The Truth About Menopause

Most people know that menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstruation stops. There have been many terms for it such as "The change of life" or simply "The change". Often perceived by woman as the last bastion of youth, menopause is a multifaceted event that is often misunderstood. Aside from the wide-ranging array of physical signs & symptoms, there is a psychological component to menopause that can be just as broad. Though menopause is the actual event leading to the cessation of menstruation, there are a series of adverse physical and psychological conditions that can begin to develop years before. This series of conditions is formally known as perimenopause.

The onset of menopause varies with regard to age and the length of time that it lasts. Some women enter menopause in their mid thirties, while others may not experience symptoms until they are in their late fifties. The most common symptom reported is described as hot flashes. Insomnia, night sweats, rapid heart beat (tachycardia) and the flushing of the skin are some of the preliminary symptoms. Many women complain of irregular menstrual periods with bouts of heavy bleeding (flow). Spotting of blood between periods is also a common physical symptom. Vaginal dryness, infections and the slight leakage of urine can also be seen during menopause. Many women describe a rapidly decreasing libido, forgetfulness, mood swings, depression and anxiety as some of the psychological symptoms brought on by menopause. These symptoms can occur for one to three years until the eventual, yet final cessation of the menstrual cycle.

The physiological process of menopause is defined as the period in which a woman's ovaries stop producing eggs. The female hormones, estrogen and progesterone are dramatically decreased over time. This reduction in hormone levels can begin a decade prior to the entrance of menopause itself, and is known as perimenopause. This precursor to menopause officially ends twelve months after menstruation stops. Though some women experience perimenopause for only a few short months, most are not as fortunate.

The gradual onset of symptoms similar to those found in menopause can be devastating for women. This is especially true for younger women in their thirties who often go undiagnosed for years. Since menopause has often been stigmatized as the end of youth, many psychological issues such as anxiety and depression may surface. However, the etiology (cause) of these symptoms is often misdiagnosed as a true psychological disorder, when the origin is indeed physiological.

The diagnosis of menopause lies within the measurement of hormone levels through a series of blood tests. In addition to measuring estrogen and progesterone, it is important to determine the level of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Low levels of FSH indicate that ovulation is decreasing or has ceased entirely. This can be an indicator that the onset of menopause has begun in earnest.

Cystic Acne and Menopause

Acne affects nearly 17 million people in the US and is the most common form of skin disease. If the acne develops into cysts or "nodules", it is then called cystic acne. The cysts are pus filled and can cause scarring as well as other serious complications. Cystic acne develops mostly during the teenage years and early 20's. However, cystic acne and menopause are frequently affecting many older women in their 40's, 50's, and even 60's.

Acne occurs as the natural oils produced in the skin clog skin pores. It is a chronic, inflammatory disease, but it is not contagious. The lesions from acne usually appear on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.

Cysts happen when the oil glands are blocked. These oil glands will burst open and inflammation and pus in the surround tissue are produced. Androgen, the male hormone, is believed to play an active role in acne due to the production of excessive oils in the skin. Over-the counter products are usually unsuccessful in treating cystic acne and prescription oral and topical antibiotics are needed. Most cases of acne can be cleared up with the help of a dermatologist.

While the menopause age groups are usually dealing with Rosacea, which can have similar appearances, dermatologists are reporting more cases of cystic acne and menopause. Most menopausal women are not replacing the natural anti-acne ovarian hormone estradiol. The natural production of estradiol falls as women arrive at menopause. A lack of estradiol can also cause the following symptoms:

• Thinning hair


• Hot flashes


• Thin skin


• Wrinkles


• Dryness


• A predisposition to osteopenia and osteoporosis


• Triggering of acne

How should you treat the cystic acne and menopause combination? One of the best and easiest natural treatments is to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Detoxification to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins is a great way to treat the acne. Detox used with oral antibiotics such as Tetracycline, Minocycline and Doxycycline are very effective. To help prevent scarring from the acne, ask your doctor about using Isotretinoin. In 90 percent of patients, the acne completely or almost completely goes away after 15-20 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin.

Always use a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer that is designed for acne prone skin. Keep in mind that it usually takes at least 8 weeks or more before you notice that your skin is looking and feeling better following treatments. There is help for cystic acne and menopause. Check with your physician for your options.

Is This Menopause? 4 Signs to Look For

Despite gaining leaps and bounds in the area of women's health education, our society is still relatively quiet about the journey of menopause that affects every woman. You may expect some hot flashes and slowed periods, but, if you are a woman, you need to know all the signs of oncoming menopause. There are four signs of menopause that, when occurring concurrently, suggest the coming of menopause:

1) Hot Flashes and Night Sweats:

Hot flashes and night sweats both occur because of the hormonal changes that your body undergoes during menopause. They are the most known and common sign of menopause. While you will know them right away when you experience them, here is what to expect:

• Night sweats occur in your sleep and usually leave you kicking off the covers and drenched with seat. Of course, you may only wake up when your night sweat is over and find yourself both wet with sweat and now fairly cold.

• Hot flashes hit you suddenly in your day and feel like intense heat radiating from within your body, similar to feeling feverish. You may also become flushed and experience sweating.

2) Period Irregularity:

Period irregularity is often the first indication that menopause is oncoming. If your regular period suddenly becomes irregular and you are in your mid to late forties, menopause is likely approaching.

3) Mood Changes:

The fluctuating hormones in your body can cause an onslaught of emotional highs and lows that might remind you of the ones you experienced if you were ever pregnant.

These mood changes can include:

• Anxiety


• Irritability


• Depression


• Low Sex Drive


• Mood swings

You may also experience memory loss or trouble concentrating.

4) Fatigue:

Not all women know that fatigue is also an accompanying sign of menopause. Expect and plan for lower energy levels.

If you are in your mid-forties or above and are experiencing period irregularity, mood changes, fatigue, and hot flashes; you are likely beginning the journey of menopause. Despite this, you should always check in with your well woman care provider when the process begins. Your OB/GYN or midwife can confirm your signs as the beginning of menopause. Checking with your OB/GYN is essential because sometimes what you think is a sign of menopause can actually be a symptom of an underlying health problem.

Hot flashes that don't occur with changes in a period, for example, can point to thyroid problems-- which are more prevalent in women of menopausal age. And if you are experiencing menopause symptoms before your mid-forties, you may be experiencing premature menopause, of which you should alert your health care provider so that you can consider treatment options.

Physicians specializing in women's healthcare aim to assist women through all stages of their life-- including menopause. Make sure that you include your health care provider in your journey of menopause to ensure you stay as healthy as possible.

Menopause Symptoms - How to Deal With Menopause Depression

Menopause depression is a very genuine condition that has been studied over a few years. However people thought that this symptom was little more than a mental complaint for a long period. Recently some studies have revealed that it could be directly linked to hormones. While it is an unpleasant thing that has to be endured, you can find relief and let's look at the basics of this menopause symptom.

Generally menopause depression is combined with several other menopause symptoms and causes a difficult time in a woman's life. As many different menopause symptoms come with it, it is just magnified due to them. Moreover being unable to bear children is also a difficult revelation as their serotonin levels are also jumping and they feel they don't belong in their own body.

Menopause depression does things to a woman that they've never go through before. They feel that they are useless and their lives will never be the same again. This menopause symptom sometimes also coincides with their children growing up and they notice that they can't bear children anymore. Therefore they feel depressed and they feel like the menopause symptoms are just too much to deal with. As it can get quite rough at this stage in a woman's life, several menopause treatments are available on the market.

