic or tonic effect. It has been shown to improve physical energy and athletic ability, increase immunity to colds and infections and increase sexual capacity and fertility.

Muira Puama

Also called "Potency Wood", Muira Puama is a small tree, native to the Brazilian Amazon. It is one of the most active botanicals with a long history of traditional use as an energy tonic, general health improver and remedy for impotence & sexual insufficiency. First discovered centuries ago by the Amazon natives, this herb is widely used as an aphrodisiac by both men and women.

Remember, sex is like exercise, once you get into it you really start to enjoy it! Although you're never going to have the same sex drive as a 20 year old, these natural herbal remedies should help to boost your desire for and enjoyment of sex and lead to a long and healthy sex life for many years to come!

Post Menopause Vaginal Dryness - How to Treat it Without Further Complications

Wondering what life will be like post menopause? Vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms. But it's not something you need to live with. Many women find relief using simple remedies. Will you be one of them??

Vaginal dryness afflicts nearly 80% of women after menopause. This may not seem like a serious problem, but if you are in a relationship, it can be. This can definitely interfere with your sex life. It makes sex in the least uncomfortable. And if you let this condition go, it can progress into vaginal atrophy. This is where the lining of your vagina thins to the point that sex becomes impossible without bleeding.?Fortunately, this is an easily preventable condition.?

You basically have two methods of treatment of vaginal dryness. First are over the counter lubricants. These will ease the symptom, but does not treat the cause. You can still develop vaginal atrophy while using these. To actually treat this, you need something a little stronger.?

The cause of vaginal dryness and eventual atrophy is the lower levels of estrogen. So if you talk to your doctor, you can start on a course of low dose estrogen therapy. However, this is not without its side effects. But you do have another option.?

Many women have found relief using natural remedies. Certain plants contain what are known as phyto estrogens.? These are plant-based compounds that closely mimics the body's own supply of estrogen. Some say that it is a better option than artificial hormones. You can find these in plants such as soy and other legumes.?

Post menopause vaginal dryness should not be something you have to deal with. By using natural or artificial means of estrogen replacement, you can get your old sex life back.?

6 Effective Herbal Treatments For Infertility - Infertility Solutions

There are many types of tips to boost fertility out there. The one that is important is the one that can lead you to a better chance to get pregnant. Thus, you are more likely to find the one that can give you faster result and cut cost. Most importantly, after you adopting all these tips you will need to use it every single time. Applying all those tips that you will learn is the one that will ensure you to get pregnant in natural way.

Usually, when you're not performing the right method, this is because you are not applying the fundamental principle. Of course it will also difficult to detect your own mistake. So here are the herbal treatments for infertility that you have to follow:

1. The long history of usage as woman's herb is called Wild Yam. It has many benefits on health especially for who are infertile. Commonly it used during menopause-relieving regimen and pre-menstrual syndrome. This herb is a good tonic because it can help balance out hormones for the female system and increase the fertility of women.

2. There is a herb that widely used by Muslims called Black Seed. This is one of the most favourites of Muhammad. It is the panacea that heals all harms except for death. It can heal the infertility problems such as PCOS, Endometriosis, blocked tubes, and uterine fibroids. While that, black seed also have an ability to increase the male sperm count, stimulates menstrual periods, increases the flow of breast milk, and calms the nervous system.

3. The third herb that is the safest and commonly used is Raspberry Leaf. This herb is used for female wanting to get pregnant or who are already pregnant. It is good to the uterine and pelvic muscles. It contains full of minerals, calcium, vitamins and alkaloid. The benefit of this alkaloid is to lend tone to the uterus. This herb is better when you drink 2 - 3 cups per day.

4. The fourth herbal which is noted as Chinese herb is Dong Quai. It is used as a blood tonic. In this herb, it has Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin E for their blood building properties such as regulate the menstrual cycle, balances estrogens and improves the chances of embryo implantation. This herb helps the uterus to tone effectively and increase the hormone regulator.

5. The fifth herbal treatment is Black Cohosh. The beneficial of this herb is that it ripens and prepare cervix for labor. This herb has many other usage such as treat human's mood swings, relieves hot flashes in menopausal women and especially for vaginal dryness which it can avoid from getting pregnant.

6. Lastly, the most useful herb is Red Clover Blossoms. This herb can boost fertility because it contains many valuable nutrients including of high protein, high vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and many more. It has been used medicinally for many years through history to treat conditions especially related to menopause.

Above all those tips will help you to get pregnant naturally and of course it will take time. People who are already boost their fertility aware about the causes of infertility. With proper guidance, you can be sure to achieve the exact same result as the successful ones.

Hypothyroidism and Menopause - How They Can Be Relieved Naturally

In the United States, more than 20% of the women in menopause are diagnosed with hypothyroidism - a sluggish thyroid. Women need to understand the consequences of menopause on the thyroid, as with the increase in age, more women are affected by hypothyroidism. Menopause and hypothyroidism have common symptoms, such as depressed mood, decreased energy and decreased memory, among others. Often these symptoms are taken to be due to menopause, leading to delayed diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Hormones in women's bodies are balanced delicately and hormonal imbalance occurs during pregnancy, peri-menopause, and menopause. In the time leading up to menopause, the clockwork menstrual cycles may begin to become erratic. This could be because of highs and lows in estrogen and progesterone.

Hypothyroidism, which is seven times more often associated with women than with men, also occurs because of hormonal imbalance. Certain doctors feel that estrogen dominance - excess of estrogen combined with low progesterone - typically occurs in early peri-menopause. They feel restricting estrogen dominance prevents complications in peri-menopause, including hypothyroidism. In fact, estrogen is required to be counterbalanced with progesterone to avoid hypothyroidism.

Treatment Options of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism - the under-active thyroid is primarily due to the underproduction of the thyroid's main hormone - Thyroxine (T4). This hormone has to be converted to the active thyroid - the Triiodothyronine (T3), by the liver. Then only it can be effectively utilized by the body. Different practitioners have their own ways of tackling hypothyroidism.

Most prescribe Synthroid, Levoxyl or Levothyroxine - the synthetic T4 - for hypothyroidism. This is fine, if women are capable of converting this T4 into T3. For others, who are poor converters, Cytomel - a synthetic T3 - is prescribed to covert their low T3.

