menopause symptom : Exams and Tests

Blood testing: To determine menopause in women, a health care provider may check the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level through a blood test.


Bone testing: The standard for measuring bone loss, or osteoporosis, associated with menopause is the DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan. The test calculates bone mineral density and compares it to the average value for healthy young women. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as more than 2.5 standard deviations below this average value. A condition known as osteopenia indicates less severe bone loss (between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations below the average value).


The DEXA scan is usually performed before a doctor prescribes medications for osteoporosis to rebuild bone mineral density. The test is a special x-ray film taken of the hip and of the lower bones in the spine. The scan is repeated in 1 1/2 - 2 years to measure response to treatment.


Simple bone screening can also be done in ultrasound machines that measure the bone density of the heel. This is merely a screening device. If low bone density is detected, follow-up with a complete DEXA scan may be required.
Heart risk testing: Postmenopausal women may be at risk for heart disease. A doctor can measure cholesterol levels with a simple blood test. If cholesterol levels are high, the doctor can advise women about ways to decrease their risk of heart disease.

Menopause Treatment
Menopause is not a disease that has a definitive cure or treatment. Health care providers, however, can offer a variety of treatments for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that become bothersome. Many prescription medications exist to prevent and control high cholesterol and bone loss, which can occur at menopause. Some women do not need therapy, or they may choose not to take medications at all during their menopausal years.


Copyright© 2003-2006 by WebMD

menopause symptom : When to Seek Medical Care

All perimenopausal and postmenopausal women should see their health care provider annually for a full physical exam. This exam should include a breast exam, pelvic exam, and mammogram.


Women should learn about the risk factors for heart disease and colon cancer from their health care professional and consider being screened for these diseases.


Women who are still menstruating and are sexually active are at risk of becoming pregnant (even if their periods are irregular). Birth control pills containing low doses of estrogen can be useful for perimenopausal women to prevent pregnancy and to relieve perimenopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Doctors may check the FSH level of women aged 50 years to determine if they have reached menopause.


Over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, and lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, help control hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, including high cholesterol and bone loss.

Copyright© 2003-2006 by WebMD.

menopause symptom : Menopause Causes

Menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries run out of functioning eggs. At the time of birth, most females have about 1-3 million eggs, which are gradually lost throughout a woman's life. By the time of a girl's first menstrual period, she has an average of about 400,000 eggs. By the time of menopause, a woman may have fewer than 10,000 eggs. A small percentage of these eggs are lost through normal ovulation (the monthly cycle). Most eggs die off through a process called atresia.


Normally, FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone (a reproductive hormone), is the substance responsible for the growth of ovarian follicles (eggs) during the first half of a woman’s menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, the remaining eggs become more resistant to FSH, and the ovaries dramatically reduce their production of a hormone called estrogen.


Estrogen affects many parts of the body, including the blood vessels, heart, bone, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain. Loss of estrogen is believed to be the cause of many of the symptoms associated with menopause. At the time of menopause, the ovaries also decrease their production of testosterone—a hormone involved in the libido, or sexual drive.

Copyright© 2003-2006 by WebMD

menopause symptom : Heart Menopause Related Symptoms

Heart menopause: Heart symptoms associated with menopause. One of the most prevalent premenopausal symptoms is heart palpitations. Menopause relief, for perimenopause symptoms like heart palpitations, is difficult to find. Although actual relief is hard to come by, there are many natural and medical medicines that can be tried.

Heart palpitations are not usually a sign of pain, but they are a sign of a hot flash, which is one of the early menopausal symptoms. Heart palpitations are an irregular heartbeat that can occur anytime but often occur in women going through menopause or about to go through menopause. They are not painful but can be felt.

Sometimes heart palpitations are also felt as the sensation that the heart is skipping a beat or it is beating too many times. They may increase the heart rate up to 200 beats per minute when accompanying a hot flash.

The causes of heart palpitations during menopause are the fluctuation hormones in the woman's body. These constantly changing levels of estrogen and other hormones can cause the heart to try to adjust and are also associated with the cause of hot flashes.

When to Call A Doctor

Heart palpitations will usually go away in a couple of months, but should be discussed with your doctor immediately. There are many other causes of heart palpitations that have nothing to do with menopause and can be extremely dangerous. Some of the many causes of heart palpitations include:

* Stimulants - Too much alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, decongestants, or diet pills will stimulate the heart to race and will feel like heart palpitations.

* Anemia - The body is not producing enough red blood cells.

* Hypoglycemia - Blood glucose levels drop too low to provide energy for your body to operate correctly.

* Thyroid Conditions - Overactive thyroid can produce an increased heart rate.

* Heart Disease - Several different heart problems including heart disease can be associated with an increased heart rate or palpitations.

If you are experiencing heart palpitations for the first time, it is important to share that information with your medical provider. They can do the proper test to ensure that your heart sensations are only related to perimenopause and not to something more serious.

Preventing Heart Palpitations

It may not be possible to totally prevent your palpitations, but these ideas may lessen them:

* Limit alcohol and caffeinated beverages

* Do not smoke

* Exercise regularly after discussing with your doctor

* Avoid stimulant medications - cold medicines, herb supplements

* Decrease stress

* Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control

* Avoid activities that tend to activate or increase your palpitations

Keeping track of when your palpitations occur can help you reduce their frequency and will help identify possibly triggers. Make sure and share your heart palpitation journal with your doctor at your visit to inquire about their recommendations to decrease the frequency of your palpitations. Even if you have previously talked with your doctor regarding your heart palpitations, it is still important to inform him at each visit that they are continuing.