As it may not be desirable, there are menopause treatments like antidepressants which woman can take will do a wonder on their mental state. Moreover there are also natural menopause remedies like mention in our website which will help replenish the estrogen that is now gone. Besides taking a healthy diet which can contribute ability to relieve the menopause symptoms, an exercise routine should also be added to your daily plan as soon as possible. Exercise will help with the weight gain which will inevitably come as a result of menopause.

It is advisable that you shouldn't take this lightly and try to be supportive by getting helps from anyone. Menopause depression is a difficult part in woman's life which they'll have to get through at the some point. Since many women have done this and come through eventually, you also can relieve this menopause symptom by using the right menopause treatments.

How Do You Know When Menopause Is Starting?

For most women menopause starts at about age 43. But let's be clear on the question. When most women ask "When does menopause start?" what they are really asking is when can I expect to begin experiencing symptoms and complaints that are related to menopause. And for that question, the answer is that on average menopause complaints begin at about age 43. But it can be as early as age 35. Let's understand more about the terminology doctors use around menopause so that it isn't a source of confusion.

From premenopause--perimenopause to menopause and on to post menopause

That heading (above) is a cute attempt to clarify the sequence of events as we transition out of our reproductive years, stop having menstrual cycles and stop releasing eggs. The main point is that this transition generally happens over a period of years, not overnight.

"Menopause" is when your periods stop for good (the pause). For most women menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular for a few years, and then eventually stop all together. In this stage its hard to know whether this period will be the last, even though it may have been several months since the last one. So the medical profession arbitrarily says that menopause is when you haven't had a menstrual period for one year. That makes it impossible to say "I am now in menopause" because you can only do that (according to this definition) by looking back in time.

Meanings of premenopause and perimenopause

Premenopause and perimenopause translate to "before menopause" and "around menopause", respectively. Both of these terms refer to the period of time before your periods stop for good, when your levels of estrogen and progesterone are dropping and you are experiencing menopause related complaints as a result. The medical profession prefers the term perimenopause over premenopause. Post menopause is the time after you've had your last period.

What really concerns women are the symptoms of menopause. And the question "When does menopause start?" usually is in reference to symptoms one is beginning to experience. In the back of one's mind is "Could I be starting menopause?" The technically correct way to ask the question would then be "When does perimenopause start?" or in other words "When do symptoms of the menopause transition begin?"

What determines when perimenopause starts?

We said that the start of menopause related symptoms results from dropping levels of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are secreted from the ovaries in a cyclic pattern each month. They prepare the uterus and stimulate the release of an egg for possible fertilization. We only have a certain number of eggs. From puberty on each month a number of egg follicles mature in preparation for releasing their egg. Usually only one is released. We start at birth with about 2 million eggs. By puberty the number has decreased to about three hundred thousand. During our reproductive years some eggs are released and lost that way, and many more deteriorate as a function of time. Each maturing egg follicle releases estrogen. Once an egg is released from a mature follicle it changes itself and begins releasing progesterone. In this way our ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone in a cyclic manner during our reproductive years.

As we enter perimenopause the number of remaining eggs has declined and so has the number of ovarian follicles which mature each month. As the number of maturing follicles decreases, so does the amount of estrogen and progesterone that is secreted. The dropping level of estrogen and progesterone is responsible for the onset of perimenopausal complaints and eventually results in the complete cessation of menstrual periods all together. That's menopause.

Premature Menopause Symptoms - Has Menopause Started For You?

Did you know that the age that Menopause usually rear's it's ugly head is 51 in the United States. But the problem is this age seems to lower ever so slightly each year. Because of the environment we live in which includes what we eat, medical procedures and even your genetics. We are starting to see women go through menopause as early as 40.

This is known as Premature Menopause. So you must be asking what are the symptoms of this and how do I know I have it. As Premature Menopause can be mistaken for being pregnant as initial symptoms are similar. There are been a few cases where this has happened now and I do not presume they will stop there.

Premature Menopause Symptoms include all your usual culprits like Hot Flashes, Mood Swings, Sweats, Trouble sleeping at night etc... The major additional concern is that Menopause is a way of the body signaling it is ending the fertile stage of life. Which as you can already imagine means that you will struggle to get pregnant if you are trying.

The other concerning point of Premature Menopause is that it can effect your Sex Drive. At a young age this can be detrimental to relationships so always keep your partner in the know about what you are going through.

How do you Diagnose the Premature Menopause Symptoms?

I really suggest in my experience to go and see a doctor. They will usually Perform a physical exam and may draw blood to just make sure it is not another condition they might miss. Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy are the most common misdiagnosed conditions. Do not be scared if the doctor orders a estradiol level test as this is what will tell them whether the ovaries are starting to fail. If the levels are below 38 it may mean that you have started the process in to menopause.

The final test that will be performed and some say the most important is a Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test(I know it's a mouthful). FSH for short, this hormone is what is sent around your body to get your ovaries to produce estrogen. As this slows down you will start your way in to Menopause.

To sum up if you feel you are starting to display signs of Premature Menopause Symptoms see your doctor and then start preparing for the life change known as Menopause.

Menopause - 5 Tips For Surviving Menopause

If you are a woman, you will experience menopause at some point in your life. And in fact, regardless of your age, you are likely in the throes of some phase of menopause right this minute! So here are some tips to help you through "The Change" ... simple things to make life easier.

1. Exercise and eat healthy - Although we should all be doing this at all stages of our lives, it becomes more important as we age and enter menopause. By exercising and eating more healthy, we help our bodies to age slower and repair some of the damage we have inflicted in our younger days. Osteoporosis is a serious concern for menopausal women and it is never too early to start doing everything to either prevent or reverse this bone disease.

2. Find a calming skill to practice such as yoga, meditation or breathing exercises - Join the YMCA or take classes at your local hospital or community college. You can also likely find a cable TV show that will help in getting started in calming your life. For centuries, the Chinese, young and old alike, have benefited from slow-moving exercises so consider joining a Tai Chi class.

3. Avoid tranquilizers and alcohol - If you don't drink or feel the need for tranquilizers, you're home-free on this one. But if you do drink, make an effort to cut back. Both the alcohol and the sugar in the alcohol will keep your system off-balance and at this stage in your life, you don't need anything else to upset the menopause balancing act. And if you feel the need for tranquilizers, try consulting a naturalist who can help you instead of using prescription drugs. Your body will respond much better to natural herbs.

4. Engage in a creative outlet that invokes a sense of achievement - This will be different for everyone. Maybe with the children gone from the home, you are feeling somewhat ungrounded and like you have no real purpose in life. Or maybe the absence of children now allows you some freedom you didn't previously have. Now is the time to do the things you've put off doing before because you didn't have the time. Learn how to quilt, get involved with a community organization and teach others how to read, volunteer to help with relief efforts either locally or long distance through your church or another non-profit agency.

5. Stay connected with your family and friends - For some women, depression can be a big deal when going through menopause ... either depression from the changes that are happening or just hormonal fluctuations that cause feelings of depression. Whatever the cause, be sure to keep close to friends and family. Find someone who has already experienced menopause or is going through it at the same time. Find a support group if necessary and make new friends.

Surviving menopause is no different than surviving all the other phases of your life. Just do a little planning, see what others are doing, get involved and stay in touch. And remember, menopause is just another part of the circle of life.

Perimenopause Bleeding 101

Perimenopause is like a thief in the night. It creeps up silently without you knowing it's there. Before you know it, it takes away your most prized possession: Your normalcy.