Many women do not believe in synthetic hormones for treating their hypothyroidism, and relieve their symptoms with nutrition, exercise, stress-relieving techniques and such natural treatments. Rich nutrition is the basis of hormonal balance. Rich nutrition should consists of:

繚 Multivitamins and/or minerals

繚 Essential fatty acids

繚 Calcium and/or magnesium

Such essential nutrients, when supplementing a healthy eating plan, support the body's endocrine, immune and other vital systems.

Some doctors recommend using a progesterone cream for treatment of hypothyroidism. Progesterone, which is essential for building many of your body's most important hormones, is also vital in offsetting estrogen dominance, which is one of the most common conditions in peri-menopause and hypothyroidism. Application of progesterone cream gives an immediate relief to the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Women in menopause or peri-menopause are required to massage about half a teaspoon of progesterone cream into their hands and body. It is advisable to use twice daily for 21 days, to discontinue for 7 days, and repeat the procedure. The cream is required to be massaged on the thighs, stomach, inner arms, and the buttocks. It is recommended that you increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.

Many doctors recommend against prolonged use of progesterone cream after menopause. Short-term use is recommended after menopause, especially when weaning off Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Does Every Woman Have Menopausal Symptoms?

The most common menopausal symptoms are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood swings, fuzzy thinking, and loss of libido.

Studies have found that some women only experience one or two symptoms that they can easily live with. However, most women have symptoms that they feel require treatment. But even when women do have symptoms, they don't have all symptoms all of the time. Some symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and fuzzy thinking are the result of the pendulum swinging between high estrogen and low progesterone, a scenario common during the perimenopause years. All symptoms come and go like acne, breast pain, and heavy bleeding. Though symptoms like vaginal dryness and decreased libido can happen at anytime for a multitude of reasons like medications, medical treatments, or after child birth, they are usually more noticeable after hormones settle in the post menopause years.

Fluctuating Hormone Levels

The phase menopausal symptoms refers to the body's reaction to fluctuating hormone levels.But the symptoms of menopause are not caused by the lack of estrogen but by the fluctuations in hormone levels. Symptoms resolve as hormones rebalance, it can take as little as a few months or for many women a few years for the body to settle into its new comfort zone. Nonetheless, with a little non drug intervention you can feel more like yourself during the rough spots of transition.

Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): What the Evidence Shows

Menopausal hormone replacement therapy has proven not to be the wonder drug that many thought it would be. We now know without doubt that menopausal hormones:

• Increases the risk for invasive breast cancer.


• Increases the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.


• Increases incontinence and uterine prolapse.


• Does not prevent heart disease.


• Does not prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Alternatives to HRT

Acupuncture

As an alternative to drug therapy, acupuncture influences the body's flow of energy along the body's pathways called meridians. The hair fine needles used during an acupuncture session stimulate points along the meridians to correct health concerns or imbalances. The theory of Acupuncture is that it treats the root cause of the health problem instead of just the symptom to produce a healing effect.

Herbs for Symptom Relief

How do you choose?

Today, a stated 85% of the world's population use herbs as their first step solution to what ails them. Menopause symptoms are no different. Below is a list of ingredients known to treat the multifaceted problems of hormonal balance. It is the combinations of ingredients that produce the desired state of wellness. Don't try this at home! Either work with an herbalist or purchase a product that is specially designed and clinically tested to support your body during hormonal imbalances.

Bayberry: Traditionally used for intestinal upset, inflammation of the throat, and discharge due to vaginal irritation.

Black Cohosh: Used in Europe for over 40 years, and known worldwide as an alternative to estrogen therapy for symptoms of menopause. Efficacy and safety are confirmed by long-term clinical experience, controlled clinical studies and toxicity studies which substantiate its safety.

Capsicum: The fruit of the plant is authorized in the German Pharmacopeia and the Commission E monographs for the relief of muscle spasms. In the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, capsicum is used as a carminative and stimulant, and recognized by the U.S. FDA for use in over the counter products for arthritis and neuropathic pain.

Damiana Leaf: Traditionally used to ease feelings of sadness, low energy, hot flashes, low libido, and classic symptoms of PMS.

Ginger Root: Anti-nauseant, anti-motion sickness and an aid for digestive upset are the classical uses of ginger. Ginger is valued the world over, as a culinary herb, home remedy, and medicinal agent. Ginger extracts have been extensively studied for a broad range of biological activities including antibacterial, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiulcer, gastric antisecretory, antitumor, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiallergenic, and other activities.

Kudzu Root: High in isoflavones, such as daidzein, as well as isoflavone glycosides. Known for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine under the name "ge-gen" and used to treat thirst, muscle aches and pains, allergies and migraine headaches. The historical application of Kudzu for alcohol abuse is a major focal point of modern medical research.

Licorice Root: The German Commission E approved licorice root for inflammations of the upper respiratory tract and for stomach ulcers. Today, Licorice is one of the most extensively researched medicinal plants. Dietary consumption of licorice root extract may also help to lower cholesterol and act as an antioxidant.

Red Clover: Shown in clinical studies to relive menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Studies also indicate that the isoflavones in red clover may decrease bone loss and have a protective effect on the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women. Red clover isoflavones have been shown to have a positive effect on blood pressure in certain populations.

Red Raspberry: Historically red raspberry has been used to strengthen the uterus and ease uterine cramping, help strengthen women's wombs in preparation for childbirth and aid with morning sickness.

Sage: The German Commission E approved sage for upset stomach and excessive perspiration (such as that may occur with hot flashes and night sweats) and for inflammation of the nose and throat. Traditionally sage was used to increase fertility, stop bleeding, and to promote regularity in a woman's menstrual cycle. Also used to heal minor skin wounds, treat hoarseness or cough, and improve memory function. In India, sage was used to treat intestinal gas, upset stomach, and infections.

Valerian Root: The German Commission E has approved Valerian for restlessness and sleeping disorders and recognized for its benefits in the national pharmacopeias of Austria, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Russia, and the United States, among others. The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy notes that Valerian is used for tenseness, restlessness, and irritability, with difficulty in falling asleep.