By Mike Jerry

menopause symptom : You Deserve To Get Relief from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

It seems like the late 30's or early 40's should be when women can have the time of her lives. The kids are probably gone, or at least a little grown up, and the career choices have been made. Unfortunately, your hormones will soon begin changing and you may soon start gong into menopause. While menopause should be a reason to celebrate (no more monthly cycles), many women experience irritating side effects when there is less of the hormone estrogen in the system. The most common side effect is hot flashes (or hot flushes, as some call them when they cause flushing or redness of the skin).

Only 15% of women do not suffer from hot flashes, for the rest of us, the flashes can last from five to fifteen minutes at a time. Medical professionals have not determined how to tell how long (in months) they will continue. Because the body is trying to compensate to the lower estrogen levels, as soon as it figures out the proper adjustment, the hot flashes will stop.

One way medical science has decided to compensate is with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which calls for a prescription of Estrogen pills, or a skin patch, to help estrogen levels go back to where they once were. Unfortunately, once you stop taking the pills, your body has to try to compensate again, and the hot flashes will reoccur. However, it is sometimes possible to decrease the dose of estrogen gradually, allowing the body to adjust more slowly.

But there are there natural alternatives for chemical HRT. And it's sad that less than two percent of doctors even mention alternative therapies (maybe because the pharmaceuticals make more money on the Estrogen Replacement Therapy). Thousands of women have tested natural therapies and agree that they work! There are a few natural things you should consider if you're not ready to put another chemical into your body.

Natural Care for Hot Flashes or Night Sweats

When hot flashes occur at night, you will experience night sweats (or worse yet, cold sweats). In the worst cases, sweating can get excessive and soak bedding and nightgowns. Here are a few things that you can do stay as comfortable as possible.


During the day, dress in layers so you can remove items, and put them back on when the hot flash is finished.


At night, wear cotton underwear and gowns that will absorb perspiration. These keep you cooler than synthetic garments.


Most importantly, start keeping a record of your daily routine and try to determine when you are most likely to get a hot flash. Certain foods or drinks can cause an increase in the amount and severity of the hot flash. Watch out for alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine, sugar, fatty dairy products, salt, spicy foods, saturated oils and monosodium glutamate (added to prepared foods to enhance flavor).


Last but not least, there are some herbs that contain healthy compounds that have proven to be affective. One of the main herbs is Black Cohosh, which is a thoroughly researched herb containing phytoestrogens and is approved by the German 'Kommission E" - a body similar to the FDA. You can find Black Cohosh in the appropriate portions in MellowPause.


In the case of severe menopausal symptoms, it is recommend that MellowPause be taken together with Dong Quai, which has been used for many centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.

In time this too shall pass. Menopause usually ends by the age of 51; but hot flashes may, if you're lucky, end much sooner than that.

By Evelyn Grazini

menopause symptom : Reducing Menopause Symptoms

Let's be frank: for most women, menopause is a really an awful experience.

You have all of the discomforting symptoms, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, etc.

And emotional issues alone would be enough to send most into a spin, but this coupled with the physical pains and effects make it almost unbearable at times.

The first thing you need to do is relax.

Get out your flannel pajamas.

Take deep breaths.

Calm yourself down.

High stress only increases your symptoms. Those who learn and practice deep belly breathing on a regular basis have been shown to reduce their rate of hot flashes by 50%. Fifty percent! It's worth a try at least, isn't it?

Here's how:

• Make sure you're comfortable.

• Surround yourself with quiet.

• Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose for five counts and expand your belly.

• Breathe out slowly for five counts.

• Repeat this for 15 minute sessions whenever you need to.

• When hot flashes hit, practice this for at least three minutes.

Next, don't just sit there and suffer, get off the couch and stretch.

Take a walk around the block. If you're feeling adventurous, head to a yoga class or a spin class and get your heart rate up above normal.

Hot flashes and night sweats decrease for those who do. Even if you don't feel up to it, try to work your way to an exercise DVD or program on TV once or twice a week.

Daily exercise will really decrease your symptoms. And besides the menopause symptoms, 30 minutes of a medium intensity workout four to five days a week can balance out the increased risk of heart disease that is another effect of menopause.

Remember, through all of this you need to make sure that you are properly hydrated. Make sure you're drinking a lot of water.

Also, eat soy, take black cohosh, and indulge in regular aromatherapy and massage – all in your pajamas – and fight the effects of menopause.

By Mike Herman

menopause symptom : Taking the Edge Off With Supplements

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is one of two main hormones, the other being estrogen. Progesterone is made by the ovaries of menstruating women, in small amounts in the adrenal glands in both sexes and in the testes in males. In the ovaries, progesterone is the precursor of estrogen. Progesterone is carried in the blood stream, where it is either used or excreted by the liver. One of the main functions of progesterone is to promote the survival and development of the embryo and fetus. Any drop in progesterone level or blockage of its receptor sites can result in the loss of the embryo.