I asked some of my friends what they thought about it but they were unanimous in shrugging me off. They didn't want to talk, saying it's too early to be talking about "it". One even said that she would rather be ignorant than be informed. Pressing further though, most of them admitted that now that they're in their late 30s, their periods are beginning to show signs of irregularity.

Contrary to popular belief, it is common to have 1 or 2 irregular cycles in a year. If you have more than that though, then know what the possible causes are. It maybe just stress after all. But if after a friendly visit to the doctor and they find nothing wrong with you, chances are, you're entering early menopause already.

The monthly period is actually the earliest sign of the dreaded stage. Perimenopause bleeding varies. It could be from short to long cycles, ranging from a very light to a very heavy flow.

How do menses work? For the first 10 to 12 days of the normal menstrual cycle, only estrogen is produced. In ovulation (a mature egg is released from the ovary and ready for fertilization via the fallopian tube), the body produces progesterone. If pregnancy does not occur, the body will stop making both estrogen and progesterone. At this time, menstruation will take place. By doing this, we have what we call hormone balance.

Women in their late 30s or early 40s still produce estrogen. Progesterone however is a different story as the body makes less of it. If you missed ovulation, it means there was no progesterone production. This is where hormone imbalance comes in.

What's worse is, since there is now a lot of estrogen that your body doesn't need, there is now estrogen dominance. This is definitely not good as most of the symptoms of perimenopause come from this hormone imbalance. Hair loss, mood swings, memory loss, low libido, uterine fibroids and weight gain are just some of the signs of perimenopausal hormonal imbalance.

So now that we know how our periods perform, the next thing we need to know is when our biological mothers had their menarche (first menstrual period). Why? Because most likely than not, the first time they had it was also at the age that you had it. If this is the case, then you will have the perimenopausal signs at the same age that they had it too. This is just to better prepare you for your turn at the wheel.

Irregular bleeding should be of no concern except for the following:

- Bleeding lasting for more that 2 weeks.

- Any type of bleeding after no bleeding for 6 months (unless you're pregnant - so make sure that you aren't).

- A period that requires a change of pads every hour.

- If you are high risk (diabetic, obese, high risk for uterine cancer, or with high blood pressure), it is best to consult with your doctor.

Before any treatment can be done, you need to take some tests to rule out. Hysteroscopy is the most popular choice for doctors as they will be able to check your uterus directly and see if there are "aliens" within. A vaginal probe ultrasound is also a good screening exam. The traditional endometrial biopsy may eliminate cancer as a suspect but will be helpless in diagnosing polyps or fibroids (muscular tumors that grow in the uterus).

Though surgery is one way to treat abnormal bleeding, it's not the only one available at your disposal. Before deciding on hysterectomy, fibroid or polyps removal, consider taking progesterone if the bleeding is just caused by the missing ovulation.

In any action you take, remember one thing: You decide on what to do with your body. The doctors will just be your guide. No one can force you to have surgery if you don't want to. What's important is that you know what you're going through so that you can eventually make the smart choice.

Menopause - Is It a Welcomed Change?

Everything in life changes. Probably the only thing that doesn't change is change itself. Life is a constant change. Everyone has to adapt to these changes in order to live. Some changes may not be favorable and can throw people into depression. Other changes are welcomed opportunities and can uplift our spirits. Still, there are changes that are only unique to women.

Menopause is a change a woman usually expects to experience when she reaches the age 40 and above. Menopause occurs when the ovarian function starts to decline. Accordingly, estrogen level also decreases. The decrease in estrogen level creates various irregularities in a woman's menstrual cycle. With the decrease in estrogen level comes also the declining amount and duration of the menstrual flow. Spotting, episodes of amenorrhea or lack of menstrual periods and abnormally frequent menstruations, or polymenorrhea, are also characteristic signs of a decreased ovarian function. It has been observed that these irregularities can last between a few months to several years before the actual cessation of menstruation occurs.

A woman may not know it, but there are a lot of changes she undergoes during and after menopause. Her body's system may experience various changes, which usually occur after the complete cessation of menstruation. During menopause, a woman's reproductive system undergoes changes; including the shrinkage of the vulval structures and the loss of some subcutaneous fats. Menopause also causes flattening of the vaginal rugae. These changes are usually the reasons why women experience bleeding after sexual contact or douching. Furthermore, changes in the reproductive system after menopause cause vaginal itching, discharge from bacterial invasion and capillary loss in the atrophied vaginal walls. Vaginal dryness and decreased lubrication from the vaginal walls are also caused by menopause. Additionally, the declining level of estrogen during menopause results in progressive pelvic relaxation.

During menopause, the urinary system also undergoes a lot of changes. The declining estrogen level causes atrophic cystitis. This condition results in frequent urination, pyuria or the presence of pus in urine and incontinence. Menopause can also cause a change in the mammary system resulting in a reduced size of a woman's breasts. Menopause can also affect the integumentary system. The integumentary system is the system in our body consisting of the skin, hair and nails; all of which protects our body from the external environment. Estrogen deprivation during menopause results in the loss of skin elasticity, loss of pubic and axillary hair and can sometimes even cause alopecia. Menopause can also cause changes in a woman's autonomic nervous system. The changes in the autonomic nervous system are the reasons why a woman under menopause experiences hot flashes and night sweats. These are occurrences that affect almost 60% of all women in menopause. The changes in a woman's autonomic nervous system are the reasons why menopausal women experience vertigo, rapid heart beat or tachycardia, shortness of breath and irritability. Emotional disturbances are also classic signs of women in menopause. These emotional disturbances include nervousness, irritability and bouts of anger. All these are also caused by autonomic nervous system changes during menopause. Menopause can also stimulate osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. The decrease in estrogen level during menopause has been linked to osteoporosis. However, its effect has not been clearly indicated with atherosclerosis.

Finally, all these changes a woman experiences during menopause can affect how she looks at life during and after menopause. Positively accepting these changes will give her a new and exciting life ahead, after menopause.

Estrogen and Menopause

The long term effects of estrogen deficiency that accompanies menopause vary among different women, owing to genetic, psychological and environmental factors. This means that some women will suffer from the effects of estrogen deprivation, while others will not and this individuality will seem very obvious to a physician specializing in this area. Generally, the loss of estrogen results in a higher risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and sexual dysfunction in post menopausal women.

Five years after menopause, the majority of women will have some thinning, dryness and shrinkage of the vagina, unless they take estrogen replacement therapy. There are women in their sixties and seventies who continue to have active and fulfilling sex lives in response to hormone replacement. For the increasing number of women in their seventies and eighties who want to be sexually active, vaginal atrophy (shrinkage) is a real concern. However, for many women, the problem is not deciding whether to be sexually active, but finding a partner, as on average, men don't live as long as women do.

Forty percent of American women will suffer from heart disease or a stroke as they go through menopause. Up to the time of menopause, women enjoy a certain amount of protection against cardiovascular disease compared with their male counterparts. Indeed, the incidence of heart attacks in women is only one third as great as the incidence in men. Unfortunately, after menopause, women begin to lose this relative protection from heart attacks and strokes, so that by the age of seventy-five, a woman's risk of developing these diseases is similar to that of a man.

So why do women become prone to cardiovascular disease after menopause? The most important factor appears to be the loss of estrogen in the body, which results in unfavorable changes in the blood cholesterol levels. Not only do overall cholesterol levels increase, but the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterols, the so-called "bad cholesterol" goes up, while that if high density lipoprotein cholesterols ("good cholesterol") go down. After menopause, this imbalance in cholesterol results in an increase in atherosclerosis (a condition characterized by blockage and hardening of the arteries), especially in women who smoke, who are obese and have sedentary lifestyles.