Menopause Botanicals - How I Successfully Manage The Peri Phase

Since the age of 35, my menses began hinting at menopause. Only thing was, I did not know it at the time and no medical doctor or nurse practitioner mentioned that the changing characteristics of my cycles were the early phases of menopause. After my third trip to the OB/GYN Urgent Care for extraordinary bleeding and with no explanation forthcoming, I began to research my symptoms on the Internet and discovered the common term for this transition is called "peri-menopause" (peri means "pre"). Although I eventually found a fabulous, open-minded OB/GYN doctor who seemed sincerely interested in helping me manage the symptoms rather than simply shoving hormone prescriptions into my hands, his tools were limited by the policies of the HMO he worked for and hence, to: synthetic hormones, cauterizing the uterus and the herb, Black Cohosh. Since I consider menopause a natural process and not a disease coupled with the fact my mother had been diagnosed with Hormone Replacement Therapy-related breast cancer in 1995, I approached hormones with caution. However, without other options, I filled and began taking a low-dose birth control pill prescription. These synthetic hormones were a complete failure emotionally though after 1 cycle, the bleeding stopped. Depressed, irritable and disgruntled from the pills, I finally stopped taking them and in keeping with my rapidly expanding holistic understanding, decided to seek relief in the area of botanicals, ie., herbs, and supplements. I discovered a wealth of information on the Internet along with a variety of experiences. With characteristic persistence, I finally settled on a synergistic selection of complimentary botanicals, the final menopause management formula having served me extremely well since February, 2003.

In the early phase of menopause, progesterone production decreases while estrogen production remains consistent. It is this shifting relationship which contributes to heavy bleeding. One of the first informational misconceptions I encountered was the idea that phytoestrogens are helpful for peri-menopause symptoms. Based on my reading, experiences and discussions with other women, the last thing you need in your body is phytoestrogens. Just as early phase menopause levels of biological estrogens create heavy bleeding, so, too, do phytoestrogens provide a nearly identical experience. When I uncovered this information in 1999, I immediately stopped taking soy isoflavones and vowed to stay away from herbs containing phytoestrogens, like Black Cohosh or Hops. As I researched more, I discovered Red Raspberry leaf, a tonic herb for female reproductive organs, that has been traditionally used to help control bleeding -- I lay in a supply of red raspberry tea. It did help but my body needed something more. I added Red Raspberry leaf in capsules to my daily menopause management formula and over a few weeks time, saw some improvement. I later converted to a red raspberry tincture. For a time, I continued to drink raspberry tea whenever I became concerned a heavy bleeding session might turn into a gusher.

As I continued reading, I found that hormone health and balance was nourished/influenced by essential fatty acids (EFAs) and that these important nutrients must be obtained from certain vegetable oils. Gamma Linolenic Acid or GLA, an Omega-6 fatty acid often suggested for women with premenstrual syndrome, is instrumental in supporting hormone health and balance. I added Evening Primrose oil, abundant in GLA, to my regimen along with Flax Seed oil, an oil rich in Omega-3 fatty acids as well as certain Omega-6 (though not GLA) and Omega-9s. The Omega-3s nourished my eyes and they stopped hurting after a few hours in front of a computer screen, a welcome side benefit. I continued investigating EFAs and found Borage oil contains a much higher concentration of GLA than Evening Primrose and hence, when my Primrose stock ran out, I substituted Borage oil in its place. My hormone-induced acne began receding and finally my skin cleared up completely.

As I read more about low progesterone levels being the culprit in heavy bleeding, my research led me to Vitex or Chasteberry, an herb that for centuries has been associated with female hormone balance -- and one of a limited number of herbs helpful with progesterone levels. I experienced a surge of hope at the prospect of Vitex and immediately added it to my current menopause management formula. In addition, I also came across information that the adrenal glands produce a very small amount of progesterone. I added Eleuthero root (formerly Siberian Ginseng), an adaptogen herb, to my regimen as stress support for the adrenals to nourish, encourage and allow these tiny glands atop the kidneys to contribute progesterone for my uterus, and hence help counter excess estrogen levels. Consistently taken, this regimen worked well for several years.

During the early part of 2002, I experienced another change in menstrual characteristics. Bleeding seemed to become heavier again so I added Black Currant oil with dinner to my daily EFA allocation. Up until this time, I had been taking my management formula once a day. As distasteful as it was, in the fall of 2002 as a backup precaution, I also obtained a prescription for synthetic progesterone though I did not immediately use it. I began researching natural progesterone to replace what my body was no longer producing. On the first weekend in 2003, I ended up in the Emergency room again with extraordinary bleeding. I opted to take the progesterone prescription to put a stop to the gushing and decided it was time to locate in earnest natural progesterone to add to my daily management formula. I looked for an oral supplement but did not find any. I learned it is difficult for oral progesterone supplements to make its way to the uterus before the liver excretes it; hence, the majority of progesterone products are topical applications. As a result of these findings and not being particularly patient when it comes to potential gushing, I chose a quickly available progesterone cream.

After two cycles of synthetic progesterone and no longer bleeding heavily, with the blessing of my doctor, in February, 2003, I replaced the pills with the progesterone cream on the same 21 days on, 7 days off schedule. After several days, this creme left my skin extremely dry, even when rotating the application area as suggested. I searched more and finally found a progesterone supplement suspended in vegetable carrier oils (with sweet orange oil as a preservative) and with 5% pharmaceutical grade progesterone, too -- I was excited! This product was manufactured by Gentle Pharmacy and available via the Internet. I ordered a bottle, followed the directions and found my skin loved the carrier oil blend. In addition, the progesterone seemed to settle my menses down once again -- yes! It was during this time that I also added Nettle leaf herb to my daily formula as it seemed I was losing a lot of hair, sometimes a result of decreasing estrogen levels. A few weeks later while reading an herb book, I learned Nettle leaf has a traditional application for stopping uterine hemorrhages. Unbeknownst to me weeks earlier, along with healthy hair, Nettle leaf would become an important player in restoring my peace of mind.