In the third trimester of pregnancy progesterone levels are very high. Many women notice increased energy and a sense of well being. At birth progesterone levels drop suddenly causing in some women postpartum depression. Natural progesterone supplementation can be used at this time to raise progesterone levels to remedy depression and as a thermogenic to help burn off fat that occurred during pregnancy. Slow thyroid glands also can be boosted with progesterone. (See the article on Estrogen - Progesterone Balance for more benefits of progesterone.)

Herbal Supplements have also shown good success in relieving hormone imbalance symptoms. Black Cohosh has been used by many women as an alternative to HRT with out complications. Black Cohosh acts like estrogen in that it suppresses the effects of L.H. (luteinizing hormone) which are hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, heart palpitations, and vaginal dryness. The most popular ways to take black cohosh is by capsule or liquid extract. Black cohosh should not be taken by pregnant women unless it is used at the end to induce labor.

Dong quai (angelica) does not contain estrogen as some believe. What it does do is act as an adaptogen by contracting and relaxing the uterine muscles, enhances metabolism, improves liver function (which improves the excretion of hormones), aids in utilization of vitamin E, stabilizes heart rhythm, lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and has a mild sedative activity.

Osteoporosis is a major epidemic in the United States. Many doctors prescribe estrogen (HRT) for prevention of bone loss and tell their patients to get a calcium supplement from the local drugstore, not instructing them on the most absorbable kinds. The patient usually leaves with the least absorbable of the most important mineral for bone strength.

Many women have quit taking estrogen due to a 2002 study showing that HRT can cause heart attacks and breast cancer. More and more women are turning to natural supplements to combat osteoporosis. (The best place to find natural supplements is at a natural supplement store. Go to the experts for such critical information on the best supplements for bone health.)

It is becoming increasingly clear that calcium alone is not enough for bone strength.

Vitamin K is required to synthesize osteocalcin, a protein found uniquely and in large amounts in bone. Frequent use of antibiotics can destroy vitamin K producing bacteria in the intestines. Vitamin K deficiency can occur in those who do not eat enough vegetables.

Vitamin D is required for intestinal calcium absorption. Reduced plasma vitamin D levels are common in elderly women.

Magnesium is deficient in 80-85% of American woman. This major mineral participates in a number of biochemical reactions that take place in bone.

Manganese is required for bone mineralization and for synthesis of connective tissue in cartilage and bone. At least half of the manganese in a typical diet is lost when whole grains are replaced by refined flour.

Folic acid is important in bone health due to its involvement in the metabolism of homocysteine, a potentially toxic compound. Studies have shown that people with high levels of homocysteine developed severe osteoporosis at an early age, possibly due to an adverse effect of homocysteine on bone. It appears that menopause is associated with a requirement for folic acid, probably to keep homocysteine levels in check.

Boron has shown to increase serum concentrations of the estrogenic hormone,17B-estradiol without the side effects of HRT. In fact, the levels of 17B-estradiol in boron-supplemented women were the same as in women receiving estrogen therapy.

Other nutrients that are used for bone strength are silicon, vitamin B-6, zinc, Vitamin C and copper. Since a typical American diet contains only about 50% of the RDA (2mg/day) for copper, deficiency of this trace mineral may be quite common.

By Fred Fishburne

menopause symptom : Reducing Menopause Symptoms

Let's be frank: for most women, menopause is a really an awful experience.

You have all of the discomforting symptoms, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, etc.

And emotional issues alone would be enough to send most into a spin, but this coupled with the physical pains and effects make it almost unbearable at times.

The first thing you need to do is relax.

Get out your flannel pajamas.

Take deep breaths.

Calm yourself down.

High stress only increases your symptoms. Those who learn and practice deep belly breathing on a regular basis have been shown to reduce their rate of hot flashes by 50%. Fifty percent! It's worth a try at least, isn't it?

Here's how:

• Make sure you're comfortable.

• Surround yourself with quiet.

• Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose for five counts and expand your belly.

• Breathe out slowly for five counts.

• Repeat this for 15 minute sessions whenever you need to.

• When hot flashes hit, practice this for at least three minutes.

Next, don't just sit there and suffer, get off the couch and stretch.

Take a walk around the block. If you're feeling adventurous, head to a yoga class or a spin class and get your heart rate up above normal.

Hot flashes and night sweats decrease for those who do. Even if you don't feel up to it, try to work your way to an exercise DVD or program on TV once or twice a week.

Daily exercise will really decrease your symptoms. And besides the menopause symptoms, 30 minutes of a medium intensity workout four to five days a week can balance out the increased risk of heart disease that is another effect of menopause.

Remember, through all of this you need to make sure that you are properly hydrated. Make sure you're drinking a lot of water.

Also, eat soy, take black cohosh, and indulge in regular aromatherapy and massage – all in your pajamas – and fight the effects of menopause.

By Mike Herman

menopause symptom : Symptoms and Treatment

Menopause or 'change of life' occurs in most women around the age of fifty. It is a natural process the woman's body goes through whereby the monthly cycle of ovulation comes to an end. Although age fifty is the normal age, there are some women who go through menopause in their fortys or even earlier.

It is estimated only about fifteen percent of women will have severe menopausal symptoms, while twenty-five percent will go through the menopause period with no problems at all, leaving about sixty percent to experience the normal symptoms of menopause.

