Female Menopause

Menopause is now a widely known condition that happens to women who are middle aged or a little older. What used to be thought of as a psychological condition is now being researched more and more so that treatment options are available and relief of frustrating symptoms is possible. This is very beneficial for women who want only to feel as if they are in control of their lives. Here is some more helpful information on female Menopause.

What is Menopause?

As women age, the female hormone estrogen starts to decrease. Normally, this happens between the ages of 40 and 50, although it can start even as low as the age of 35. While the decrease is quite sudden and fast, menopause usually lasts around 5 to 7 years although this can change depending on the woman. All women are different so a few years may be normal for one woman while several years might be normal for another woman. When this happens, the woman's menstrual cycle ceases and she is no longer able to reproduce. Along with these things, women experience many different frustrating symptoms.

Symptoms of Female Menopause:

These can range from very mild to very severe and can include many different types. Some of the most common symptoms generally experienced by most menopausal women include:

o Hot Flashes - These are attacks of heat which envelop menopausal women, making them feel overheated and as if they cannot cool off. Some attacks of hot flashes can be very mild and not as frustrating, but some are very severe and make women feel extremely uncomfortable and irritable.

o Vaginal Dryness - This happens as the woman's body no longer makes enough or any of the natural lubricant which is normal for intercourse. This can make intercourse painful or impossible for women to endure and it is a very frustrating thing for them to have to deal with as well.

o Sleeplessness - This can often occur during menopause and may be the result of other symptoms making sleep impossible, or a symptom in itself. Some women may feel extremely tired but unable to fall asleep and others may feel very alert although they should feel tired.

o Depression - Many women experience depression during menopause which can include a feeling of hopelessness, a great sense of loss, exhaustion and many more aspects. Depression is one of the most difficult things to deal with, especially for those women who seek an alternative treatment to menopause. This is because many doctors are quick to prescribe drugs in order to help them manage depression.

Female menopause can feel like a nightmare for women who have to suffer through the symptoms that come along with it. However, many women only experience mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all. The symptoms, severity of the symptoms and how long they last really all depend on the individual woman and her unique chemistry. Luckily there are many alternative treatments which women can take advantage of in order to reduce or alleviate the symptoms of menopause.