In May, 2006, I stopped using the topical progesterone as my menses decreased to only 3 or 4 cycles in the last year. When hot flashes stop, I start using it again as this tends to be a sign my ovaries are once again active. I still continue my botanical menopause management formula to this day. Many of these supplements support several body areas as well as the reproductive system anyway. When I reach that lovely pinnacle of one year without any menses, my ovaries officially in "meno-pause," in addition to celebrating my passage into Cronehood, I will review my regimen and decide what if any of these lovelies to continue. Until then, I give thanks every day for each of these discoveries and the benefits that as a group, these plants have provided. Along with a Healing Herbs flower essence blend called "Five Flower Formula" for restoring emotional equilibrium when needed, it is these botanical beauties which have allowed me a peace of mind I found elusive in the practices of conventional medicine.

Small Print: Article contents are for informational purposes and should not to be construed as an endorsement for your use of these botanicals. This is my experience. Everyone's situation is unique and the menopause process has many phases; heavy bleeding can be a symptom of other conditions. Consult your doctor before taking any herbal supplement or stopping any medication. Herbs are not concentrated chemicals. Herbs work with the body and best results are often obtained with consistent use over a period of time. The FDA has not reviewed this information.

Naturally Treating Fatigue and Menopause and Increase Energy Without Pharmaceuticals or Side Effects

Night sweats, hot-flashes, vaginal dryness and severe mood swings often accompany the complex time in a woman's life known as menopause. These symptoms could also bring about chronic fatigue. There are natural ways to treat fatigue and menopause that will relieve the symptoms and help you regain the life you thought you'd lost.

Hormone replacement was used effectively for years to treat symptoms of menopause, but the years revealed that HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is more harmful to women's health than first believed. Increased risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer is linked to HRT, especially if you've been treated for a long time.

If you've already gone through menopause and still taking HRT, most experts agree that it's best if you avoid taking it as soon as possible under the direction of your physician. One of the avenues you might consider to replace HRT is natural remedies that can be helpful to both fatigue and menopause.

Natural remedies that seem to work wonders to relieve fatigue and menopause consist of a good nutritional program, body detoxification and vitamin supplements. The vitamins must be potent to provide the level of nutrition that the body needs to combat the changes taking place in your body and to repair the harm that's already been done.

Vitamin supplements can also help rid the body of toxins which have built up in your body over a period of years, especially if you've been on prescription medications for a long time. As your body begins to detoxify, you may experience some pain in the muscles or headaches, but these side effects are usually over quickly and your body can get to the task of healing.

When you put yourself under the care of a nutrition expert used to dealing with patients suffering from fatigue and menopause, you can be assured of receiving the proper dosage of supplements, plus a plan for the proper diet and exercise program. These natural methods all work together to give your body and mind exactly what they need.

Active calcium and Proflavanol are two of the natural supplements that a nutritionist might recommend to get your body back into the healing process. Calcium can help the bones and joints that may have deteriorated during the process of menopause and Proflavanol can help the immune system recover from HRT or other drugs you might have been taking.

Dr. Ray Strand, an expert in nutritional medicine, says in his book, What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine, "The one thing I have learned over the years is the fact that the best way to take back control of your health is to develop a triad of healthy lifestyles which is a healthy diet, moderate exercise and nutritional supplementation." You can get your life back after menopause - naturally.

Natural Remedy for Menopause - Anything on the Menu?

It's dreaded by every woman beyond child-bearing years. Obviously there's no cure. Menopause is an entirely natural process, like going through puberty when a woman develops breasts and begins her menstruation. Just as puberty reveals that a young woman is able to have children, menopause signifies the end of that part of a woman's life cycle. Menopause is almost like puberty in reverse process.

Menopause's arrival is made known it's by the slowing and eventual ending of menstruation. Other signs are diminishment of breast size and density, and the body's eradication of hormones linked with child bearing. It is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, insomnia, osteoporosis, night sweats, and erratic mood swings. Hormone replacement therapy, is often prescribed by gynecologists, however, the link of these medications to breast cancer is still the subject of debate.

So it is no wonder that today more and more women are choosing a natural remedy to ease the symptoms of menopause. One hundred years ago, women used Lydia Pinkham pills, a combination of vitamins and herbal substances, to make menopause easier. Today, if you reject take hormone replacement options, and after discussing with your physician, you may wish to try a natural remedy for menopause.

In traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), Shatavari is a particularly useful treatment as a natural menopause remedy for hot flashes. Since it is a natural diuretic, Ayurveda practitioners recommend that women who use it fortify potassium intake to avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking orange juice and eating bananas.

Chinese natural healing uses an herb called Dong Quai to treat women's health issues such as menopause symptom, menstrual cramps, and premenstrual symptoms. Even though its effectiveness has not been confirmed by the FDA, many women find it helpful and recommend it to other menopausal women.

Black Cohosh Root is a particularly popular natural menopause remedy. This herb was used in the original Lydia Pinkham tablets during the turn of the century. It's a general tonic for menopause, relieving hot flashes, irritability, headaches, vaginal dryness and insomnia. It has few, if any, side effects and is tolerated well by most.

Two important cautions about Black Cohosh Root: it should not be confused with Blue Cohosh, a potentially harmful root that has no relation to Black Cohosh. Herbalists recommend that Black Cohosh Root be taken continuously for only six months.

Another favorite natural menopause remedy is Soy Isoflavones. This is a substance derived from soy beans and their by-products tofu and soy milk. Soy acts like a mild natural form of estrogen. It is found particularly useful by women who choose not to use prescription hormone replacement. Herbalists recommend eating soy-containing food rather than taking soy pills or capsules. Soy Isoflavones should not be used if you have a history of breast cancer.

Like Black Cohosh Root, Red Clover is a favorite herb for natural menopause remedy. Red Clover is particularly helpful for easing hot flashes. It may also lower cholesterol levels in post-menopausal women. As a mild form of estrogen, it should not be used by women who have a history or are at risk for breast cancer. Nor should it be combined with blood-thinning medications like Warfarin.

Lastly, gaining ground as natural menopause remedies are alfalfa leaves and seeds. Further research is needed on these plants, but it's been established that alfalfa has an effect on the body similar to estrogen. Those with diabetes or an autoimmune disease such as fibromyalgia or lupus should avoid using alfalfa.

