Menopause Symptoms, Causes and Various Treatment Methods

Menopause usually occurs in women during their midlife around the early 50s. It is the end of the fertile phase of a woman's life and a transition from a reproductive life to a non reproductive one. This transition happens slowly over a period of time and is a natural process of aging in women. It is not a medical illness, but a natural process which marks the end of the menstruation cycle in a woman.

Menopause occurs over a period of time and is not a sudden occurrence. It takes place in 2 stages called Perimenopause and Postmenopause. In perimenopause, the symptoms start even while the woman menstruates. The imbalances caused in the hormonal levels results in the occurrence of the symptoms. It is unlikely to get pregnant during this time, but is possible. This stage may last for a couple of years or longer. Postmenopause occurs after the woman has reached 12 months since her last period. The ovaries stop releasing the eggs and the woman cannot get pregnant anymore. This is menopause and the years after this stage are known as postmenopause.

Symptoms - There are many symptoms of this stage in women. Some of the symptoms are: irregular periods, hot flashes, mood variations and swings, vaginal dryness, decreased fertility, thinning of hair, loss of breast fullness and increased abdominal fat. These symptoms start appearing over a period of time till you actually hit menopause.

Causes - The causes are as below:

1. Hormonal levels: The main and primary cause of menopause is the natural process of decline of the reproductive hormones. The levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones which are responsible to prepare the body for pregnancy decrease. These levels start declining in the 30s and the periods may become irregular in the 40s.

2. Hysterectomy: An operation that removes the uterus and the ovaries which is known as total hysterectomy causes menopause. In this condition, menopause occurs immediately with the symptoms.

3. Radiation: Radiation therapies can also cause menopause.

4. Ovarian insufficiency: In some women, the ovaries may fail to produce the hormones required for reproduction.

Treatment - Menopause does not need to be treated as it is not an illness or disease but a natural process. But the symptoms associated with menopause can be lessened with some treatments. Some of the treatments are as follows:

1. Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy such as estrogen therapy is one of the effective treatments for reducing the symptoms of menopause.

2. Neurontin: This has proved effective in reducing hot flashes.

3. Anti depressants: Some anti depressants are effective in reducing the symptoms like menopausal hot flashes.

4. Bisphosphonates: These medications may help in this condition.

5. Vaginal estrogen: Many vaginal creams, ointments and pills are available to cure the vaginal dryness caused.

6. Lubricants: Many lubricants are available to help reduce vaginal dryness.

7. Exercise: Exercising regularly may help in this condition.

8. Relaxation: Try to get adequate rest and sleep. Deep breathing and yoga may help you relax and de-stress.

9. Pelvic Exercises: Kegels exercise is a good way to strengthen your pelvic muscles.

10. Diet: It is important to eat a healthy and nutritious diet and avoid spicy and hot food which may trigger hot flashes. Also increase the intake of vitamin E in your diet.

11. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking.

Try these above treatments and simple changes in your lifestyle to ease the symptoms of menopause.

Heart Menopause Related Symptoms

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

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

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

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

When to Call A Doctor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preventing Heart Palpitations

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

* Limit alcohol and caffeinated beverages

* Do not smoke

* Exercise regularly after discussing with your doctor

* Avoid stimulant medications - cold medicines, herb supplements

* Decrease stress

* Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control

* Avoid activities that tend to activate or increase your palpitations

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

Progesterone Levels - Keep Them Balanced to Fight Menopause Symptoms!

You may not be able to sleep and you also may be suffering from unbearable cramps. Are you around the age of 40-55 years old? If you are in between this age range and are suffering from insomnia, cramps, weight gain, hot flashes, and sore breasts; you are suffering from menopause.

Menopause is a time in a women's life where her menstrual periods come to an end. Unlike a woman's first menstruation, which starts on a particular day, the changes leading up to menopause happen over a few years. The average age for menopause is 52. But menopause commonly happens anytime between the ages of 40 and 55 years old. During this time your progesterone levels are all out of whack. There is a huge imbalance between progesterone levels and estrogen levels in your body. Progesterone deficiency eventually takes place since your body is not getting enough essential progesterone.

There is a simple treatment to this in a cream form known as progesterone cream. All natural progesterone cream is easy to use and derived from a plant with no added chemicals. To apply progesterone cream simply put it anywhere on your body such as your cheeks. That is the most common way but you can also apply it to your buttocks for immediate relief. It works by entering your bloodstream through fat deposits and takes immediate effect once reaching your bloodstream. You could be suffering from insomnia and cramps 4 straight nights and after using progesterone cream your symptoms will be eliminated.

Natural progesterone is the precise hormone that is produced by a woman's ovary. It is made from naturally occurring plant steroids found in the wild yam. It is NOT the synthetic version that is commonly purchased as tablets with a prescription such as Provera. Don't be worried about side effects when using natural progesterone cream. It works wonders on your body and every single women out there should take it.

I have been using progesterone cream for over 10 years and I used it at the first sign of menopause symptoms. I am now 56 years old, completely free of suffering from menopause. I also went to the doctor and discovered I have no bone loss! Most women lose up to 25% of their total bone mass, but mine is completely still intact! I also still feel the same, as I was 25 years old again! I have recommended natural progesterone treatments to all my friends and it has worked every single time.

Most women really need to be educated on this wonderful treatment. Without using this treatment my life would have more than likely been ruined due to not being able to function properly with all the effects of menopause. Menopause occurs over years and years and I am not the ones that wanted to suffer from insomnia, bone loss, cramps, and weight gain, etc. for all these years. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in helping fight your menopause symptoms. Progesterone has completely changed my life and it is truly a blessing from God!

Read The Details Of These Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is considered as a dreadful experience by a lot of women because of the huge number of stressful menopause symptoms that they experience during this time. In this article, we're going to look into some of the most common menopause symptoms that you can experience when you enter the menopausal stage.

First on the list of really common menopause symptoms is anxiety. This is described as a vague or intense feeling that's caused by psychological or physical conditions. This is a feeling of being agitated and loss of control over one's emotions that can lead to panic attacks as well as physical symptoms including shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and palpitations. Anxiety can happen once or it can recur over and over again. If you start to experience this symptom, it's best that you seek medical help as soon as possible so that you can prevent this from getting worse and leading to depression.

Next is irritability. This is defined as a serious change in one's mood for a long period of time which is associated with loss of interest in usual activities and withdrawal from friends and family. If your irritability lasts for more than one week and starting to affect your performance at work as well as your relationships, you should see your doctor.

Breast is also a common thing during menopause. Women experience pain, tenderness, or soreness on or both of their breasts. This is especially true if the breasts are touched or if pressure is applied. If your breast pain becomes severe or lasts for more than two months, you should see your doctor. You should also consult your doctor if your breast pain is accompanied by nipple discharges and breast lumps.