Early menopause is bad news for your cardiovascular system. Women who lose the function of their ovaries before the age of forty have a greater risk of heart disease than women who go through menopause when they are ten years older. The good news is that large-scale population studies have proven that estrogen replacement can restore a favorable balance in blood cholesterol levels. The risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by approximately fifty percent by taking estrogen at or soon after menopause. A study on hormone replacement therapy found breakthrough results for heart disease. The study showed that there were half as many cardiovascular deaths and heart attacks among women who took estrogen after menopause as there were among women who never used estrogen. This is because estrogen reduces total cholesterol levels, increases the proportion of the so-called "good cholesterol" and prevents cholesterol from being deposited in the walls of the arteries, thus preventing atherosclerosis.

The reduction of the incidence of stroke by hormone replacement therapy appears to be more modest, but it is still significant. A recent study of 23,088 Swedish women showed that post menopausal estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the overall risk of stroke by thirty percent.

We know now for sure that estrogen alone is good for your blood vessels and heart, but we are not sure if taking synthetic progesterone in addition to estrogen (as is now commonly done) reduces the benefits of estrogen on your cardiovascular system, particularly if you take estrogen and progesterone for many years. The ideal progesterone is yet to be found.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease is not determined only by the loss of estrogen. Other risk factors are equally important - and sometimes more important - as determinants of cardiovascular disease. These include smoking, high cholesterol levels, a family history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, a high fat diet and a diet that is deficient in raw foods, fish and liquids such as water and fresh juices.

Perimenopause Symptoms

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause describes the time preceding full menopause during which you have not had a period or regular bleeding for twelve months. It is a time when your body begins to slow down the production of certain hormones, namely estrogen, and progesterone and it is also a time signaling the loss fertility. Some women have only minor symptoms and pass through this phase of little with little discomfort but other women have much more pronounced symptoms.

What are the signs of perimenopause?

Here are some signs indicating the onset of the perimenopausal period:

Changes to your normal menstrual cycle (longer/shorter durations, a change to the volume- heavier or lighter bleeding, or periods being skipped)

Hot flashes

Nighttime sweating (during sleep)

Vaginal dryness

Erratic sleep patterns

Moods swings (depression, irritability)

Painful intercourse

An increase if urinary infections

Urinary incontinence

Losing of sex drive

Accumulation of extra body fat at the waist

Problems with memory and concentration

How long will perimenopause last?

The duration of the perimenopausal period will vary from woman to woman. Actual menopause happens between the ages of 45 to 55 with the average age being 51. But perimenopause has been known to start as early as 35 and can go on for just a few months or sometimes even a few years. There is no advance warning of its onset and no known way of predicting how long it will go on for.

The prevention or relief of the perimenopause

Unfortunately, there is no known prevention for the onset of perimenopause, but certain things may help to delay the onset such as quitting smoking if you are a smoker, keeping physically fit, and keeping your weight aligned with your BMI. In terms of relieving some of the symptoms, you can:

Use a vaginal lubricant to counteract dryness and pain during intercourse.

Analyze and avoid anything you isolate as possible causes of hot flushes such as caffeine or alcohol.

Discuss depression, irritation, anxiety and mood swings with your doctor who may be able to prescribe medication to help.

Treatments for Perimenopause

A complete and full medical is recommended before embarking on any course of medication or therapy to help to deal with the symptoms of perimenopause. Your doctor will almost certainly insist in this anyway. Estrogen or estrogen-progestogen therapies have long been prescribed for perimenopausal symptoms; however, in light of more recent links to cancer causation, this has fallen out of favor. Instead, low dose oral contraceptive medication may be prescribed. This not only helps treat the hot flashes, but also helps to regulate any irregular menstrual flow. This treatment can delay the need for full blow HRT (hormone replacement therapy) until full menopause commences. EPT (Estrogen Progestogen Therapy) has been developed to lessen the cause of cancer if you are experiencing natural menopause rather than medical menopause brought on by surgery. For any therapy including estrogen, your doctor will probably prescribe a lose dose variant for only a short period of time.

Signs of Menopause

All women in their mid 40s and above the age of 50 experience menopause. The complete cessation of a woman's periods is called menopause. This can be natural or medically induced due to surgery. It can last for a few years. During this time, there are several hormonal changes in a woman's body. These changes emerge as the signs of menopause. There are several signs of menopause like severe mood changes, bad temper and dejection. Physically too, a woman's body undergoes several changes.

Women experience a decrease in bone density with the onset of menopause. The calcium absorption of the body reduces. This results in repeated fractures and brittle nails that can be a sign of menopause. Women must therefore supplement their diet with dairy products. They must stop or reduce the intake of tea and coffee.

Dry skin is another sign of menopause. It is partly due to aging and exposure to the sun. A generous use of moisturizers can solve this problem. A woman can experience sudden hot flushes and break out in sweat. At night, the same hot flushes can disrupt sleep resulting in restlessness. These flushes are because of restriction of blood vessels. This can make the menopausal woman feel tired and sapped of energy all the time.

Urinary incontinence is also a sign of menopause. Because of changes in hormones, the tissues of the body lose their elasticity causing loss of control over the bladder. A menopausal woman can experience vaginal dryness and loss of interest in sexual matters.

After the age of 50, a woman must get a regular check up of her cholesterol levels. Increased cholesterol level can be a sign of menopause. A woman must exercise control over her diet and include green vegetables in her diet.

Many signs of menopause like falling hair or stiff joints can be confused with those of aging. However, it is a result of reduced production of estrogen and progesterone hormones. One can even have sudden excess hair growth due to over production of testosterone.

Some women have trouble in remembering things. This loss of memory can be a sign of menopause. Women become oversensitive and seem to cry at the slightest provocation. They feel left out and lonely. These changes in mental attitude are due to menopause.

Menopause is thus a difficult time for most women on the other side of fifty. With a good knowledge of the signs of menopause, one must handle women with greater understanding and sensitivity towards their feelings. Knowledge about the signs of menopause can also be helpful in tackling the problems better.

Questions of Midlife - What Age Does Menopause Start, and How Long Does it Last?

Questions like, "What age does menopause start?" and, "How long does menopause last?" are fairly common in the middle years. Most women are looking for an idea of what to expect, and when. One of the things that make it confusing - as well as being difficult to answer - is the terminology used by medical professionals. So first, let me explain some of those terms in plain English. Technically, menopause is the last period that a woman ever has, but that can only be determined after the fact.

During the years leading up to that last period, menstruation is often erratic. It's not unusual for a woman to miss several periods, and then have another. The flow may be heavier or lighter. Spotting is also common during this time. But since spotting can indicate a medical problem, it's important to have regular Pap smears and follow the check-up schedule that your doctor prescribes for you.

• After a woman has gone a full year without having a period, she is said to be "post-menopausal"


• The term "pre-menopause" is used to describe the time leading up to the last period, when periods are often irregular and other symptoms, such as hot flashes, may appear


• The term "peri-menopause" is used to describe the time before, during and after the last period

Now, that you understand those terms, let's look at what age menopause starts, on average.

In Western societies the average age of the last period is 51. In developing countries, the median age is 44. When the last period occurs between the age of 55 and 60, it is considered "late-menopause." If it occurs between the ages of 45 and 50, it is considered "early."