Sometimes the symptoms associated with menopause can be frightening to a woman; such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating and mental confusion. Many times they feel they are going crazy. For instance, they go to a cabinet in the kitchen and do not remember what they were wanting from that cabinet. Am I losing my mind?

Hot flashes are probably the most common symptom experienced by most women. They will become extremely hot and uncomfortable even though everyone else in the room claims they are not hot.

Mood swings and emotional outbursts are also common during this time. Other family members sometimes feel they are living with a powder keg, ready to explode at any time. It doesn't seem to matter what other people might say or do that triggers the tears and outbursts. Anything can cause emotions to stir up.

Anxiety and depression are normal during this time. Changes going on in the body can cause one to feel ill at ease. This is also the time of life when the kids are growing up and leaving home, and a woman could experience the 'empty nest syndrome', which could contribute to the depression.

Unable to sleep at night is very frustrating and possibly leads back to the mood swings, anxiety and depression. Losing sleep causes irritability and makes a person grouchy. Loss of sleep makes a person tired during the day and unable to function properly. Sleep loss is a common symptom of menopause.

Weight gain can be experienced by women during this time. Some women think they can eat their way through menopause. This, plus the hormonal imbalance can cause women to gain weight very easily.

Once looked upon as a dreaded experience, nowadays there is treatment for menopause that can help either lessen the symptoms or completely eliminate them. There are several hormone replacement drugs. There are risks involved in these hormone therapy treatments which should be considered before using them. These risks include an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, breast cancer and blood clots. Also, estrogen may increase the risk of uterine cancer.

The conventional doctors' theory is that menopause symptoms are caused by a drop in estrogen production; thus, their solution is estrogen replacement with synthetic hormones. However, many naturalist practitioners feel too much estrogen is the problem.

The naturalist feels, since menopause is a natural transition in a woman's body, that natural solutions should be used, such as vitamins and herbs. Vitamin E has been found to reduce the discomfort of hot flashes. The vitamin E therapy has been used since the 1940s. Soy product replacement in the diet is also beneficial in relieving the symptoms.

Herbs such as cohosh, motherwort, common chickweed, elder flower and violet are used with success in treating the symptoms.

The post-menopausal years can still leave women with some of the menopausal symptoms that carry on through the end of their life. Some women are plagued with the hot flashes and weight gain for the rest of their life.

Michael Russell

menopause symptom : The Menopause And HRT

The menopause affects women in many different ways. For some it begins in their early forties to mid fifties which is the usual age women experience the menopause. It occurs when ovaries stop producing eggs- a physical process but which often involves psychological factors. These can include a loss of purpose in life, feelings of sadness that the productive part of life is over, leading to a sense of depression.

Menstruation may also stop suddenly with no change in the cycle. Sometimes the cycle becomes irregular and periods become less heavy and frequent. At other times periods can occur more often or follow the usual cycle but with some periods missing altogether. The average time for the length of the menopause is between two and three years although this can vary. There are cases where women have experienced the menopause in their mid thirties which is relatively rare.

Symptoms vary tremendously caused by the lack of oestrogen. This can result in hot flushes, night sweats and a frequent need to pass urine. Some people suffer from extreme mood swings, anxiety and insomnia which can affect the whole family. Stress can exacerbate the symptoms which is why mothers find themselves shouting and screaming at their husbands and children due to mood swings becoming ever more volatile. Another result of the menopause is the loss of bone mass which can cause osteoporosis, manifested in later life by fractures of the wrists, hips and spine.

However the outlook isn't all bad. Lots of women feel fitter, more vigorous after the menopause and relish the relief from the inconvenience of the monthly periods. Some women exhibit very few symptoms apart from occasional night sweats. For those women who suffer excessively it is worth considering the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The use of HRT is still very controversial and some women are totally opposed to its use under any circumstances. Used properly, HRT can provide dramatic relief for women who find symptoms of the menopause almost intolerable. One of HRT's greatest benefits lies in the fact that it reduces the risks associated with osteoporosis such as fractures of brittle bones in postmenopausal women. Hip fractures can be particularly dangerous in older women and whilst not wanting to sound alarmist, can result in disablement and even death. Consequently, HRT can, at times, be termed as life-saving.

There are, of course, disadvantages in the use of HRT and these need to be carefully weighed against the advantages. Only after considering all the pros and cons can a woman make an informed decision concerning the use of HRT. Some studies show there is an increased risk of heart disease and strokes connected with HRT whilst other studies claim that HRT reduces these risks. One point not in doubt is that HRT isn't suitable for women with a history, or family history, of breast cancer or cancer of the uterus.

Before taking HRT all women need to discuss the matter thoroughly with their doctor and undergo a complete medical examination. Once a doctor has recommended HRT, women should have regular medical check-ups. If a woman notices any unusual symptoms since beginning HRT such as headaches, pains in the back of the leg, dizziness etc. she should inform her doctor immediately. He will then decide whether to continue or stop the therapy.