Headaches are next in line on our list of different menopause symptoms. This symptom gets worse and worse during the early stages of menopause. This is brought about by decreasing levels of estrogen inside the body. A lot of women experience headaches before their monthly periods or ovulation happens. These headaches are commonly called "menstrual migraines".

There are lot more menopausal symptoms that you should know about. Aside from reading the details of these symptoms and why they happen, you should also take the time to research about the proper treatments used to relieve them. Knowing the proper menopause treatments will help you to prevent your symptoms from getting out of control. These things can become really serious and distressing even to a point that they hinder you from functioning well. They can also affect your relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers. You wouldn't want this to happen. Before you try to use any type of treatment, you should consult your doctor so that you can make sure that the treatment you're going to use is safe for you.

Controlling Fibroids After Menopause

Nearly twenty percent of all women will experience uterine fibroid tumors during their reproductive years, and the number will rise to almost eighty percent among women of fifty or more. Fibroids are simply clumps of muscular or other tissues which develop on the uterine walls, and while the cause of their appearance is still an object of medical debate, fibroids after menopause are believed to be the result of hormonal changes, heredity, and environmental factors.

Menopause itself can be defined as the cessation of a woman's menstrual flow for at least twelve consecutive months, and because fibroid growth is thought to be related to the production of the female hormone estradiol, the appearance of fibroids after menopause may be less obvious. Estradiol is typically present in higher concentrations during the early stages of menopause.

Fibroids Thrive On Hormone Replacements

Especially if a woman decides not to take hormone replacements after menopause, her fibroids after menopause may remain small due to the lack of estradiol. But fibroids after menopause rarely simply disappear, and fibroid cells may lie in wait along the uterine wall, until hormonal levels are increased and they can begin growing again.

Fibroids after menopause can be so small that that the women who have them remain unaware of their existence. Even gynecologists may have difficulty in finding fibroids after menopause during a standard pelvic exam. Fibroids after menopause can even escape detection by ultrasound, in particular when a woman is not receiving estrogen supplements.

Should a woman decide to begin taking hormone replacement therapy which included both estrogen and progestin, she may experience the re-growth of her fibroids after menopause along her uterine walls. The rate of growth of fibroids after menopause, however, has not yet been scientifically determined. But it is the hormone progestin which has the greatest impact on stimulating new growth in fibroids after menopause.

Stay Away From Strong Estrogens

Fibroids after menopause do not seem to respond to the presence of weaker forms of estrogen like estriol, and will not begin to grow in its presence. So for those women in whom the growth of fibroids after menopause could cause medical problems, a conjugated form of estrogen with a high concentration of estrone, or estriol in place of manufactured ethynil estradiol, or even natural estradiol would be the best choices for hormone replacement..

Coping With Anger and Depression During the Menopause

Menopause. The word is a scourge to many women. It is the shifting of one stage of life to another - from being a creator of life to a point where that is no longer possible. There are many changes which take place on the biological level which can lead to alterations in mood.

In addition to common symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, many women develop rapid mood changes, anger, and depression. These mood swings are the result of hormonal changes brought on by menopause. While there is no 'cure' for menopause as it is an entirely natural process, hormone therapy is recommended by some doctors. Even with available treatments to ease this potentially troubling period of time, it is necessary for women to learn to cope with the emotional fluctuations associated with menopause.

When a person is angry or depressed for an extended amount of time, and the menopause can last a number of years, it can lead to negative changes in body chemistry. To gain insight into your anger or depression, it is probably a good idea to get a journal or notebook and keep a running list of things that you believe are causing you to feel this way. By externalising what you are feeling, you can give your emotions a more concrete display and you can examine them.

One way to cope with menopause is to join a support group. Since every woman will one day endure menopause, there are plenty of groups available where women can share their experiences with others like them. Not all women experience significant mood changes, however, many do. It is important to speak to others who may be going through the same trials and tribulations as you are.

In addition, it is a good idea to explore methods of keeping yourself at ease and reducing stress and anxiety. Think about heading to a day spa, getting a massage, floating in a pool, meditation, purchasing a relaxation tape, taking a warm bath, learning breathing exercises, and taking up yoga.

If you have never heard of the Bach remedies, it may be a good idea to check them out. When you take Larch, Wild Rose, Gorse and Gentian together, it may help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression. There are many holistic remedies available that have provided excellent results.

You can also look into aromatherapy and acupuncture, which not only can provide relief from symptoms of menopause - they can also help you feel better all around. Hypnosis is also an interesting avenue to explore. Through hypnosis you may be able to eliminate some of the behaviors that are troubling you. Hydrotherapy, light therapy, and sound therapy are also treatments that may help you feel better and give you the peace of mind to combat the emotional symptoms of menopause.

If you are depressed for an extended period of time it is suggested that you contact a mental health professional such as a psychologist. Just a few sessions of counselling may help you get in touch with your feelings and realize that they are essentially a reaction to hormonal fluctuations. While it may be difficult to control at all times, encountering your issues up close and personally may give you the strength to overcome them.

Anger and depression are common symptoms of menopause. With help, knowledge, and support you can overcome them. There is no reason that you have to remain feeling angry and depressed for an extended period of time. You owe it to yourself to take control of your situation by seeking the help that you need or implementing coping strategies. Waiting around for things to get better won't change a thing and will probably make your life and the lives of those around you more difficult.

Women Over 40 and Menopause

Dear Women Over 40,

This is about Mary, a friend of mine who is 61 years old and suffering terribly with menopause. If you see yourself or someone you know with similar symptoms, seek help from your healthcare provider.

Mary cries an awful lot these days. She doesn't know the reason. Her body often feels like spontaneous combustion going on inside. Mary snaps at others during periods of over-reaction to minor incidents. At times she becomes so enraged she appears frightening to others around her.

These episodes last a short time, but Mary is quite embarrassed when it's over and often apologizes for her behavior and outbursts.

Mary feels as if she's "going crazy" and has no control of herself.

She describes how she's tried every deodorant on the market and none of them last a full day. She struggles with feminine odor, bathes twice a day out of necessity. She often wears cotton tee shirts to absorb her body perspiration.

At work, Mary has a small desk fan she uses to maintain comfort and avoid perspiration. However, she may be the only one with a fan when the temperature is not excessively warm.

Oftentimes, Mary is in a meeting or in conversation with someone face to face and Mary's face is dripping sweat. This is so embarrassing for her.

Mary is mentally, physically and emotionally challenged everyday. Why? Hormones.