The answer to how long does menopause last? Well technically, it is a single day - the last day of the last period.

But if you're wondering how long the symptoms last, that's quite a different matter, not dependent on the age that menopause begins.

Women can begin to feel the effects of lowering hormonal levels as early as age 35. However, women that are in good health may never experience any symptoms at all, except, of course, that they stop having their periods.

Women who are not in the best of health (or perhaps don't know about natural supplements that reduce symptoms) may tell you that menopause lasts 10 years or more. I had a friend once say to me, "Honey, it lasts the rest of your life."

On the other end of the spectrum are women that never paid any attention to how long does menopause last, because they never had any unwanted symptoms.

If you smoke and you want to know what age menopause starts, you can expect it a little earlier than average. You are also more likely to have hot flashes and other unwanted symptoms.

If you have older female relatives, you may be able to guesstimate how long does menopause last, by asking them how long they had symptoms. However, there really is no sure way to determine ahead of time at what age will menopause start.

But no matter when menopause begins or how long it lasts for you, it is possible to avoid the undesirable symptoms with a good diet, appropriate supplements, and healthy lifestyle.

Perimenopause and Phantom Periods

If you've experienced symptoms exactly like those that may occur when you're expecting your period, but no period is present or ever arrives, it's most likely that you're having a "phantom" period.

Phantom periods are described as a period minus the menses. In other words, you may feel irritable, bloated, fatigued, experience headaches and cramps, but the presence of blood is non-existent. Most women notice phantom periods while they're experiencing perimenopause, the transitional period prior to menopause.

It's important to remember that menstruation has been a regular occurrence in your life for many years and, therefore, the transition into menopause can take several years, as well. During perimenopause it's not unusual to experience phantom periods, as well as several other symptoms, such as irregular or unpredictable periods, difficulty sleeping, irritability or depression, hot flashes and weight gain, especially around the mid-section.

If you've been experiencing phantom periods it's a good idea to talk with your health care provider to rule out the possibility of other health conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. Once you're certain that you are indeed having phantom periods, there's no need for concern, as there are no known health risks to women who experience phantom periods.

Just as with normal periods, P.M.S. and menopause, many of the symptoms associated with phantom periods can be reduced and even eliminated by making some very simple lifestyle changes.

It's been well documented that regular exercise contributes to eliminating many physical and emotional symptoms experienced by women who are pre-menstrual, having phantom periods or noticing signs of perimenopause. Unfortunately, until women actually begin exercising and personally experience the positive results of physical fitness, most simply don't believe or understand just what a difference a healthier lifestyle can make.

Because of this, the majority of women would rather suffer the many symptoms of "feminine conditions" rather than invest a small amount of time and energy to ensure that they look and feel fantastic well into their 40's, 50's and beyond.

I encourage you to at least give physical fitness a trial run. If, after 60 days, you've not benefited and have decided this is not the solution for you, go ahead and discontinue exercising. You stand to lose absolutely nothing - other than a few pounds and several inches from your body. I seriously doubt you'll discontinue, however, once you see for yourself just how much better you'll look and feel. Go ahead - accept this challenge so that you may begin to look and feel better than you ever thought possible.

Men Dealing With Women's Menopause Symptoms

Some of the changes and symptoms women encounter as they approach menopause can be difficult to withstand, and it's not unusual to wonder if you'll ever feel "normal" again. Not only are you dealing with physical symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods and weight gain, but there are many emotional changes that take place as a result of declining hormone levels.

You may experience moodiness, depression or feelings of sadness and hopelessness. If this is the case, there's a strong likelihood that your mate is feeling somewhat confused by your behavior and may be left wondering if you still love him and want to spend the rest of your life with him.

If your husband or partner is anything like mine, it's not likely that he'll research information that's available to him in order to figure out what's happening within your body and how it may be affecting your emotions. If men don't have the answers, how will they respond to the "foreign" you?

Unfortunately, men respond to women's hormonal imbalances using many different approaches that aren't always the most effective. Some men simply ignore the problem and hope it will go away, while others may be overbearing and treat their partner as if she's emotionally fragile and incapable of dealing with life.

The relationship problems couples face during midlife, in most cases, really is usually a lack of communication due to the misunderstanding that results from hormonal imbalances and behavior changes in women approaching menopause.

If you find that you're facing some challenges in your relationship due to hormone fluctuations, and you don't honestly see your mate taking the time or initiative to figure out what may be happening, it may be a good idea to tape the following messages to your refrigerator, mirror, tool box or other area where he's sure to take notice.

1. If your wife or partner is feeling undesirable (and there's a good chance that this may occur often during this transition), it may be automatic for you to express how beautiful she is. Unfortunately, she is not likely to believe you. Don't let this become a slammed door, however; continue to be loving, kind and supportive consistently and eventually she will trust that you really do find her desirable.

2. Since your wife is not feeling sexy as a result of the weight she has likely gained during this period in her life, please don't let your eyes pop out of your head when a young sexy woman appears on TV or passes by you in a restaurant. And worse yet, avoid the temptation to flirt with younger women. This behavior is insensitive and uncalled for, and only adds to an already strained relationship.

3. When you think your wife is behaving irrationally, remember that she's not crazy and zip it! That's right - just keep your thoughts to yourself because oftentimes what men view as irrational, women do not.

4. When your wife has something she'd like to tell you, listen! Don't dismiss her, even if you've heard this same story over and over again. It's important to your wife to have a partner - one with whom she can communicate. If it's tempting to interrupt her, take a moment to put yourself in her shoes and decide how you would feel if your every thought or emotion were brushed off as if it meant nothing.

5. There's a strong possibility that your wife's sex drive is not what it once was. This is confusing and scary for your wife, and may very well add to her moodiness. As a matter of fact, it's not unusual for women to find fault with their spouses in order to feel justified in not having the desire to have sex. Openly communicate with your wife about this, and make an effort to work together to remedy this problem so that your sex life can become rejuvenated. A healthy sex life contributes to your overall physical health, as well as the health of your relationship.

6. Let your wife know she can count on you. Perhaps she's feeling overwhelmed with a busy schedule and a tired body. Put down the newspaper or the remote control and pick up a broom. You'll be amazed by her positive reaction to your your desire to help out around the house.

7. Stop at the store on your way home from work and pick up a romantic card or a bouquet of flowers. Don't wait for your wife to suggest going out to dinner; go ahead and be assertive and simply tell her the two of you are going out on a nice little date.

8. Your wife may be doing a lot of complaining lately; you can encourage her to stop complaining by giving her reasons to know she's lucky to have you in her life.

9. Make your wife laugh - even if you need to be the butt of your own jokes (better you than her).

10. Finally, express your love for your wife and let her know that you understand this may be a rough ride for her and you want to do whatever you can to pave the road for a smooth transition into menopause.

While it's important for your spouse to be understanding and sympathetic to your needs during this transitional period, it's also important that you do all you can to take care of yourself - both physically and emotionally. Be sure to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest and take time for yourself.

If you're sure to do all you can to remain healthy, there's no doubt that you will feel beautiful, youthful and full of energy - your absolute best - as you approach menopause.

Night Sweats and Hot Flashes - Who Gets Them and When?

Night sweats and hot flashes are by far the most common complaint of menopause. They begin in perimenopause (before menstrual periods stop) and continue after. When they start and how long they last, what they are like and how bad they are, varies greatly among women.

Night sweats are hot flashes which occur at night. A hot flash begins with the sensation of heat followed by perspiration to intense sweating in the area of the heat. At night one tends to awake after the wave of heat to experience the aftermath of the flash, which is the sweating.