Alternative treatments are available including acupuncture, homoeopathy, aromatherapy and certain herbal medicines. Therefore, if HRT is found to be unsuitable, all is not lost. There are several avenues to be explored in the search for relief from debilitating menopausal symptoms.

by Michael Russell

menopause symptom : Managing Menopause through Diet

Coping with menopause can be a real challenge. There are just so many different feelings and symptoms that women can experience. In fact, like puberty and childbirth, most women find menopause to be one of the most life-altering periods of their life. And it’s no mystery why. As well as the many physical symptoms women can go through, there is an emotional side to menopause that can easily be overlooked. It is, after all, the transitional phase in which a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end. And for many women this can be deeply upsetting. It brings to an end their propensity to bear children, and reminds women of the inevitable passing of time.

What many women don’t know is that you can manage, and in some cases minimise, the symptoms of menopause through diet and proper eating. The golden rule to diet during menopause is to make every meal an opportunity to eat healthy, fresh foods that will really nourish your body. Ideally your diet should already be a balanced and diverse one that incorporates plenty of whole grains, low-fat proteins and unlimited amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables. If your eating patterns are poor or lacking, menopause is the time to revamp them. Use this moment in your life to usher in a new phase of nutrition and conscientious self-care. Not only will it help your body weather the unexpected and sometimes unpleasant symptoms of menopause, it will stand your health in good stead for the rest of your life.

Since many women report weight gain during menopause, do not be tempted to go on a restrictive or radical calorie reduced diet to combat this problem. It will only deplete your energy reserves, slow your metabolic rate and potentially cause dietary deficiencies. Instead, make sure you eat three regular and wholesome meals a day, as well as a few nutritious snacks, such as fresh fruit or raw vegetables, yoghurt, seeds or nuts. Eating regular smaller meals helps boost your metabolic rate, which in turn will help fight any natural metabolic slowing during menopause.

Drinking plenty of water (ideally 8 glasses or more per day) and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks will help you manage hot and cold flashes. Avoiding spicy foods can also help minimise the impact of hot flashes.

Many women say they feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster during menopause, and indeed some even experience more serious problems such as depression. Again, a focus on a healthy balanced diet can alleviate these symptoms. For example, it is well established that regular moderate exercise helps people cope with depression. Moreover, when people are depressed, serotonin levels in the brain tend to drop. Foods that are high in carbohydrates can help lift serotonin levels, thereby helping to reverse this trend. If you are experiencing depression or mood swings make sure to include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, cereals and brown rice in your diet.

Another common complaints for menopausal women are headaches and migraines. If these are a problem for you, avoid caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, chocolate and peanuts since these are all known ‘trigger’ foods for migraines. All menopausal women should try to include soy products and fish oils into their diets since they both have fantastic health properties. Soy in particular contains qualities that are similar to female hormones that can potentially help balance the normal hormonal changes that occur during menopause. A good multivitamin is also a sensible idea to supplement your diet. But remember, no multivitamin is a substitute for nourishing, wholesome eating habits!

Don’t let menopause rule your life. By adopting a healthy and balanced diet, you can control the signs of menopause and reinvigorate yourself for the next phase of wellness. So use food as your medicine during menopause – you’ll reap the benefits both through menopause and beyond!

By Kathryn Whittaker

menopause symptom : How to Relieve Menopause Symptoms

Menopause begins in your early 40s as your ovaries gradually produce less and less of the hormone estrogen. Your periods become erratic - sometimes skipping a month or alternating between light and heavy.

The next period of time is the transitioning to actual menopause. During this time you may continue to have erratic periods, and the more serious symptoms begin. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and insomnia are some of those.

The final and actual onset of menopause usually occurs in your early 50s and is represented by the absence of your period for a full 12 months. It's those in between years that can wreak havoc in your life.

Why Are Natural Menopause Treatments Better?

Menopause is a natural occurrence in a woman's reproductive life. So why not treat it in a natural way? Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the standard treatment for menopause among healthcare providers - however there remains considerable controversy about the benefits and risks associated with standard HRT drugs.

For the past several decades, conventional medicine has treated hot flashes and other menopausal discomforts with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). But because ERT is dangerous for women with a history of cancer, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - which combines estrogen with a synthetic progesterone - is often used instead. But many women don't want to take the potential increased risk of cancer associated with ERT, or they dislike the cyclical bleeding & significant side effects often caused by HRT.

Recent publicity concerning the health risks of synthetic hormone replacement therapy has led many women to seek more natural solutions. And with good reason. In areas of the world where soy and other estrogenic plants are part of the diet, breast cancer rates are much lower and menopausal symptoms are almost non-existent. Synthetic hormone replacement is not common because it is not needed.

In the U.S., where pharmaceutical companies make $8 billion a year on synthetic hormones, breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes are increasing dramatically among menopausal women. Dr. John Lee, author of "What your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause", blames the increases on synthetic hormones. He says that the pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the problems. "The whole thing is madness," he says, "and it's driven by greed." A few simple and natural solutions can clear up the menopausal problems and eliminate the health risks associated with the synthetic hormones.

Try adjusting your diet to include vegetables and fish that are high in Omega-3 as they contain nutrients that can help your body deal with menopause naturally. Conversely, there are foods that can make your menopausal symptoms worse. Caffeine, sugar, fatty dairy products, salt, alcohol and saturated oils can aggravate the symptoms.