There is a joke, I repeat a joke, about menopausal women: "I am out of estrogen and I have a gun". It simply means that at some point, our female hormone levels such as estrogen are extremely low, which cause a multitude of bizarre signs and symptoms. Mary's hair became so thin she was forced to wear wigs, which of course caused more warmth and perspiration.

Mary gained about 40 pounds with no change in her diet. She began to have unexplained episodes of dizziness which her doctor could not diagnose as all tests were negative.

One day Mary summoned the courage to seek counseling with a psychiatrist. He did not address her menopause, only her mental and emotional symptoms. He performed a psychological and IQ test to rule out dementia for example and arrive at a proper diagnosis. Mary was experiencing signs of clinical depression, aggravated by menopause.

She was prescribed two medications and scheduled to return in 2 weeks. Mary was animated, cheerful, clear thinking, improved memory and generally felt so much better after only 2 weeks. She asked the doctor if this was possible and he said yes.

Mary continues to have hot flashes and other menopause symptoms but she is not bothered by them, and she does not over-react to negative situations. The outrage, angry feelings and emotional roller-coaster has been greatly diminished. Thank God, she says.

Ladies, please visit my website for more on women over 40 issues.

Vitamins For Menopause - Naturally!

Are vitamin for menopause treatments effective? Menopause is the transitional period in a women's life where fertility functions begin to shut down and with it come a host of symptoms which in many cases, catch people off guard. So how important are vitamins in the treatment of menopausal symptoms?

The most common treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). One of the biggest anomalies with this is that women will normally be offered HRT if they are exhibiting symptoms however, in many cases, these symptoms may not be menopause related at all but attributed to other health conditions. In other words, they are aging related.

Vitamins For A Healthy Body

Being prepared for the onset of menopause doesn't mean you need to stand behind a barricade and keep a lookout for it. Keeping your body healthy and ready to manage this natural occurring process is important. Good vitamin intake in association with a balanced diet means you are giving yourself every chance to adjust to menopause when it "arrives." So a vitamin for menopause treatment should be a strongly considered option.

One of the biggest benefits of vitamin supplements is their role in maintaing a healthy bone structure. Recent studies conclude that bone formation can be impaired without adequate levels of vitamin K. Estrogen levels drop during early menopause and findings suggest that vitamin K function is diminished even before bone loss occurs. So in actual fact, the suggestion is that the accepted level of this vitamin is not adequate enough during the initial phase of menopause. Vitamin K has been the subject of a host of studies in relation to menopause and may not yet be completely understood.

Benefits Of Vitamins For Menopause

What is understood though is the function of vitamins such as B, C and E. Vitamin B has long been known as an active combatant against symptoms of stress and reduced energy levels. A good B complex can aid in the recovery from energy depletion and other related symptoms.

Vitamin E has "scored many bouquets" for having an effect on the incidence of hot flushes. It has also been found useful in aiding vaginal dryness, a common complaint of menopause. Vitamin E has a further multiplication benefit when taken in conjunction with some mineral nutrients.

The benefits of vitamin C have long been known, particularly in the area of treatment for illnesses such as colds and flus however, it has also been effective in reducing incidence of hot flushes in menopausal women as well as having the ability to promote elasticity in the skin. This has a added benefits in both preventing and also treating vaginal dryness.

Maintaining a healthy disposition long before menopause is even a factor can only be helpful in transitioning this natural stage of life. A vitamin for menopause treatment should be a strong option and one you should discuss with your health physician. There are many vitamin products on the market today and they are not all created equal. You may have to probe deeper than just settling for those you see on the supermarket shelves and perhaps consider products not available in the mainstream shopping arena.

The Best Over the Counter Menopause Supplements

Dealing with menopause can be very frustrating. It is not an easy situation for most women to reach the menopausal age. From the start of puberty of a female, her ovarian function is already working. For years and decades, it will continue its cycle and will reach its end during menopause. It is the time when menstruation will stop. This is very normal and happens to every woman during their old age. It starts around their 50 years of age.

Some women deal with menopause naturally without any related signs of symptoms. But in most cases, they feel a drastic change both in their body and personality. In most cases, they will feel irritated, start having depression, anxiety, hot flushes, cold sweats and many other symptoms. Of course, no one wants to suffer from any of those symptoms. The good news is that there are supplements that we can take that will help ease the signs of menopause.

Here are the best over the counter menopause supplements:

Natrol Menopause Formula - this is one of the best over the counter menopause supplements. This formula has a high amount of calcium, and is hormone free. It also has effective natural ingredients like soy and black cohosh which is known to reduce menopause symptoms. You can easily purchase this from drug stores or even online. Three times a day of Natrol is all you need to ease out menopausal symptoms.

Promensil - this supplement is known to be a very efficient for women to help maintain their healthy disposition. Menopausal symptoms are actually just psychological and emotional problems due to the drastic change in their hormonal state. The Promensil eases these conditions so that women can still enjoy their life even though they are aging.

Black Cohosh - experts say that the root of the black cohosh helps in the reduction of hot flashes that is related with menopause. It plays a very positive role in treating the hormonal imbalance.

Flaxseed - supplements that contain flaxseed is said to help ease the mild menopausal symptoms like night sweats.

Calcium - bone problems are very common when women reach their paused ovarian cycle. That is why a high amount of calcium supplement is needed in order to maintain the strength of the bones. 50 to 1000 ml of calcium a day will do the in preventing bone problems.

Vitamin D - we actually get this from the sun although there are still foods and supplements that contains high amount of vitamin D. We need this vitamin in order to help maintain the strength of the bones just like the calcium.

Those are the best over the counter menopause supplements, and we can get them at any drug stores. Just make sure that their ingredients contain what is mentioned above because they are very good for treating menopause symptoms.

Finding Relief Through a Natural Perimenopause Treatment

Most women who are in the age of 30 to 40 are not usually aware of perimenopause, or the stage that ultimately leads to menopause. For some, the difference is only negligible. But for others, the whole experience could be as daunting or even worse than actual menopause. The symptoms could include: hot flashes, decreased libido, irregular periods, urine leakage, mood swings, difficulty in sleeping and vaginal dryness. If you are experiencing any or all of the symptoms described above, you should consider seeing your physician. The best way to get started with your perimenopause treatment is to have it accurately diagnosed first.

Medically speaking, perimenopause could start from ages 30 to 40. Different women may have different symptoms and the condition could last from a few months up to 10 years. Perimenopause treatment is more often neglected because of the main focus on menopause itself. But if conditions described above are giving you severe discomfort, there is a natural perimenopause treatment that you may like. Naturally derived supplements can provide relief to symptoms that could affect our own well being and disposition.