Natural menopause remedies are generally safe and non-toxic if used correctly and with the precautions noted. They are available in many major supermarkets, in natural health and food stores, and of course, on-line.

Natural Way to Treat Fibroids

Many women are very disappointed to discover that there is actually very little that can be done medically to get rid of fibroids, with many doctors recommending taking no action at all as fibroids will shrink when you hit the menopause. Now for many women, this is simply unacceptable as their symptoms may have become unbearable or they may have many years to go until they are likely to reach the menopause.

Alternative practitioners often advocate a natural way to treat fibroids and if you are the type of person who is happy to take control of your own treatment, then this is an option worth considering. Many women worldwide have seen tremendous success and others have been very disappointed. The women who have all seen a significant reduction in both the symptoms from their fibroids and the actual size of them have all got one thing in common-motivation.

In some respects I guess success depends on just how much you want your fibroids to disappear and whether you are prepared to put up with a few months of following dietary and exercise guidelines, as well as making lifestyle changes.

It is almost impossible to identify exactly what has caused fibroids in an individual. Sure there are often common causes, but as fibroids are thought to grow as a result of the subtle interaction of a number of circumstances, pinpointing just what these are can be very difficult and, in some respects unnecessary. What is important is to know what to do about them!

By using a natural way to treat fibroids which tackles every possible cause of fibroids, you leave no stone unturned and this then causes them to shrink.

One good treatment for fibroids is detoxing. Very often, estrogen mimicking compounds derived from pesticides and additives become stored in the liver and the body's normal processes simply cannot eliminate them. Estrogen is a major player in fibroid formation and reducing the levels in the body is a good starting point.

Detoxing the liver can remove these compounds and therefore slow down fibroid growth. If this approach is coupled with reducing natural estrogen, then the effect can be significant. Our fat cells are a secondary source of estrogen and this is why many overweight women can be prone to fibroids. Therefore, something a simple as losing weight can be a very successful natural way to treat fibroids.

Some women are very prone to inflammatory conditions and research has shown that these women are at a higher risk of fibroids. Eating naturally anti-inflammatory foods can help, for example, oats. The spice cumin, also has a calming effect on tumors.

Treating the symptoms of fibroids is also important, and simple techniques like abdominal massage can help to relieve congestion in the area and improve blood flow, which, in turn, can ease the pain. Also, heat therapy such as a hot water bottle or even a warm bath is a good natural way to treat fibroids.

Fibroids are a condition which respond very well to natural remedies and they are an ideal condition to treat because as they are so rarely life-threatening. It makes complete sense to try out a natural treatment for fibroids before resorting to surgery or any of the hormonal drugs which can cause their own side effects.

Menopause and Dry Skin

Menopause is the natural process in a woman's life when the ovaries experience a decrease in function. This results in a subsequent decrease of hormonal and collagen production levels. During perimenopause (the two- to six-year period before menopause that is marked by hormonal changes that lead to menopausal symptoms), a woman may begin to see signs of dry skin and aging.

As hormonal levels become unbalanced, the skin begins to thin and loses its natural ability to produce oil. This is mainly because of a drop in the skin-plumping hormone Estrogen. As a result, dry skin and wrinkles soon become obvious. Menopause should be treated as a different cause of dry skin, and consequently a change in dry skin treatment will be needed.

Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 in most women, but it can in fact occur much earlier in others. A major factor for premature menopause is smoking, which is also a cause of dry skin even in a woman's younger years. Smoking hastens menopause by exposing the body to toxins that affect the genetic makeup of egg cells and cause them to die off. In Italy, a study was conducted in the Civitanova Marche General Hospital's Menopausal Centre between 1996 and 2001. The researchers found that, among a group of 350 women, menopause started at around the age of 47 for smokers, as opposed to 49 years and six months for non-smokers. Smoking has been linked to dry skin and wrinkles time and again, and women in menopause should consider quitting for any hope of restoring their skin to its original youthful appearance.

There are several ways to restore the skin's healthy appearance during menopause. Perhaps the most simple treatment involves a small change in one's lifestyle. Maintaining a good diet, an exercise regimen and a fixed bedtime can help minimize the effects of menopausal dry skin.

It should be remembered that skin moisture comes from within the body, not from externally applied sources such as creams and salves. It is therefore important to drink lots of water everyday during menopause. At least five 8-oz glasses of water a day should ensure the skin has enough water to protect itself against dry skin.

In addition, it is a good idea to incorporate high-quality oils in the diet. Coconut and olive oil are good for the skin and are both great for cooking and salad dressing. Flax seed oil and zinc, found in poultry, dairy, red meat, oysters and whole grains, can help prevent dry skin. Also, try to include more fish in your diet (particularly salmon), but make sure that you get your catch from a source that's not laden with mercury and other chemicals. Vitamin E supplements can also help restore the skin's appearance. Other dietary options for dry skin treatment include soy protein and isoflavones. They not only help relieve most of the discomforts of menopause, but also improve general health and well-being.

Exercise is also important to encourage blood flow and improve circulation. A twenty-minute walk everyday is often enough to give the skin a healthy, vibrant glow. The activity stimulates the oil glands that have normally been weakened by menopause and aging, minimizing the damages of dry skin. For protection during the day, always apply a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 25--and make sure the sunscreen does not contain any chemicals you may be sensitive to. Sun exposure, in addition to smoking, has been directly linked to the development of dry skin and age spots.

What's more, use dry skin products that contain at least one of the following important ingredients: Petrolatum (Vaseline), water, lanolin, mineral oil, olive oil or shea butter. Dogwood Square sells a wonderful shea butter and olive oil lotion which has a rich, creamy texture and natural antioxidants.

Avoid any skin product that has the word "detergent" on the label--there's a good chance it will irritate your skin and do more harm than good, especially during menopause. It is suggested that a shielding lotion be used in lieu of the usual moisturizer at this stage. A good shielding lotion locks in the skin's natural moisture and shields out the chemicals that cause dry skin.

Lastly, cleanse your skin in the morning and before turning in for the night. There are many natural cosmetics in the market these days. In fact, the same olive oil you use for cooking makes for a great dry skin cleanser! Check into the health food shops for ideas on products that do not have any chemicals. Make sure you get enough sleep, as not doing so will aggravate any skin problems that you had even before menopause.