Exercising regularly can also help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Scheduling at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week will relieve hot flashes. You will be able to think more clearly and reduce your risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Finally, there are several herbs proven to help relieve menopause symptoms:

Vitamin E (as d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Can it prevent hot flashes? There were studies done in the late 1940's showing it to relieve hot flashes and postmenopausal vaginal dryness. More recent studies are lacking. There are other benefits. We know from the Nurses Health Study that women who took vitamin E over a two-year period reduced their risk of fatal heart attacks by 40%. Vitamin E is also being studied for its effect on Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Combining vitamin E with other antioxidants such as selenium, chromium, beta-carotene, and vitamin C may offer a synergistic effect. That means they work better together than separate.

Soy (Glycine max) (seed)

Soy contains natural plant estrogens called phytoestrogens. In fact, no other food has a higher phytoestrogen content than soy. Although phytoestrogens are weaker than human estrogens they behave similarly in the human body. In the body, phytoestrogens balance a woman's estrogen level by attaching themselves to the body's estrogen receptor sites. When attached, phytoestrogens can decrease estrogen levels in perimenopausal women and increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. In addition to relieving menopausal symptoms, research shows that soy helps promote heart health. Many doctors and researchers soy to relieve many menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and other discomforts.

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) (root)

The primary use of black cohosh extract is for alleviation of menopausal symptoms. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines on the use of botanicals for the management of menopausal symptoms support this use for up to six months, especially in treating the symptoms of sleep and mood disturbance, and hot flushes. Studies demonstrate efficacy in patients taking black cohosh extract similar to that of estrogen in the treatment of neurovegetative menopausal symptoms.

Damaiana (Turnerna diffusa) (leaf)

This yellow-flowering shrub typically grows in climates that are hot and humid, including Central and South America, and in the state of Texas. Damiana has historically been used as an aphrodisiac and has been claimed to induce euphoria. It is indicated to alleviate depression and relieve anxiety and induce relaxation. Damiana could lead to relaxation and could calm anxiety. Those suffering from sexual dysfunction resulting from stress or emotional troubles could benefit from supplementation with this herb.

By Kathy Burns-Millyard

menopause symptom : Late Onset Symptoms

Vaginal Symptoms

Vaginal symptoms tend to begin some years after the cessation of menses. Postmenopausal women (the term for women who have completed their menopausal transition) may experience vaginal dryness, itching, or irritation due to the lack of estrogen. Pain with intercourse (dyspareunia) can also result from the loss of estrogen. However, these types of vaginal symptoms can be due to other causes as well, and should be evaluated by a physician.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the deterioration of the quantity and quality of bone that causes an increased risk of fracture. The density of the bone (bone mineral density) normally begins to decrease in women during the 4th decade of life. However, that normal decline in bone density is accelerated during the menopausal transition. As a consequence, both age and the hormonal changes due to the menopause transition act together to cause osteoporosis.

The osteoporosis process can operate silently for decades. Some osteoporosis fractures may escape detection until years later. Patients may not thus be aware of their osteoporosis until suffering a painful fracture. The symptoms are then related to the location of the fractures.

For an extensive review of osteoporosis, its treatment and prevention, please read the Osteoporosis article.

What are the treatment options for menopause?

Menopause treatments can be divided into two categories (based on those symptoms that are present in a given woman at a specific time); (1) treatment of early onset symptoms, and (2) treatment of late onset menopause symptoms.

Treatment of Early Onset Symptoms

Irregular Vaginal Bleeding

Prior to treatment, a doctor excludes other causes of erratic vaginal bleeding. Women in menopausal transition tend to have considerable breakthrough bleeding when given estrogen therapy. Therefore, oral contraceptives are often given to women in menopause transition to regulate menstrual periods, relieve hot flashes, as well as to provide contraception. Oral contraceptives are considered safe in healthy, non-smoking women. The list of contraindications for oral contraceptives in women going through the menopause transition is the same as that for premenopausal women.

Hot flashes and night sweats

The choice of medication for treating hot flashes depends on whether a woman is still having periods or not. For women experiencing unpredictable bleeding and hot flashes during menopause transition, oral contraceptives are commonly used (even up to 50 years of age) because they are successful in controlling both erratic perimenopausal bleeding, vaginal bleeding, and hot flashes. For women without periods, hot flashes can be treated with either oral (by mouth) or transdermal (vaginal ring, patch, newer FDA-approved prescription gel) forms of estrogen. Both oral and transdermal estrogen therapies are available either as estrogen alone, or estrogen combined with progesterone and are effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Generally, available treatments decrease hot flash frequency by about 80 to 90%. For more, please read the Hormone Therapy article.

Mood Symptoms

Even though moodiness, irritability, and tearfulness are commonly attributed to menopause, studies are underway to determine which of these symptoms are actually due to menopause versus other conditions such as medical depression. Even though many women experience improvement in irritability with oral hormone therapy, hormone therapy alone will not be adequate treatment for a woman suffering from true medical depression (a true depression may require antidepressant medications that are different from medications for menopause). Accordingly, women who are experiencing significant mood symptoms should be evaluated by their doctors to exclude depression and other medical illnesses.