Medical research on such supplements have been done since the late 1940s. Though they are primarily aimed at menopausal women, symptoms of perimenopause could be treated with these as well. Ingredients which contain natural herbal extracts from mother nature could ease your transition and alleviate conditions such as hot flashes, mood swings and decreased libido. One notable ingredient for such perimenopause treatment supplement is the Soy Seed (Glycine Max). It contains phytoestrogens or naturally occurring plant estrogens which could decrease estrogen levels for perimenopausal women and subsequently increase the same for postmenopausal women.

Vitamin E or d-alpha-tocopherol acetate, is a lifesaver for those of us who are experiencing hot flashes and post menopausal women who are experiencing vaginal dryness.

Information on Menopause in Thai

The amount of information that is available on menopause on the internet is phenomenal.
Many web sites will offer you the choice of language in which you want to view the site.
This includes Thai. Some sites will actually have their materials available in two languages such as Thai or English. Menopause for Thai women occurs in much the same way as for women all over the world. The information provided below is in English but can also be found in Thai.

Symptoms of Menopause

*Information about menopausal symptoms in women is virtually the same as any other sites or countries.*

Menopause is the end of a woman's period and fertility. Estrogen production as well as progesterone production is low during menopause. The symptoms that may occur include hot flashes and night sweats, headaches, sleeplessness, erratic moods, and vaginal dryness. Your sex drive may drop and intercourse may become uncomfortable.

Sexual problems for men over 50 are not as uncommon as one might think. Problems with erections may occur. A man should be evaluated to be sure that something more is not causing the problem. Most men can be helped.

It is highly recommended that you go to a women's health center, physician or a nurse practitioner for advice and support. A variety of treatments will be presented for your consideration. You and your medical professional can decide together which of these treatments might best meet your individual needs.

Treatments

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a popular treatment. It is very effective but its use may have some serious risks to the patient. There is an increased occurrence of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, especially for those women who take it more than 5 years. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

An herbal product used in Thailand is derived from the White Kwao Krua plant. This plant is very high in phytoestrogens-naturally occurring plant estrogens. It is used to help relieve menopausal symptoms. It helps to balance hormone levels in both men and women. There are other herbs specific to Thailand that may also benefit menopausal symptoms

Herbs used in the United States may include Black Cohosh, Red Clover, and Dong Quai to name just a few. Herbal supplements of the highest quality are made with standardized herbal extracts. They are tested extensively including the interaction of the ingredients and the metabolic path of the ingredients at the molecular level.

They are manufactured to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This is to guarantee the consumer that they are getting the same quality not only from capsule to capsule but from bottle to bottle. The safety, purity, and effectiveness are guaranteed as well. Do not add anything to your regimen without talking to your doctor. Some herbs may affect the performance of prescription drugs you may be taking for other conditions.

Conclusion

It must be noted that although the information contained in this article is English. It did come however from a translated version of an article written in Thai. To obtain information in Thai (or any language) go to your search engine and type in Thai Menopause; you will get a long list of sites.

Perimenopause and Pregnancy

Doctors find that when the issue of perimenopause enters a woman's life, many women worry about pregnancy. They worry about if they can still become pregnant, either because they would still like to have children or because they would like to make sure they don't get pregnant by accident.

Perimenopause and pregnancy are an interesting pair. On the one hand, women have a decreased chance of becoming pregnant because their periods tend to be irregular (due to the hormonal imbalances), and on the other hand, they're at a higher risk for having an unexpected pregnancy because they don't know when their hormones will suddenly trigger the body to begin ovulating again.

The first situation posed by perimenopause and pregnancy, that of having a decreased chance of becoming pregnant may upset some women. It is especially upsetting in this age when perimenopause can begin at 35. Sometimes women have not had the chance to have a child yet, and then their body kicks into perimenopause.

If you are in this situation, do not lose hope. A lot of women have gotten pregnant during their perimenopause years., which means you can too! If irregular periods is one of your symptoms, there are natural treatments you can try in order to regulate your period and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Usually this treatment involves a change in diet, and healthy exercise. Sometimes doctors prescribe eating or drinking soy products, soy being a plant product that mimics estrogen.

Through natural treatments, many women have been able to reduce their perimenopause symptoms, as well as have a normal pregnancy. Some even claim that their symptoms completely disappeared and the perimenopause problem was reversed. If you would still like to have a child, make it clear to your doctors that this is part of the goal when addressing your perimenopause, and they should be able to help you find a natural treatment that your body will respond to.

Next, the opposite situation posed by perimenopause and pregnancy is that of not wanting to become pregnant, but being afraid of the fact that your period (and ovulation) is unpredictable. The best way to address this problem is to try and regulate the periods. Again, natural treatments can work and give you a better chance of keeping track of your period, which will help you prevent an unexpected pregnancy.

If natural methods do not work, you can also try using low dose birth control pills. These pills, though originally designed as contraceptives, are actually a form of perimenopause treatment because it tries to regulate your hormones in order to give you a regular monthly cycle, as well as alleviate some of your other symptoms. It is definitely an option you should look into if natural methods do not work well enough for you.

The issue of perimenopause and pregnancy is quite important for many women. It is something women need to know and understand so that they can be aware of what options they have, no matter what it is exactly they want to do.

Maca For Hot Flashes - Does It Really Work?

Hot flashes are no doubt one of the most irritating and uncomfortable consequences of passing through menopause. While medical science does not yet understand the exact causes of hot flashes, significant links between imbalanced hormone levels, especially estrogen, can contribute to the condition. This link is also seen in natural health practices which report that efforts to balance hormones in menopausal women are often met with a reduction in symptoms such as hot flashes.

One of the most promising natural remedies - as well as one of the most prescribed - is the use of raw maca powder to alleviate the discomfort of hot flashes. Maca is an herb that grows only in the high Andes mountains, at elevations of above 14,000 feet. It has been used traditionally by people indigenous to the area to boost their energy and vitality while living in such an oxygen starved environment. It was also used consistently by Spanish troops as they conquered Latin America.

Over the past 25 years Maca has been rediscovered by modern natural medicine. Maca is truly a unique herb. It belongs to a small group of plants that can be called "adaptogenic." An adaptogenic herb is able to "adapt" to the conditions of a given body and support the body to balance its system on its own.

Although Maca is a powerful aid in fertility treatments as well as in natural muscle building, its most promising use is as a natural hormone balancer. The herb stimulates the body to produce whatever type of hormone is necessary for it to achieve ideal balance. For example if a man is experiencing a low sex drive due to low levels of testosterone, Maca can stimulate the body to bring the levels of the hormone up and thereby reestablish his sex drive.