Follow the abovementioned tips and you can be on your way to a happy, dry skin-free postmenopausal life. The years after menopause can be a stressful period for many women, so having one less thing to worry about can be a blessing.

Could You Be Experiencing Premature Menopause?

Premature Menopause

If you are under fifty and experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and irregular period you could be experiencing menopause. Most women who enter into menopause do so at age fifty, however, some women enter into it before fifty for various reasons. If you are experiencing the symptoms listed above before you are in your fifties then you are entering into premature menopause. There are a lot of the same symptoms, with the sole exception of it happening when you are younger rather than older.

What are the signs?

Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, moodiness, vaginal dryness, irregular period, periods that are heavy or lighter, bladder irritability, incontinence, dry skin, eyes, mouth, sleeplessness, and decreased sex drive are among the main symptoms of premature menopause. One of the other symptoms that should be discussed with your doctor right away is if you have tried to conceive for over a year with no luck. The inability to conceive might be a sign that you are experiencing premature menopause. You can read more about these signs that effect women early in their lives at many online health sites.

Can it be dangerous?

With menopause there is an increased risk for certain kinds of cancer, osteoporosis, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and cataract formation. With premature menopause you enter into this stage of your life earlier which means that you will be living without your natural defense for these problems. Women who produce estrogen naturally are protected to a certain degree from these diseases, when your body stops producing estrogen naturally then there is an elevated risk to becoming sick. Not all women will get sick, so you shouldn't assume just because you are entering into menopause early that you will automatically have these medical problems. However, it is important to talk to your doctor; the younger you are the more likely you will want to talk to your doctor about the possible risks to your health.

What causes premature menopause?

Approximately 1% of women between the age of fifteen and forty-five will enter into menopause prematurely. There are a lot of different reasons for this, though the most common include premature ovarian failure. POV is caused 65% of the time by autoimmune disorders like hypothyroidism, grave's disease, and lupus. Some of the other causes have to do with how a woman's body develops. Women can be born with genetic disorders that cause them to not produce eggs, or they can have a limited number of eggs that are produced. Either way there is a good chance that you will enter into menopause prematurely.

What can you do to treat or reverse your condition?

Most of the time it is impossible to reverse premature menopause; you can however treat some of the more uncomfortable symptoms. Just like the symptoms for normal menopause, women who are entering into premature menopause can try supplements. For premature menopause because of the risk factors of other diseases women should look at treating some of the symptoms, although it is not always necessary to take hormone replacement therapy. There are a lot of natural supplements that will make the symptoms better, and ease the process of menopause.

Surviving Menopause Symptoms

Women dread menopause. There are a variety of reasons for this. Not only must they deal with the psychological aspects of not being of "child-bearing" age anymore, women must also navigate through the arduous symptoms involved in going through "the change". Night sweats and hot flashes are famous among females in their 40's and 50's. But even more distressing than the night sweats and hot flashes are problems with weight gain, depression, irritability, moodiness, vaginal dryness, lack of libido, and a host of other problems associated with menopause. Dealing with all of these symptoms can be extremely overwhelming, no matter who you are.

Finding a way to put up with the symptoms of menopause or diminish them is important to most women. There are some herbal and homeopathic treatments out there to help women cope with certain symptoms but few herbs or homeopathic remedies exist to cure all of the problems in one fell swoop. However, for women who are dealing with a particularly pesky symptom, these herbal and homeopathic treatments can be remarkably helpful.

Synthetic hormones, which are artificially created, have been in use since the 1930's to help women deal with their hormonal changes. Unfortunately, synthetic hormones have been correlated with a host of very negative and undesirable side effects (like breast cancer). Though some women still take the risk and go ahead and use synthetic hormones to cope with menopause, there are other, less risky options available.

Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants, and developed to be identical to those produced by the human body itself. They have been proven useful to help alleviate the symptoms of women going through menopause. Using bioidentical hormones in treatment often takes care of all the symptoms related to menopause rather than chipping away at the problem one symptom at a time. Women often feel rejuvenated and young again. As a result, they feel as though they can enjoy their golden years rather than dreading them.

Dealing with the harsh symptoms of menopause is not easy. Luckily, many women have found relief using different forms of treatment to calm these symptoms. While herbs, homeopathic treatments, and synthetic hormones have been in use for some time to allow women to cope with menopause, bioidentical hormones are a more natural approach. The health repercussions of menopause can also be avoided to keep older women looking and feeling healthy for many years into their future.

How to Overcome Menopause Symptoms and Boost Libido in Women

Menopause can be quite a troubling period in a woman's life. Low libido, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings etc., are some of the symptoms and effects of menopause.

This is the time when a woman needs a lot of emotional support from her partner. Not only this, one of the best ways to relive menopause symptoms is natural or herbal supplements that are specially formulated for women.

Such supplements are a mix of herbs, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients that not only boost libido in women but also increase the production of sex hormones safely so that you can overcome menopause symptoms and other effects.

Such supplements contain ingredients such as:

• 
  Ginkgo Biloba- This is not just a brain tonic but also helps increase blood flow to the genitals. One of the most important properties of this herb is that it helps increase the level of nitric oxide in blood. This ensures dilation of the blood vessels so that more blood can flow into the clitoris. This is great for enhancing your libido or sex drive.
  
  


• 
  Hops Extract- This is an excellent herb for increasing the production of estrogen in your body. Low levels of estrogen lead to vaginal dryness which can be extremely disturbing for most women. Hops extract helps boost estrogen level in your body without the side effects of hormone replacement therapy and is highly effective in relieving menopause symptoms.
  
  


• 
  Cayenne- Red hot peppers are great for increasing blood flow to the genitals. They are natural sexual stimulants and boost your sex drive or libido.
  
  


• 
  Niacin- It not only helps increase blood flow to the genitals but also increases your energy levels. It is highly effective in increasing clitoral sensitivity and increases response to sexual stimulation.
  
  


• 
  Melatonin- It is an ingredient that helps balance reproductive cycle in women.
  
  


• 
  DHEA-? It helps increase the frequency of sexual thoughts.
  