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menopause symptom : Early Onset Symptoms

Irregular Vaginal Bleeding

Irregular vaginal bleeding may occur during menopause. Some women have minimal problems with abnormal bleeding during perimenopause whereas others have unpredictable, excessive bleeding. Menstrual periods (menses) may occur more frequently (meaning the cycle shortens in duration), or they may get farther and farther apart (meaning the cycle lengthens in duration) before stopping. There is no 搉ormal?pattern of bleeding during the menstrual transition, patterns vary from woman to woman. It is common for women in perimenopause to get a period after going for several months without one. There is also no set length of time it takes for a woman to complete her menopausal transition, as all women are different. It is important to remember that all women who develop irregular menses should be evaluated by her doctor to confirm that the irregular menses are due to menopause and not as a sign of another medical illness.

Hot flashes & night sweats

Hot flashes are common among women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body. A hot flash is sometimes associated with flushing and is sometimes followed by perspiration. Sometimes hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats (episodes of drenching sweats at nighttime). The cause of hot flashes is not yet understood. Recent research theory suggests that women with hot flashes seem to start sweating at a lower environmental temperature than women without hot flashes. There is currently no method to predict when hot flashes will begin and how long they will last. Hot flashes occur in up to 40% of regularly menstruating women in their forties, so they may begin before the menstrual irregularities characteristic of menopause even begin. About 80% of women will be finished having hot flashes after 5 years. Sometimes (in about 10% of women), hot flashes can last as long as 10 years. There is no way to predict when hot flashes will cease, though they tend to decrease in frequency over time. On average, hot flashes last about 5 years. For more, please read the Alternative Treatments for Hot Flashes article.

Mood Symptoms

There is considerable controversy about exactly which behavioral symptoms are due directly to menopause. Research in this area has been difficult for many reasons. First, mood symptoms are so common to begin with, that it is sometimes difficult in a given woman to know if they are due to menopause symptoms. Also, women who have been diagnosed with depression in the past may be sensitive to a recurrence of depression toward the time of menopause, but the menopause isn抰 really 搕he cause?of the depression, strictly speaking. To further complicate matters, mood swings could actually be linked with the sleep disturbance triggered by menopausal night sweats. Researchers are now trying to determine what factors can influence mood symptoms during menopause. Factors that have been suspected and are being analyzed for their impact on menopausal mood symptoms include education level, exercise level, familial support system, and history of depression.

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menopause symptom : What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones such as estrogen. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a fallopian tube to the uterus.

The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Estrogens also protect the bone. Therefore a woman can develop osteoporosis (thinning of bone) later in life when her ovaries do not produce adequate estrogen.

Menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process of transition. This transition period (known as perimenopause) is different for each woman. Scientists are still trying to identify all the factors that initiate and influence this transition. Women in perimenopause transition typically experience abnormal vaginal bleeding such as erratic periods or abnormal bleeding patterns. Eventually a woman's periods will completely stop as she completes this transition into menopause.

The average age of onset of menopause process is 51 years old. But there is no single method to predict when a woman will enter menopause. The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is also not related to the age of menopause onset. As a rough "rule of thumb" women tend to undergo menopause at an age similar to that of their mothers.

When does a woman know she is in menopause?

A woman is in menopause if she has had no menstrual periods (menses) for 12 months and has no other medical reason for her menses to stop. That means she has to be evaluated by her doctor to exclude other medical causes of missed menses.

Are hormone levels or other blood tests helpful in detecting menopause?

Because hormone levels may fluctuate greatly in an individual woman, even from one day to the next, hormone levels are not a reliable indicator for diagnosing menopause. Even if levels are low one day, they may be high the next day in the same woman. There is no single blood test that reliably predicts when a woman is going through menopause, or menopausal transition. Therefore there is currently no proven role for blood testing regarding menopause except for tests to exclude medical causes of erratic menstrual periods other than menopause. The only way to diagnose menopause is to observe lack of menstrual periods for 12 months in a woman in the expected age range.

What are the medical words that are used to describe the stages of menopause?

Menopause is defined as absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopause transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the last menstrual period. Perimenopause means 揳round the time of menopause.? It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to explain certain aspects of the menopause transition in lay terms. Postmenopause encompasses the entire period of time that comes after the last menstrual period.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

The symptoms of the menopause transition can be divided into early and late onset symptoms. Early symptoms include irregular vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, and night sweats. Late symptoms include vaginal dryness and irritation and osteoporosis.

by Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP

menopause symptom : Perimenopause

Estrogen doesn't disappear suddenly. Even though American women don't reach menopause until about age 51, the effects of declining estrogen may be noticeable as early as age 35 in the form of declining fertility and irregular periods. This time of early symptoms caused by hormonal changes related to aging ovaries is known as perimenopause. Some experts also refer to this time as the menopausal transition. Perimenopause varies greatly from one woman to the next. It may last only a few months or several years. Symptoms may be mild or severe. Only a small percentage of women have no symptoms at all. The earliest sign of perimenopause can be declining fertility; for someone planning a pregnancy, this can be a major issue. Even for those who aren't planning a pregnancy, early symptoms of menopause such as fluctuating periods or hot flashes well before age 50 can be bewildering.

How do you know if irregular periods, hot flashes, or insomnia are caused by perimenopause or a medical condition? At the present time, there is no reliable test to tell if you're entering perimenopause. Your doctor could measure your FSH level to see if it is elevated. But during perimenopause, estrogen levels rise and fall erratically and so do FSH levels. Results from an FSH test can vary from day to day, so a single test won't provide clinicians with a clear picture of what is happening. But a mildly elevated FSH level on day 3 of the cycle has been shown to correlate with diminished fertility -- a harbinger of menopause.