Similarly, if a woman who is entering menopause is experiencing hot flashes due to low levels of estrogen, Maca encourages the body to produce higher levels of the hormone, which in turn creates a more balanced system and can lead to a reduction of all the symptoms of menopause.

One of the great advantages of taking maca for hot flashes is that there are absolutely no know side effects. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which come with a large list of warnings, Maca is a simple whole food that the body can easily process.

The best way to take Maca for hormonal balance is to use a powder mixed either in water or juice. The fine grains of the powder create a large surface area with which can more easily be absorbed by the intestines. This absorption allows for the nutrients in the herb to make it into the blood stream and to the endocrine system. High quality maca has a pleasant taste sort of like malt flavor.

When choosing Maca for therapeutic use, it is important that you purchase a maca powder that is organic, raw and fresh. This will give you the greatest chance of success. The dosage should be about 1 teaspoon per day in the beginning, working up to 1-2 tablespoons until you begin to feel the symptoms disappear.

One final note is that Maca isn't only for hormone relief. Many people who start taking it for that reason end up continuing to use it because of how much energy it gives them.

What Women Need to Know About Constipation & Menopause

During menopause, problems with constipation is not a new thing anymore. This may occur due to a series of hormonal imbalances. Stress, an unhealthy lifestyle, worrying over pesky symptoms of menopause further adds to the complicated condition that is constipation.

Clearly constipation may manifest on the first stages, mid-stage or at the final stages of menopause. Whichever stage problems of constipation decides to reveal itself, it is during menopause you will have these unpleasant signs and symptoms such as infrequent bowel movements; smaller, harder and drier stools that are hard to pass out; feeling bloated and sluggish; feeling of incomplete removal of stools even when done doing the deed; excessive and severe straining during normal bowel movements; and specks of blood on the stools.

Constipation Causes During Menopause

Clearly causes of constipation greatly varies during menopausal stage. It may be because of one reason, two reasons or a combination of both reasons. Some of the most common causes are related with constipation during menopause such as the aging factor, slow activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the intense needs of the aging liver.

Additionally, a lot of medications that are used by women for relieving unpleasant menopause symptoms have side effects and can cause constipation. Usually the suspects are medications used for lowering blood pressure, heart medication, iron and calcium supplements, antidepressants, tranquilizers and even pain killers. Add to that a woman's unhealthy eating habits with ample amount of processed and fast foods, inactive lifestyle and low water intake. Another thing is that most women if not all, are blatant for pigging out on comfort food and junk food when stressed, and you can only imagine how stressful it is for a woman going through menopausal stage.

Furthermore, going through menopause and overcoming problems with constipation at the same time is a serious balancing act. In addition to getting rid of constipation, women are battling the unfavorable effects of menopause with hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings at the top of the list. And if not coped with, may lead to depression and insomnia or sleep disorder.

To balance constipation and menopause, here are a few constipation remedy that menopause women should avoid and these are remedies that contain senna, cascara sagrada and aloe since these substances have negative effects on menopause treatments.

The best thing that you need to do to avoid problems with constipation during menopausal is to eat high fiber food such as vegetables and fruits, increase water intake and exercise. You could also consumed these natural foods such as prunes, figs, psyllium seeds, dandelion and rhubarbs.

Endometriosis and Menopause - What to do if Symptoms Persist

Not many women can say they are looking forward to the day that menopause starts and start dealing with symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. However, for Endometriosis sufferers the thought of menopause can bring a welcome smile. So, why do these women have such a positive view of endometriosis and menopause?

Did you know that when women reach menopause, they tend to cease experiencing the painful and often debilitating symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis symptoms can start to be felt any time after the onset of puberty. In other words, menstruating women are more at risk of developing endometriosis.

So, women are less likely to feel the painful effects of endometriosis if they are in their menopausal years.

This relief has made many women accept and even welcome the onset of menopause to relieve themselves of the Endometriosis related pains.

However, unfortunately, it's not that straight forward as it has been found that menopause does not guarantee the removal of all the endometriosis symptoms. But more on this in a moment.

To understand why menopause helps women overcome endometriosis symptoms, it helps to understand more about the nature of endometriosis.

The exact cause of the condition is not yet determined, but the reasons why the symptoms are felt once endometriosis has developed seem quite clear.

The uterus contains endometrial tissues that are directly affected by estrogen levels in the blood.

Every month estrogen levels increase and the endometrial glands in the uterus start producing lots of tissue to thicken the wall lining in readiness for pregnancy. When pregnancy doesn't occur the estrogen levels drop and the period starts.

Problems start when endometrial glands are found in other parts of the body like the kidneys, ovaries, bladder, abdominal wall, intestines and even the areas in-between these organs.

These deposits react in the same way as the glands that line the, swelling then shedding and bleeding. However, there is usually nowhere for the blood and debris to go, and this is what can cause the endometriosis symptoms, including the excruciating pain.

Menopause

During menopause, the ovaries are not active anymore. Estrogen levels dip and so women who regularly suffer from endometriosis who reach the menopause tend not to experience endometriosis symptoms anymore.

The same goes for younger women who elect to have their ovaries surgically removed in a bid to alleviate the pain endometriosis brings about. By taking this route, menopause is accelerated.

Recurrence

Unfortunately, menopause either natural or forced does not necessarily mean the end of endometriosis symptoms. If you take hormone replacements or if your body continues to produce hormones after menopause your symptoms can still remain.

But what should you do if endometriosis recurs during and after menopause?

Normally, your doctor would ask you to take pain relievers for pain relief. There are also a number of natural methods and simple lifestyle changes you can make that help reduce the endometriosis symptoms..

You can read more about the natural treatments for Endometriosis by signing up for our free newsletter below.

Endometriosis and menopause can have significant impacts on your life, so make sure you understand how the two are linked to choose the best solution.

Midlife and Menopause - What You Need to Know About Hormonal Migraines

Midlife, Perimenopause, and Menopause

The transition from midlife to menopause is especially difficult for the migraine sufferer. No one knows for sure why migraines start to increase in frequency and severity as one approaches midlife. Perhaps it is simply due to increased stress and responsibility. Be sure to take time for yourself and take your own medical concerns seriously (meaning treat your condition according to whatever method you feel is right for you be that a western medicine approach, alternative therapies, or wellness - or any blend of the three.)

Perimenopause

Many women start to experience the transition towards menopause in their 40's. During this time periods become very unpredictable due to the fact that your hormone levels are dropping but are still prone to unpredictable surges. This can result in periods that last longer than usual (sometimes weeks or months) or periods that are simply skipped. Likewise, the erratic hormone fluctuation can also increase migraine frequency and severity.