  

Such supplements also help relieve hot flashes.

Besides this, quality supplements are clinically approved and do not have any side effects. They do not interfere even with birth control pills.

So, If You Want to Overcome Menopause Symptoms and Boost Your Libido Naturally, Check out the Best Female Sexual Enhancers Ever!

Is Natural Estrogen Replacement Available?

During menopause, natural estrogen levels in a woman's body decline causing symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. For many years, estrogen replacement therapy was recommended to relieve menopausal symptoms. As the egg supply in the ovaries is depleted, they begin to produce less estrogen and finally shut down completely. Other organs produce estrogen as well, so even after menopause it is still present in the blood stream, just at much lower levels than when a woman was young.

In the 1930's, scientists found that they could isolate the natural estrogen from the urine of pregnant women, but continued to search for other sources, in order to make mass production possible. During that decade, researchers learned to create estrogen in the laboratory and isolate it from the urine of pregnant mares.
In 1941, estrogen replacement therapy was approved by the FDA for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Estrogen replacement therapy was very popular until around 1975 when researchers learned that it could cause endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Natural estrogen produced by the ovaries causes the lining to thicken, preparing for a fertilized egg. During a woman's reproductive years, if no egg is fertilized, the ovaries produce progesterone, which causes the endometrium to be shed during menstruation. Estrogen replacement therapy caused the lining to thicken, but since progesterone was not present, the lining was not shed, resulting in cancer of the endometrium in many women.

To reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, doctors began to prescribe a combination of progesterone and estrogen replacement for women during menopause. This "combination therapy" was very popular until 2001, when the Women's Health Initiative found that the health risks associated with this therapy outweighs the benefits. Hormone replacement therapy had been commonly recommended, not only to reduce the symptoms of menopause, but also to reduce a woman's risk of colorectal cancer and osteoporosis.

During the five year study, researchers followed groups of women who were using either estrogen replacement only, combined hormone replacement therapy or a placebo (no HRT at all). Researchers had originally intended to follow the women for several more years, but research was halted because of the number of reported adverse events among women using HRT. The adverse events reported were breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, stroke and pulmonary embolism.

The information collected by the research group indicates that while combination HRT decreases a woman's risk of endometrial cancer, it increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. One group of women in the study was able to use estrogen replacement only, because they had previously had a hysterectomy, thus estrogen posed no threat of endometrial cancer. After comparing the incidence of breast cancer in this estrogen only group to the group using combination HRT, researchers concluded that the combination therapy increased a woman's risk of breast cancer. Topically applied hormones, such as natural estrogen creams, are not believed to carry the risks of orally administered hormones.

Some brands of HRT are advertised as "natural estrogen" because the source of the estrogen is natural; mare urine. Some people refer to bio-identical hormones as "natural", because they are designed to be molecularly identical to the natural estrogen and other hormones created by a woman's body.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is somewhat popular, due in part to a book written by a female TV star, who upon entering menopause was unhappy with everything that went along with it and found a clinic that offers this form of treatment. It is more expensive and not available from all doctors. Basically, bio-identical HRT involves creating hormones in the laboratory that are structurally identical to a woman's own hormones. Compounding pharmacists use plant estrogens from yams and soy, as well as animal estrogens from horses and pigs and "adjust" them, so that they are so similar to the ones produced by the human body, that, theoretically, the body can not tell the difference. To date, no studies have been conducted concerning the health risks associated with the long term use of bio-identical HRT.

Rather than offering the quick fix of estrogen replacement or other types of HRT, some of the best women's clinics begin treatment by counseling women about diet, nutrition, lifestyle and dietary supplements. In many cases, making healthy changes in lifestyle and diet and adding nutritional supplements helps to increase a woman's natural estrogen levels, relieves menopausal symptoms and makes HRT unnecessary. To learn more, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Benefits of Using Progesterone Cream As Menopause Treatment

Many women think that method however the truth is it is a big deal and the sooner you regulate your system with progesterone cream and the better it will be for your overall health. Something as seemingly simple as a hormone imbalance can severely limit your life quality and adversely affect many different body systems. Although you can decide to use chemically developed replacements however many people prefer to settle the problem with natural solutions. If left unchecked, here is a short list of the side effects it could have on your body.

Bone health

As we age it has already been shown that the bone health can be decreased. So the last thing you want is to put them at further risk. There are certain times in a woman's life as her bones are at more of a risk than others.

The two major times this happens is during pregnancy and menopause. Using a progesterone cream during pregnancy is one way to control the harm to your bones and it can help relieve many menopause symptoms as well. This type of negative effect of progesterone cream is exactly what you want and need to happen.

Immune system

All of the body systems are important however without the immune system working correctly, you are at a high risk of getting sick and the other systems need to work harder to compensate. The immune system is forced to try to fix the situation during a hormonal imbalance and it causes a severe drag on its natural resources. Many women have found that a natural solution in the form of a progesterone body cream can relieve the menopause symptom. This menopause treatment helps to reestablish the normal progesterone levels and give the immune system the break it needs.

The health of the joints and muscles

Just like your bone health, the health of the muscles and joints requires to be protected from hormonal imbalance as well. Menopause progesterone cream is a helpful and effective way to get protection. The joints can become damaged and the risk of arthritis is higher as the hormone levels are wrong.

This is one side effect of progesterone which no woman can afford to take risk. While we age, the muscle mass we once took for granted can be diminished. It is important to do anything possible to prevent this occurrence.

If you select to purchase progesterone cream, you definitely can save a lot of money in costly prescriptions. Besides many people are more comfortable with the idea of natural solution like menopause treatment which mention in our website. Moreover progesterone cream can be used at any stage in your life, though it is most generally used as a menopause progesterone cream.

Memory Loss? It's Not A Sign Of Old Age - Difficulty Concentrating During Perimenopause

Difficulty concentrating and memory issues always seem to get worse as a person grows older. For a woman who is worried that she might be getting a bit too forgetful during perimenopause and menopause, this article will discuss the reasons why this is happening to her. By understanding that it is a normal occurrence at the time of approaching menopause, a woman may relax in the knowledge that she may improve her mental focus. During the perimenopause and menopause stage, it is normal to have the up and down effects of hormonal imbalances which may give her the feeling that she is slowly starting to lose focus and having difficulty concentrating. You may notice this for example by forgetting where you put your keys or parked your car.