Hot flashes (HF) are often one of the first signs that you are entering perimenopause. This is the time period when your ovaries are beginning to shut down their production of progesterone and estrogen. Eventually the ovaries produce so little of these sex hormones that they stop releasing eggs and your menstrual cycle stops all together.

Menopause is the point in time when you have your last menstrual cycle. Here are some statistics on when menopause (and hot flashes/night sweats) starts and how long it lasts:

• The age range for menopause is 40 to 58 years.


• In Western countries the median age is 51.


• HF are a complaint for 80% of women in Western countries.


• 30% of women report HF that are so severe and frequent that they are a major disruption of their lives.


• Yet only 10% to 15% of women consult a physician in an attempt to alleviate their HF.


• The average age of onset of night sweats and HF is 46, but onset has been reported as early as age 35.

Perimenopause averages 5 years for most women. Remember that for the women who will experience them, hot flashes typically start at the onset of perimenopause when sex hormone production in the ovaries begins to drop. Again, the average age of onset of perimenopause is ages 46, but there are reports of women entering perimenopause as young as 35.

Starting at the beginning of perimenopause, hot flashes often occur just before and during the menstrual cycle. When they occur at the end of the cycle it means that estrogen levels are low, but not low enough to cause cessation of the monthly cycle. As time passes and ovarian hormones continue to drop they generally increase in frequency and intensity, occurring throughout the month.

The intensity and frequency of hot flashes accelerates during the two years before the last menstrual cycle. They are usually the most severe during the two years following the last menstrual cycle (menopause).

Hot flashes (HF's) continue after menopause for an average of 5 years, but approximately 10% of women experience them for as long as 10 years after menopause. For the women in Western countries who experience them, 85% of women experience them for more than one year, and 20-50% experience them for a total of more than 5 years.

The percentage of women who experience HF's varies widely in different cultures, from as little as 25% to as great as 85%. For instance in Japan women report experiencing HF's much less frequently than do women in Western cultures. One possible reason for this is the high soy content of the Japanese diet, containing plant estrogens (phytoestrogens).

Hot flashes are a sign of dropping hormone levels. Disruption of hormone levels can occur at other times in life, causing them before perimenopause. Up to two thirds of women may also experience occasional them even before perimenopause (during premenopause). A common time is immediately after childbirth.

Hot flashes (HF's) are experienced in over 90% of women who suffer an unnatural menopause (with both ovaries removed). The term "induced menopause" is used to describe whenever the ovaries are forced to shut down production of the sex hormones artificially. This can be due to surgical removal of the ovaries in a total hysterectomy, or as a result of radiation therapy as part of cancer treatment.

There are a number of remedies for relieving HF's and night sweats. These include hormone replacement therapy, herbal remedies, changes in diet, not over dressing, stress management and more.

Many women shy away from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of the associated increased risk for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Other risks associated with HRT include bleeding, nausea and vomiting, altered mood, breast tenderness, headache, weight change, dizziness, venous thromboembolic events (blood clots), rash, pruritis (itching), cholecystitis (gall bladder inflammation), and liver problems.

Many women try herbal remedies instead. But most of these fall far short of the relief provided by HRT. Studies show that HRT reduces hot flashes by 75%.

An herbal solution that has only recently become available in the United States has been well researched in Europe. This herb, Siberian rhubarb root extract has been used in Germany for hot flashes since 1993 and shown have no significant side effects in women who have taken it for two years.

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.

Hot Flashes in Menopause

Women can feel snappy and cranky when dealing with hot flashes and then add other symptoms of menopause like  feeling "dry" when  having sex with their partners, experiencing night sweats and not knowing if she will have a cycle this month or not are enough to drive any sane women crazy.  Having problems like these may lead to only one thing; you are already in your menopausal stage.

What is menopause? Menopause is the permanent stop of the reproductive fertility after some time before the end of lifespan. It comes from the Greek word which means "end of monthly cycles", literally. The term was used to describe women who have changes reproductively where they reach the end of their fertility.

It usually happens in women at their fifties. But some women have their menopause a lot earlier than most women do. The reason for this is that these women differ in lifestyle and nutrition.

Menopause is all about the condition of the ovaries. It occurs when the ovaries are no longer able to perform their natural function. Thus, in becoming dysfunctional and unable to produce the eggs necessary for the sperm to fertilize, they also bring about many un-nerving experiences fro women as well.

The period of menopause is part of the aging process in women. When it happens, the production of estrogen in women will diminish. It will then lead to premenopausal symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes.

The most common symptom is hot flush or hot flash. The changing of the hormone levels that are said to be the characteristic of a menopause is called the hot flash. The cause of this hot flash is not known. But speculations have been made that it may have some connection with vascular instability.

Hot flashes are said to occur due to psychological stress, the hot weather condition, drinking beverages that have caffeine in it or drinking alcohol, and eating spicy foods. Results from studies show that the duration and how severe the hot flush is, vary from one woman to another. Some women have hot flushes that never last long during their menopausal stage. Other women have hot flushes that last longer, it may even occur, in some situations, during their whole life.

Symptoms & Treatment of Post Menopause

Post menopause symptoms will occur basically during the age line of around 45 to 55, but it varies from person to person! Post menopause includes quite several symptoms like night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, and other more. If the situation prolongs without undergoing good treatment will result to several health oriented troubles including bone loss, risk towards heart diseases, variation in cholesterol levels and other more. You will be confirmed about the occurrence of menopause symptoms, only if you take urine and blood tests. With these check-ups, you will be explained about the level of hormone imbalance. To overcome the hormonal imbalance, you can take hormone tablets in order to relieve from the post menopause symptoms. But it is mandatory to get advice with a good medical practitioner, so that you can avoid risking your life.

There are several symptoms that will occur, if you are directed to post menopause! They are here for your better understanding.

Hormonal Imbalance - This is the first principle symptom that a menopause woman will experience. The hormonal imbalance will lead to post menopausal bleeding.

Vaginal Dryness and Itching - Itching or scratching! This is the other symptom that menopause produces. Post menopause will make your vagina to appear dry and dulls the happiness of your sexual contact.

Urethritis and Cystitis - If you have ever experienced this symptom in your daily life, then it is really good! This will create the bladder infection and gives a burning sense to the bladder. They really less hold you urine and as a result, urine might leak out when you perform any actions.

Tress Incontinence - This is basically the leakage of urine, while the time you sneeze, laugh, lift, cough or run fast.

High blood pressure - High blood pressure is also called as hypertension will lead to severe health associated problems. The tenor of blood vessels will turn to be badly diminished thereby makes the blood passage way badly smaller.

Bone fracture, leg and muscle cramps - When you are directed towards menopause, you turn physically week and the density of the bone gets automatically reduced. If your bones turn weaker, you easy fall prey to bone fractures and leg cramps.

When considering the real fact, you never have to undergo any special treatment to get relief from the post menopause symptoms. Healthy dieting and good procedural lifestyle will make you to stay out from post menopause. Get a good sound sleep and rest well, as this is the most important key factor you must follow. Finding an alternative medicine will also be good and beneficial! The best treatments for post menopause are bulleted here for your reference:

Choose right food to intake. It is good to eat diets that have low fat content and fiber-rich. Along with, it is good to take good amount of vegetables and fruits. Eat good amount of soy, as they are really good to get relief from post menopause symptom.  