Treating Hormone-Related Migraines

The safest approach is to use prescription medication to prevent migraines.(See Chapter 5 for a complete explanation of migraine medications.) Some studies have shown that calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and anticonvulsants are not as effective at treating migraines brought on by fluctuating hormones. However the advantage of these particular drugs could be their relatively low side effects.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Migraines

If you decide to pursue hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of perimenopause (including migraines) know that this method can carry certain health risks (such as a potential increased risk of breast and uterine cancer) that should be discussed by your doctor. It is also useful to know that this therapy could aggravate migraines - progesterone is sometimes a migraine aggravator (but is needed in HRT to keep a healthy hormone balance and prevent the development of caner due to treatment.) In many cases there can be a delayed reaction of a few months before there is a noticeable increase in migraine frequency or severity. For this reason, it is not always immediately obvious that the medication is a problem.

If your course of hormone replacement therapy makes your migraines worse, be sure to notify your doctor as he or she may be able to give you a different estrogen preparation (different blends, or a transdermal estrogen patch) that you could react more favorably to. Also, some women report more success using hormone replacement therapies that they take daily (meaning, you may do better taking the pill daily and skipping the seven day break) - much like oral contraceptives, avoiding hormonal fluctuations appears to be key.

If you are using hormone replacement therapy to deal with other menopause-related issues such as osteoporosis know that there are nonhormonal treatments available such as Fosamax.

Menopause Symptoms - And How To Beat Them

The menopause marks the end of a woman's fertility, and the end of her menstruation. This is a significant point in her life as her periods come to an end; the absence of something that she's lived with for the majority of her adult life can cause some fairly major physical and emotional effects. However, the fact that a woman's periods don't stop overnight gives her time to adjust as her menstrual cycle becomes less regular and finally stops altogether.

Most women go through the menopause at the age of about 52. After a year without a period, a woman is said to be postmenopausal. Some women, however, experience the menopause much earlier: if a woman goes through the menopause before she reaches 45 years of age she is said to have experienced a premature menopause. About one woman in a hundred goes through the menopause before the age of 40, and a very tiny number experience it before the age of 30.

Although we tend to think of the menopause as a defining event, it isn't really that clear. The period before the menopause is known as the perimenopause, and it's a period of time during which the initial stages of hormonal changes can produce irregular periods and the initial symptoms of menopause such as emotional mood swings. When a woman's hormones really begin to decrease, she's likely to experience more intense mood swings, possibly hot flushes and night sweats, and some change to the lubrication in her vagina. Some of the mood swings are hormonally induced, but others are certainly the result of coming to terms with the transition from fertility to infertility.

The majority of women will experience various symptoms of the menopause in the perimenopause, and about half of these women will find them difficult to deal: the most usual symptom of the perimenopause is an irregularity of the menstrual cycle and a change in the amount of menstrual discharge.

Of course there is no clear division between the perimenopause and the menopause itself, even though we traditionally think of the perimenopause as a period leading up to the menopause: in fact, the symptoms are very much the same, including night sweats, hot flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, and mood swings. It's a question of degree, in that the symptoms may be more intense and pronounced during the menopause itself.

Sleep disturbance is another common side-effect of the menopause, and it's here that a holistic approach using both conventional medicine and alternative medicine can help a woman come to terms with both the physical and emotional symptoms that she is experiencing.

It's also very important that a woman deals effectively with changes to lubrication in her vagina, since this may impact directly on her relationship. Without treatment, the lack of lubrication can cause pain and difficulty during intercourse, as well as leading to atrophy of the vaginal lining. Happily, localised treatment with oestrogen pellets nearly always reverses these changes and makes intercourse pleasurable and enjoyable once again.

It's also possible that a woman may become more susceptible to urinary tract infections such as cystitis during the perimenopause and menopause, which once again emphasises the importance of a holistic approach to health care during this period of life.

It turns out that only about 10% of women actually seek medical help as they go through the menopause -- in part, that's because many don't need any treatment, but it is also clear that there are many women who could be helped with symptoms that are actually bad enough to interfere with their daily life. Treatment options include hormone replacement therapy, vaginal lubricants, antidepressants, and drugs called tibolone and clonidine.

By the way, any woman who does not wish to get pregnant should continue to use contraception for at least a year after her final period.

Hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for the most common symptoms of menopause, including night sweats and hot flushes, vaginal problems and cystitis. Hormone replacement therapy replaces oestrogen and possibly progesterone, and can be taken as either a cream or gel, an implant, a skin patch, or a tablet. While there have been some false alarms about the safety of hormone replacement therapy, close analysis of these reports shows that many of them are based on false information. Indeed, hormone replacement therapy is perfectly safe for women when administered, as it now is, in much lower doses than previously. Furthermore, if it's only about replacing lubrication, and preventing atrophy of the tissues in the vagina, then there are plenty of localised treatments that are possible.

Artificial hormones called tibolone and clonidine can also be prescribed for women in certain circumstances.

Thinking ahead, it's important for women to realise that hormone replacement therapy isn't just about convenience now -- it's also about preventing osteoporosis and maintaining quality of life in later years. With effective therapy, including localised HRT and the vagina, there's essentially no reason why women's lifestyle should change just because the menopause. One of the most respected experts on the menopause is Dr. Christiane Northrup menopause writer and expert who has written extensively about empowering women through adopting a holistic approach to the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges of the menopause produces. For any woman who wants to sail through the menopause with an experience of positivity and joy, Dr. Northrop's writings are essential reading.

Antidepressants can be useful during the menopause to prevent mood swings and irritability, although many people believe that a holistic approach using treatments such as acupuncture, reflexology, and careful nutrition can be just as effective. You can read more about Dr Northrup's menopause strategy at Roberta Phillips' website.

Treating Symptoms of Menopause

Menopausal symptoms are being treated in various ways, these symptoms are hot flashes, urinary tract infections, sleep disorders, vaginal dryness etc. There are herbal treatments, over-the counter medicines, hormone replacement therapies, alternative therapies, prescription agents, diet controls and exercises. These treatments are described below:

· Herbal Treatments: Many women these days are approaching herbal agents to treat menopausal symptoms. Some may have proven effects; however, these agents can have adverse effects too. Black Cohosh is an agent most extensively used for menopausal symptoms; it can increase ovarian cancer risk. Flexseed, Duang Quai, Ginseng, Kava and DHEA (Dehydroepiandostrone) are other agents for treating menopausal symptoms.

· Over-the-counter Medicines: These drugs are usually called NSAID (Nonsteroidal anit-inflammatory drugs) which include common painkillers aspirins. They are used for short term relief of menopausal symptoms. Long term use can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. They also include lubricants for vaginal dryness such as KY Jelly.