Memory loss, forgetfulness, a loss in concentration, and a lack of focus are some of the annoying symptoms that women most often complain about. These feelings of confusion and mental disorientation are actually quite common during a woman's midlife transition. The symptoms may also be aggravated after a woman has had a hysterectomy and experiences premature menopause. Perimenopause is a period of up to 10 years before menopause, which is the end of a women's period.

Common symptoms of difficulty concentrating:

• Forgetting recent conversations


• Fuzzy thinking


• Disorientation


• Forgetfulness


• Unable to concentrate over a long period

Treatments for improving concentration and memory
Natural treatments for improving your memory and concentration are diet, sleep, exercise, herbal remedies and natural progesterone cream. Eating nutritional food is essential in having a healthy brain and body. Eating the correct combination of proteins, carbohydrates as well as healthy fats may help with a difficulty in concentration.

Antioxidants may help with memory function and improved concentration. High-antioxidant foods include yellow vegetables and certain nuts. Soy and tofu may also improve memory. Gingko biloba, green tea and blueberries are also great to increase concentration and boost memory. With a few changes to her diet, a woman can eat healthier and also reduce forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating during perimenopause and menopause.

In addition, sleeping for at least eight hours every night may also help with memorization skills. Exercising is also another way to achieve mental fitness. It may increase the chemicals that nourish the nerve cells within the brain. Exercise also reduces high blood pressure that may cause short-term memory loss. It is important not to get stressed. When a person is stressed, the body may release too much Cortisol. This is not good for recalling information. However, learning a new hobby or attending a class gives the brain a good workout and may help to strengthen memory when having memory issues or difficulty concentrating.

Memory and natural progesterone
When a woman is going through menopause, estrogen production may go down as much as up to 60% and progesterone production may go to zero. The hormone imbalance ratio is the cause of the unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms. Women may consider using natural progesterone cream for symptoms to get relief. A woman should not feel alone. Many women experience the same symptoms and signs. A woman should understand what is normal and healthy and what is definitely not. This is important for her well-being, her health and her energy.

Many Doctors use bioidentical progesterone cream for memory issues and difficulty concentrating as a natural hormone replacement therapy, mainly because it safely reduces most of the symptoms caused by menopause including difficulty concentrating. Progesterone is usually a precursor to all other hormones inside the body including estrogen and testosterone. Progesterone balances the ratio of low estrogen or high or low progesterone. Natural progesterone cream is the only bioidentical hormone that may efficiently achieve relief for your symptoms. Natural progesterone cream addresses the cause of hormone imbalance, therefore may help relieve your symptoms.

Natural Progesterone Cream with Wild Yam and Chaste Tree Berry is a recommended choice. It is very popular with health care professional and women of all ages. Natural remedies may be effective, safer than drugs and a valuable option. A lot of women may find that a natural progesterone cream is the easiest kind of alternative treatment for them to use. It has no side effects. It is economical and effective.

Natural progesterone cream treats a hormonal imbalance at its own source. It is the only natural remedy that addresses the cause of hormone imbalance. The cause of hormone imbalance is the ratio of estrogen to progesterone and decline of all hormones.

Hormone estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), is another option for women who are suffering with a low sex drive. There are certain risks involve with estrogen hormone replacement therapy such as an increased chance for developing certain cancers in women. Now there are clinically proven options for HRT that are safe and effective. Natural progesterone cream is a bio-identical hormone cream that gently balances hormones and provides relief to many menopause symptoms including loss of libido.

When a woman understands that a difficulty in concentration is actually a very common symptom during menopause, steps may be taken to improve her mental clarity. Lack of concentration may be frightening for a woman when it is so unexpected. A woman might feel concerned that forgetfulness, memory issues and difficulty concentrating is a warning sign of Alzheimer's. By reading this article a woman may rest assured that there are steps that she may take to ease her worried mind. Menopause is another chapter of a woman's life cycle. ?By understanding the symptoms of menopause there are natural solutions that a woman may try. Once you have all the information about your options, you can make an informed choice.

This is for education only. It is not intended to treat, prevent or cure a medical disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult a health care professional.

Hormone Imbalance in Women - Symptoms and Treatment of Hormone Imbalance and Menopause in Women

Hormone imbalance is an expression which indicates that something is wrong with a gland. Estrogen and progesterone are two female hormones that exist delicately in the body. Any disparity in the balance between the two can have a real bad effect on your health, thus resulting in hormone imbalance in your body.

Normally in monthly periods cycle, estrogen production taken place for first 10 days and then ovulation tells our body to produce progesterone. This way there is no disparity, but if there is no ovulation, then there would be an inequity between the two as progesterone is only produced with ovulation.

Here are some Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance and Menopause in Women:

· Depression

· Headache And Fatigue

· Fibrocystic Breasts

· Weight Gain

· Hormonal discrepancy reduces Or lowers down sex drive

· Irregular Periods

· Allergy symptoms are also discovered in some women

· Hair Loss And Mood Swings

· PMS

· Urinary Infections

· Water Retention

· Osteoporosis And Bloating

Treatment Of Hormone Imbalance And Menopause In Women:

1. Most importantly you need to create a balance between both the hormones to get rid of hormone imbalances. You can use natural progesterone creams consulting your doctor. These supplements are totally natural and have no side effects. After 3-4 months you will notice that your body is coming to its normal stage and menopause will again become regular.

2. Acupuncture is one of the safest treatment for fighting hormone imbalance and menopause. In this process thin needles are inserted into the body at several points. But this process is not easy; you need to find a high level practitioner and is also costly.

3. Herbal herbs are again very safe in treating hormonal inequity. There are 2 types of natural herbs; phytoestrogen and non-estrogenic. All these herbs have plants components are do not have any side effects. But taking herbal hers is not the best treatment for menopause. Though they fulfill the variations between the two hormones, but since you are taking hormones from outside your body, your body may get adapted to this. Your body may become less productive and there may be a decrease in the natural hormones that a women's body produces.