Never take spicy foods and caffeine. Rest well and practice good exercise to overcome the post menopause troubles. If you have the habit of smoking, then your health risk will be aggressively doubled by resulting several other health problems like cholesterol, multi-vitamin, hear diseases and early aging. To avoid all these troubles, it is good to take mineral and multi-vitamin supplements like calcium and other more.

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What Are The Effects Of Early Menopause?

While it is estimated that some women can experience the onset of perimenopause and menopause beginning in their 30's, early menopause can cause great anxiety. What are the effects of early menopause?

While most people associate menopause with older women, it can occur in younger women as well. Any women who is going through the full menopause cycle before the age of 40, is considered to be experiencing premature or early menopause. Imagine the emotional affect this can have on a young woman. In addition to the associated symptoms of menopause, experiencing this premature cycle can add another level of emotion which could be just as devastating.

One of the causes of early menopause is premature ovarian failure, in which your body's immune system attacks itself causing your ovaries to stop functioning.

Early menopause can also be induced by surgery. So too, if you have had surgery either to remove the ovaries or a full hysterectomy, your hormone levels drop instantly and you will experience instant menopause. Even if you do not have your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, the ovaries may be damaged during the surgical procedure or the blood flow to the ovaries may be affected resulting in early menopause. In addition, early menopause may also be derived by having your tubes tied. Other causes of early menopause include excessive weight loss associated with anorexia.

To determine the cause of premature menopause, it is necessary to ask your mom at what age she became menopausal. If there is a lack of estrogen, it is more likely that early menopause will lead to menopausal symptoms which include: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, joint discomfort, change in skin, and sleep disturbances. These tend to be more severe for younger woman who are in menopause, than it is by women who experience menopause naturally.

If you are among many women who are going through menopause at an early age, it may help you to join a support group to help you through this rough time. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine if this in fact, early menopause or something else. More importantly, losing the ability to have children is devastating and the time should be taken to grieve. The support of family and friends is crucial at this time.

Finally, understand and experience the loss. Your feelings and thoughts should be expressed in an honest and forthright manner. Remember, these results of early menopause are not your fault; it just simply happens. You will be going through many emotions at this time, and adding guilt to them will not alleviate the pain. There are always alternatives which you can discuss at a later date, but for now, allow yourself the time you need to mourn.

Learn About Menopause

The word Menopause is derived from the Latin root 'Meno' (menstrual) and 'pausis' (cessation) and hence the definition of the term as a cessation of menstrual cycles. Physiologically Menopause occurs when the ovaries cease to function to produce eggs or hormones for reproduction.

The average age for the onset of Menopause is 51 years. However, women as young as 30 or as old as 60 can report the onset of Menopause. Doctors believe that women generally undergo Menopause around the time their mothers experienced the onset.

The onset of Menopause can also occur in certain medical conditions. Surgical removal of the ovaries, cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy and premature ovarian failure could be medical conditions that result in Menopause.

The Early Menopause symptoms are irregular menstrual cycles, irregular bleeding, hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, itching or pain during sexual intercourse, urinary symptoms, emotional and cognitive symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings and memory loss and other physical changes such as weight gain, wrinkles, acne and hair growth in the face and other body parts such as the chin, upper lip, chest or abdomen.

Post Menopause can trigger off certain medical conditions in women such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Since Menopause is a natural condition, no treatment is necessary. However, treatment of the pre menopause and post menopause symptoms becomes a necessity in extreme cases. Estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapies are recommended to control symptoms relating to declining estrogen levels that cause mood swings, hot flashes and vaginal dryness or excessive hair growth. Oral contraceptive pills are recommended in case there is an erratic vaginal bleeding. A number of vaginal hormone treatment and other pharmaceutical therapies for depression, hot flashes and sexual dysfunction are advocated. The drugs that are commonly recommended have a number of side effects and should be used with caution.

Alternately medical therapies using plant estrogens and herbs can be used for controlling the pre and post menopausal symptoms. While there is no conclusive evidence that these herbs work for everyone, they do seem to help control the symptoms in a large number of patients with almost no or minimal side effects. Black Cohosh, Wild Yam, Isoflavonesand Dong Quai are some of the herbs commonly used by women to combat hot flashes, weight gain and erratic bleeding during irregular menstrual cycles.

Menopause Treatments

All women face menopause after the age of 50 years. Menopause occurs over a few years and this time can be very trying for a woman. A reduction in production of the female hormone estrogen and progesterone results in osteoporosis, hot flushes and general fatigue. A lot of research in this field has created effective menopause treatments. Since hormones are involved, all menopause treatments should be in consultation with one's doctor.

Menopause treatment begins with a change in a woman's dietary habits. One has to take calcium in the form of tablets or in natural dairy products and vegetables. She must decrease consumption of caffeine products like tea and coffee. This is helpful in preserving bone density and increases absorption of calcium.

Other menopause treatments include physical exercises to build strong bones. This must be in the form of a brisk walk or weightlifting exercises to strengthen her bones. Exercising regularly also helps in weight reduction. It is good for the heart and can reduce one's cholesterol level.

Menopause treatments for hot flushes involve consumption of natural products like soy and tofu that contain natural estrogens. One can have them in raw or cooked form. Scientific studies indicate that soy definitely reduces hot flushes.

Several medicines can form a part of menopause treatments. The intake of belladonna and clonidine can considerably reduce hot flushes. However, one must study their side effects before consuming them. Some medicines induce sleep while others can be dangerous for those having blood pressure.

Another very popular menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. This therapy involves taking the estrogen and progesterone hormones orally or in the form of topical creams. Women who have their uterus intact must take both hormones in regulated doses. It is important to decide the dose as per the doctor's directions since the intake varies from person to person.

A doctor's guidance is a prerequisite for hormone therapy. Estrogen replacement can banish all symptoms of menopause like hot flushes, fractures and help build bone mass. This is because this form of menopause treatment can lead to breast cancer, blood clots and a host of other medical problems. It is important to know the woman's medical record and family history of cancer. Women who are prone to cancer are not advised this menopause treatment.

Hormone therapy is available in the form of tablets and creams. Women under 50 years experiencing early menopause can safely take these types of menopause treatments. However, one must undertake a mammogram once in two years, if on hormone therapy. A host of menopause treatments is now widely available due to rapid advances in science. However, a woman must take a suitable treatment according to her needs and strictly under a doctor's supervision.

Bladder Infections, Cystitis, After the Menopause

Bladder infections, cystitis, can become more prevalent in women after the menopause due to the lessening of the presence of the female hormones which has various effects on her body.

Bladder infections occur much more frequently at any age, in women than in men, due to the anatomical difference between the sexes. Bacteria, usually E. Coli, find their way into the bladder via the urethra, which of course is much shorter in women than it is in men. The urethra is the tube which drains urine from the bladder.

The changes that occur in a woman after the menopause, can make her more susceptible to bladder infections, cystitis. These changes are:

* Due to the hormonal changes the pH of the vagina changes so that there are fewer of the good bacteria which keep the bad bacteria at bay.

* Increased vaginal dryness and thinning of the tissues or atrophy, and also the tissues of the urethra. This thinning along with the loss of elasticity makes the urethra and bladder more vulnerable to infection. This can also actually make the urethra shorter which makes the journey of the bacteria to the bladder even shorter.

* A pelvic prolapse with a 'dropped' bladder can lead to improper emptying of urine and urine pools in the bladder. This relatively stagnant urine can allow bacteria to grow and cause an infection. Incidentally urine is sterile to begin with.