There may not be a clear-cut test for perimenopause, but many women are very sensitive to and aware of changes in their bodies. Is your menstrual cycle noticeably different in a consistent pattern from a few years ago? Is your cycle shorter or your flow heavier? Some women also notice that their hair and skin and vagina become dryer. Weight gain may tend to go to the midsection rather than the hips and thighs. Insomnia and persistent changes in mood or memory may also coincide with the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause. Science hasn't clarified why, but some women have reported feeling so forgetful that they wonder if premature Alzheimer's disease has struck. The first appearance of some of these symptoms can be alarming for women who aren't aware that perimenopause can begin years in advance of menopause. Recognizing these changes as a normal part of aging will help you and your physician manage them effectively and plan for a healthy future.
Symptoms of perimenopause
Irregular periods

Declining fertility

Thickening in the waistline

Hot flashes

Heart palpitations

Insomnia and disrupted sleep

Mood changes

Irritability

Memory and concentration problems

Vaginal dryness

Dry skin and hair

Thinning hair

Decreased sexual response

© Copyright 2006, Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved

menopause symptom : The Biology of Menopause

Menopause is a process, and it differs for every woman. Learn about the stages through which most women pass, and what you can probably expect.

What Is Menopause?
For many women, menopause is the first sign that life is finite. Medical experts agree that a woman has reached menopause if she hasn't had a period for 12 consecutive months and there's no underlying medical condition causing her to stop menstruating. Generally, women in Western nations can expect to have their last menstrual period at about age 51. In women who smoke, menstruation may stop a year or two earlier. But it varies widely. Some women have their last period when they're still in their 30s or not until their 60s. Premature menopause, which takes place before age 40, can result from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or premature ovarian failure, which sometimes runs in families. Surgical menopause through removal of the ovaries, uterus, or both can happen at any age.

The Biology of Menopause
When you are born, your ovaries contain 1 million to 2 million egg-containing follicles. But over time, the number declines steadily as you ovulate or the follicles simply disintegrate. When the follicle supply is depleted, your ovaries halt production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which have regulated your periods through the years. During the time preceding menopause, ovulation and estrogen production become erratic, causing periods to become irregular. At the same time, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which triggers estrogen production in the ovaries during the childbearing years, acts as kind of an early warning signal when estrogen falls below usual levels. When estrogen levels drop, FSH rises, trying to stimulate your ovaries to produce more estrogen and maintain your menstrual cycle. FSH can be an indicator that the menopausal transition has begun. But day-to-day hormone levels are not a reliable indication of where you are in the menopausal transition. Other signs of menopause are physical symptoms that result from fluctuating estrogen, including hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and others.
How declining estrogen affects your health
You might think of estrogen primarily as a female hormone because of its important role in menstruation and reproduction. However, its effects are by no means limited to the reproductive system. Estrogen receptors -- bits of protein that estrogen molecules connect with to exert the hormone's effects -- are found in cells of the liver, digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, bone, skin, and central nervous system. Estrogen stimulates the production of proteins that help to maintain the healthy functions of these tissues and organs. Therefore, estrogen has a role in determining the composition of lipids in the blood, the density of bones, the regulation of body temperature, the ability to recall information from memory, and the elasticity of skin and arteries. Estrogen's decline at menopause puts women at increased risk for chronic illnesses that are linked with all of these tissues and organs.

© Copyright 2006, Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved

menopause symptom : Alternative names Perimenopause; Postmenopause

Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping altogether.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.

Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause), you can no longer become pregnant.

The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman.

In some women, menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. More commonly, it tapers off. During this time, your menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 to 3 years before menstruation finally ends completely.

A gradual decrease of estrogen generally allows your body to slowly adjust to the hormonal changes. When estrogen drops suddenly, as is seen when the ovaries are removed surgically (called surgical menopause), symptoms can be more severe.

Symptoms Return to top

The potential symptoms include:

Hot flashes and skin flushing
Night sweats
Insomnia
Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety
Irregular menstrual periods
Spotting of blood in between periods
Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse
Decreased sex drive
Vaginal infections
Urinary tract infections
In addition, the long-term effects of menopause include:

Bone loss and eventual osteoporosis
Changes in cholesterol levels and greater risk of heart disease
Signs and tests

Blood and urine tests can be used to measure hormone levels that may indicate when a woman is close to menopause or has already gone through menopause. Examples of these tests include:

Estradiol
FSH
LH
A pelvic exam may indicate changes in the vaginal lining caused by changes in estrogen levels. A bone density test may be performed to screen for low bone density levels seen with osteoporosis.
Treatment

Menopause is a natural process. It does not require treatment unless the symptoms, such as hot flashes or vaginal dryness, are particularly bothersome.

One big decision you may face is whether or not to take hormones to relieve your symptoms. Discuss this thoroughly with your doctor, weighing your risks against any possible benefits. Pay careful attention to the many options currently available to you that do not involve taking hormones.

If you have a uterus and decide to take estrogen, you must also take progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus). If you do not have a uterus, progesterone is not necessary.

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