· Hormone Replacement Therapies: HRT has been a standard treatment for preventing many of the health problems associated with menopause. Studies have shown an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer. This outweighs HRT's protection against osteoporosis and colon cancer. HRT agents include oral estrogens, oral progestins, oral combination of estrogens and progestins, skin patch administration, vaginal creams and other forms of vaginal administrations. HRT helps protect bone density, urinary tract infections, wrinkles and skin aging, beneficial against mental disorders etc.

· Alternative therapies: These include acupuncture, meditation and relaxation techniques which have been proven good for symptoms such as mood swings, stress, sleep disorders and heart effects.

· Prescription Drugs: These include oral contraceptives which can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Anti-depressants may be used for mood management. Testosterone can be used to increase bone mass and improve sex drive. Bellergal is non-hormonal drug which is specifically used for alleviating hot flashes. Gabapentin is another drug used to alleviate hot flashes.

· Diet Controls: Healthy diet is also a way to treat the symptoms of menopause. Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that are important for heart and overall heath. Soy and animal meat have proteins that protect women from cancers and Alzheimer. Slight excess of fat help protects bone. Green tea, black tea and coffee also have positive effects on heart related problems.

Exercises: For protection against major age related health problems, weight gains and bone problems women should adopt such exercise programs as suited to their age and health conditions. Hiking, dancing and brisk walking are some beneficial exercises.

Dealing With Bleeding After Menopause

Bleeding after menopause may happen to some women. It may be because of the vagina getting dry and lost its elasticity as the estrogen level is decreasing. But it is not the normal symptom to get bleeding after menopause. So you must consult your doctor immediately. Sometimes the bleeding may happen because of taking birth control medicines, hormone imbalance etc. It may happen because of some non cancerous growth in the uterine.

Bleeding after menopause does not always mean cancer growth. But there is possibility of cancer in the womb. If there is any abnormal bleeding after menopause, then you have to check it whether it is happening because of cancer growth. Even if you have odor or pain in the vagina, then you have to consult your doctor.

Normally post menopause bleeding will occur due to some other gynecological problems. So you need not fear that there is always a chance of cancer. Mostly the post menopause bleeding is because of a hormone imbalance. Women who undertake hormone replacement therapy may experience this problem frequently. Lack of estrogen causes dryness in the lining of the uterine and the blood vessels in uterine breaks down and causes bleeding.

Polyps and fibroids may also cause post menopause bleeding. While polyps cause light bleeding, fibroids cause heavy bleeding that requires treatment immediately. Sometimes any over growth in the uterine lining may also cause bleeding. And 20% of such growth may be because of cancer.

If the patient is suffering from excessive bleeding after menopause, then the examination of the pelvis region including vagina and cervix is a must. A Doctor will examine her by passing a small tube device through the cervix. The doctor may also ash her to take a complete scan of uterine. Treatment will be given after examining her past medical report. If she had taken any hormone replacement therapy or if she had any fibroids then the doctor will give her treatment accordingly. If the bleeding is caused because of any cancer growth in the uterine, advanced treatment will be given including surgery.

Menopause bleeding may occur due to hysterectomy. Nearly 6, 00,000 hysterectomies are performed in US every year. If you do not have your menstrual cycle for more than one year, then only you will be considered that you are undergoing menopause. Sometimes you may have irregular periods. So you need not confuse that menstrual cycle not happening within 28 cycles as menopause.

Ovary cancer may lead bleeding after menopause. This requires surgical treatment including removal of the ovary. Even mental stress, strain, weight loss or weight gain suddenly may cause post menopause bleeding. Consuming more pills or sexual intercourse may also cause bleeding. If you have post menopause bleeding or more than two weeks and if the bleeding is heavy that you require changing your pad every 1 hour, then you must consult your doctor immediately.

The Symptoms and Treatments for Cervical Erosion

The most common vaginal disease is cervical erosion so if you are a female, you should definitely be aware about the various diseases relating to the female product systems and organs. The condition mentioned above pertains to the absence of the lining around the cervix. The cervix is the lining around the inside of the vaginal opening that protects the body against germs and bacteria. Without the absence of this lining, the body is prone to all sorts of uterine and vaginal infections. Furthermore the absence of lining causes the cervix to become red and swollen which makes it appear to be eroded.

The absence of this lining causes the levels of estrogen to rise rapidly as this lining is responsible to regulate the hormonal levels in the body. Hence, this can lead hormonal imbalance in the body that can cause irregular menstruation that can become the root to several other problems such as infertility. A major reason for the cause of this particular medical condition includes use of drugs, creams, medicines and patches to lower the level of estrogen. Hormonal replacement therapies are a major cause of erosion. Each woman has her own levels of estrogen and any unnatural means that are chosen to alter these estrogen levels causes problem for the female herself.

This disease is mostly seen amongst women before their menopause, as estrogen levels are high during the time period when a female is menstruating. When a woman reaches menopause, estrogen levels begin to fall and hence such a condition doesn't occur with them.

The common symptoms of cervical erosion include the following and if you are a female you should watch out for these symptoms and go for an immediate diagnostic check if they prevail.

• Painful sexual intercourse - if intercourse has become painful, it is better to always get yourself checked.


• Abnormal vaginal discharge - if you witness a change in the secretions from your vagina, especially when it comes to bleeding, it may be a symptom


• Change in the color of the vaginal discharge - the color of the discharge might change from being white or transparent to a light yellowish discharge


• The female might experience abdominal or back pain


• Pelvic infection may occur in those women where the situation is severe


• Ulceration may also occur in certain women

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should get in touch with a specialist immediately who will conduct any of the following three diagnostic tests to determine your condition. These tests might include:

• Smear tests


• Biopsy of the cervical

For treatment, according to the severity antibiotics, creams and drugs are prescribed to the patient.

• Cervical Erosion Medication and drugs


• Vaginal and anti fungal creams

Atrophy Treatment

Atrophy is a condition defined as wasting of muscle, which is a decrease in muscle mass. Atrophy is of many types, but the most common types of atrophy are vaginal atrophy and multiple system atrophy.

Vaginal atrophy

Vaginal atrophy is defined as the inflammation and thinning of the vaginal walls due to a reduced level of estrogen. Vaginal atrophy mostly occurs after menopause, but it can also occur during breast-feeding or at any other time when there is reduction in the estrogen level of the body. Vaginal atrophy makes sexual act painful for many women. In addition, healthy genital function is closely associated with healthy urinary system function. Treatments for vaginal atrophy are accessible. Decreased estrogen levels do result in changes to the body, but it does not mean that the victim has to live with the discomfort correlate with vaginal atrophy.