* Because your bladder becomes less elastic as you age it may not empty completely. That allows urine to collect, and create a hospitable environment for bacteria, thereby encouraging infection.

* In addition diabetes, which affects many parts of the body, including the urinary system, becomes more common as people age. Diabetes can give rise to bladder infections because of the raised levels of glucose in the urine upon which bacteria can thrive.

There are many things that you can do to help yourself. These can be approached from two angles - prevention of an infection and managing the symptoms of an infection. One thing you may wish to do which will address both angles, is take D-Mannose, which is a simple sugar similar to glucose, except that it passes through the body undigested and unchanged. D-Mannose can be taken daily prophylactically to minimize the likelihood of an infection developing. It can also be taken to manage and get rid of an infection.

For your convenience it is available in both tablet and powder form. Taken in the powder form in a drink, 90% of it reaches the bladder within the hour. It is for this reason that it can provide such rapid relief.

It is great to know that even though a woman may be naturally more vulnerable to bladder infections after the menopause, there is a lot she can do to help herself, and D-Mannose is very important in this respect.

The Menopause Years

"The Change" - Menopause happens to every woman and is a part of the natural aging process. Estrogen and progesterone production slows down and menstruation ends.

Menopause is not an illness or a disorder, but a natural biological transition. The signs and symptoms of menopause vary widely for each woman and can typically occur between the ages of 42 and 56. Some women experience very mild symptoms while some women suffer more. Some of the symptoms include:

* weight gain

* depression

* hot flashes

* mood swings

* night sweats

* insomnia

* fatigue

* joint pain

* short-term memory problems

* urinary tract infections

* itchy skin

* dry eyes

* vaginal dryness

* bowel upset

While you can't stop the symptoms from actually occurring, there are a number of remedies to help ease the discomfort. Hormone therapy (HT) has been widely used in recent decades to relieve the signs and symptoms of menopause and -- doctors thought -- to prevent diseases associated with aging. However, new long-term evidence has demonstrated that HT may actually increase the risk of serious health conditions, such as heart disease, breast cancer and stroke.

Many women are seeking safer alternative treatments for menopause. Herbal supplements with components that are similar to the estrogen found in a woman's body are leading the way. Herbal supplements generally have no side effects and can bring relief for the multitude of symptoms associated with menopause.

There are several excellent products on the market that are specially formulated for menopausal symptoms. Native Remedies has developed several formulas to help women ease discomfort of their specific symptoms. It is very important for women going through the menopause transition to eat healthy and exercise.

Menopause is not the end of life, but a new stage of life. Many woman worry they will not enjoy sex after menopause but many women discover a renewed or even redoubled libido after the menopause.

It is important to remember that women can and do enjoy active and fulfilling sex lives throughout their menopausal years.

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause symptoms begin at about the time that menopause starts, calculated following an uninterrupted 12-month time interval when a woman displays no signs of a menstruation. In general terms and for American women, this is at age 51.

However, a woman may also display menopause-like symptoms if she is diagnosed as perimenopausal, pre-menopausal or early menopausal. Women who have been established to be early menopausal may (in rare cases) display menopause type symptoms as early as their mid-20s.

In all cases, menopause symptoms are directly related to decreased estrogen levels and hormone imbalance.

There are more menopause symptoms than one might suspect. Fortunately, not all women display all symptoms all the time. Unfortunately, once menopause symptoms start they may persist for ten years or longer.

Among the most noted symptoms are:

Hot Flashes (hot flushes) - One of the very most common menopause symptom complaints are hot flashes. Milder hot flashes are frequently referred to as hot flushes. Hot flashes can be very intense and last for upward to 20 minutes. In extreme cases a woman may experience a hot flash, hourly.

Hot flashes have been described as extreme internal heat that rises quickly and then levels off at various degrees of discomfort. The areas of the body most affected are the face, neck, and chest area but any part of the body may be too warm during a hot flash. A woman may experience an escalating severity of hot flashes as she ages due to continuing reduced estrogen levels and/or hormone imbalance.

Night Sweats (warm flushes, cold flushes) - Night sweats are the evil twin of hot flashes. Many women are awakened with hot flashes during menopause. The areas of the body affected are nearly identical to those associated with hot flashes. Warm flushes are thought to be a milder form of night sweats. During a night sweat episode a woman may kick off the covers in an attempt to get cool quickly. Following the night sweat episode a woman may experience a cold or cool flush nearly as severe as the previous night sweat episode. In this instance, all of the bed coverings may not (at least initially) appear to be enough to get warm. These cold flushes are just part of the night sweat cycle and one of the reasons why women who experience night sweats complain of sleep deprivation. In severe cases, women experiencing night sweats may never actually go into REM sleep and so, never get a restful night's sleep. In this way, night sweats can lead to more concerning health issues including depression, mental fatigue, mood swings, irritability, and weakened immunity to disease.

Mood Swings - Mood swings like the other menopause symptoms noted previously, are among the more common symptoms associated with menopause. Not a lot is known about mood swings as they vary by the individual, in intensity and frequency. Like other symptoms, mood swings have a connection with reduced estrogen levels and imbalanced hormones. Mood swings can be problematic as they can be disruptive to personal and professional relationships. From a professional standpoint, mood suppressing drugs may affect job performance. Stress and other outside catalysts have been noted to affect mood swings.

Cravings - Food cravings have been noted as one of the very most common of menopause symptoms. During menopause, a heighten awareness of favorite or preferred foods and beverages is frequently noted. While these foods may have been attractive prior to menopause, menopausal women often engage in binge consumption of these food and beverage favorites. Previous will-power, discretion, and moderation seem to have gone out the window with the excessive consumption of chocolates, carbohydrate laden pasta, wine, beer, pizza, pickles, etc. Cravings for typical comfort foods are also common. A Thanksgiving Dinner might be considered by many to be the ultimate comfort food indulgence.

Menopause Belly Fat Weight Gain - Menopause belly fat weight gain is one of the more common menopause symptoms. Prior to menopause, most women are concerned with weight gain in the hips, thighs, and buttocks, especially following pregnancy. However and following menopause, the weight gain problem area shifts to the waist. Menopause belly fat weight gain is closely associated with reduced estrogen levels and hormone imbalance. Men typically gain weight above the hips. Excessive weight gain above the hips puts excessive strain on all body organs, especially the heart. Heart and artery disease are the number killers of American males. Menopausal women who gain weight above the hips are put at the same risk levels as their male counterparts. Older women are at the same risk of heart and advanced coronary artery disease as men.

Osteoporosis and Bone Loss - Osteoporosis and bone loss are among the most insidious of menopause symptoms. Osteoporosis causes bone loss, frailty and fragility. Those individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis are at elevated risk of bone breakage. Even large bones (like the hip) are easily broken with a simple fall. One out of three individuals older than 65 experience falls. Osteoporosis and bone loss can be offset (to a degree) with the implementation and/or augmentation of specific drugs, vitamins and minerals, as well as limited load-bearing exercises.

Additional Symptoms - In addition to the previously noted symptoms, the following menopause symptoms should also be noted: Irregular periods, loss of or decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, hair loss (or gain), sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, memory loss or lapses, dizziness, incontinence, bloating, increased allergy sensitivity, brittle or easily broken fingernails, changes in body odor, racing heart beat, depression, anxiety, irritability, panic attacks, breast tenderness, migraines, aching joints, burning sensation in mouth or tongue or bad taste in the mouth, electric shocks, digestive irregularities, gum problems, bleeding gums, muscle tensions, itchy skin, and tingling extremities.

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.