Following are the usual vaginal and urinary signs and symptoms;

• Vaginal dryness


• Vaginal burning


• Burning with urination


• Urgency with urination


• More urinary tract infections


• Mild bleeding after intercourse


• Unpleasantness with intercourse


• Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal

Multiple System Atrophy

Multiple system atrophy is infrequent. It is a continuous nervous system disorder that disturbs many areas of the brain and nervous system. Multiple system atrophy substantially damages the body's systems that regulate the blood pressure, bladder function, heart rate. People who are suffering from this condition also have symptoms like Parkinson's disease involving tremor, balance problems and rigidity. Multiple system atrophy also frequently affects the brain's coordination and balance center, which is the cerebellum and may be misunderstand for other cerebellar conditions like those occurring on the basis of genetics. Dissimilar to many other neurodegenerative disorders, multiple system atrophy usually does not disturb thinking and memory.

Treatment options

Moderate symptoms of vaginal atrophy may be relieved by the use of an over-the-counter moisturizer. If symptoms are irritating, however, oral estrogen or either topical vaginal is a capable in relieving from vaginal dryness and itchiness, and enhancing vaginal elasticity. Vaginal estrogen has the benefit of being effective at lower doses and restricting the overall exposure to estrogen. Estrogen rubbed to the vagina can result in estrogen entering in the blood, but the quantity is least. The victim should observe obvious improvements after couple of weeks of estrogen therapy. Some severe symptoms may be required a long time to resolve. If the victim has history of breast cancer then oral estrogen therapy usually is not prescribed as it might promote cancer cell growth, particularly if the breast cancer was hormonally sensitive. Whether low-dose vaginal estrogen is secure for breast cancer survivors, it is not known whether even a small enhancement in the level of estrogen circulating in the blood may enhance the risk of the cancer coming back. The victim should be chosen non hormonal treatments like moisturizers and lubricants.

Topical estrogen

Vaginal estrogen therapy consists of several forms because they all seem to act similarly well, so the victim and the doctor can decide which one is appropriately.

Vaginal estrogen cream

Victim applies this cream directly into the vagina with the help of an applicator, usually use at bedtime. Doctor will guide that how much cream to use and how often to apply, commonly one time in a day for the first few weeks and then two or three times a week thereafter. Even though creams may offer more prompt relief than do other forms of vaginal estrogen.

Vaginal estrogen ring

It is also known as estring. It is a soft, movable ring, which is interjected into the upper part of the vagina by the victim or the doctor. The ring secretes a consistent dose of estrogen the ring needs to be replaced after three months.

Vaginal estrogen tablet

It is also known as Vagifem. Victim can use a disposable applicator to place a tablet of vaginal estrogen in the vagina. Doctor will guide how often to use the tablet usually doctor prescribed to use it daily for the first two weeks and then twice a week.

Oral estrogen therapy

If vaginal dryness is correlated with some other symptoms of menopause like mild or severe hot flashes, doctor may prescribe estrogen pills, or estrogen gel, or an estrogen ring of higher dose along with a progestin. Progestin is generally given as a pill, but conjunction estrogen-progestin patches also are accessible. Victim should talk to doctor to decide if hormone treatment is an option and which treatment is appropriate for the condition.

Signs Of Menopause Starting And What You Can Do

Oprah Winfrey may have had a great show discussing signs of menopause starting on 'how great menopause will be'. But the truth is that menopause means your mid-life has started. Your hair growth on legs slows down, memory starts faltering, skin sags and wisdom sets it - wisdom about realizing the fact that we are sitting on the biggest curves our life throws at us. But remember that mid-life also brings appreciation, and our bodies expand to hold all wisdom and love we have acquired till now. Here are a few pointers about menopause...

What is menopause?

When there is absence of menstrual cycle for a period of 12 months, it signifies the end of menstruation cycle and fertility in a woman. This means that the ovaries have stopped producing eggs and production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone has reduced. While some women feel fine throughout this transition, some women experience hot flushes and mood swings. Menopause occurs after the age of 40, and is marked by stressful symptoms. At this point of time it is important to understand that this is not an illness.

When woman's ovaries produce eggs, it also activates production of estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones are responsible for regulation of menstruation and ovulation. However, when ovarian activity decreases, reduced production of hormones leads to the onset of menopause.

What are the signs of menopause beginning?

Menopause entails many symptoms and some common ones include:

• Irregular menstrual bleeding: In perimenopause hormonal level changes interfere with ovulation. If ovulation doesn't take place, the ovary continues to make estrogen that causes the endometrium layer inside uterus to thicken. This event leads to late menstrual period and is followed by irregular bleeding.


• Hot flushes that are accompanied with night sweat: These are the most common signs of menopause starting. These episodes can happen several times an hour, each lasting for about three to six minutes. It is fully understood why these hot flushes occur, but they happen mostly because of erratic automatic control of our nervous system. This disturbance triggers the skin blood vessels to open, which signal the sweat glands to become active.


• There is vaginal dryness and women experience itching in that area. Some women even get rashes. This is due to lack of oestrogen, which means that glands in your vagina don't produce enough lubrication, causing stinging especially during sex.


• Mood swings: Depression, tiredness, forgetfulness and irritability can be very distressing to you and your family.


• Irregularity in sleep pattern: Sleep disturbances can occur due to restlessness or night time sweat. Women who tend to sweat more often have to change their sheets several times during night.


• Sexual desire lessens: Women often don't feel like having sex, while others may feel that their orgasms are less intense.


• Thinning of hair: Hair thinning can occur both on your head as well as pubic area.


• Breasts lose fullness: Loss of breast fullness is one of the most disturbing signs of menopause. Last year's bra may become loose, and without support your breasts may sag. At the same time you notice more fat in your abdominal region.

Menopause doesn't require any medical therapy. The existing treatments only help alleviating its signs and symptoms. But knowing the signs of menopause starting can help you cope with it.

Natural Menopause Treatments - How To Cure Hot Flashes And Other Symptoms Of Menopause

"They are not hot flashes. They are either "personal summers" or "my inner child playing with matches" or "power surges"." Unknown

MENOPAUSE, Are you Irritable, Have Hot Flashes and Mood Swings?

This can be the happiest and most miserable time of life, when you are beginning menopause. You have gotten rid of that monthly visitor but now Mother Nature seems to have a whole new set of problems waiting for you. When you are beginning the stages, the hot flashes are the only symptom, you feel like the situation is manageable. (Usually occurs in or around most women's 40's.) When you get into your 50's you might not be able to sleep, find yourself a little more anxious or nervous than you may be use too. You might start to notice horrible hot flashes and mood swings and generally want to bite the head off of every person (friend or foe) you come across. Dizziness, heart palpitations, headaches, memory lapse, depression, joint pain or even bladder problems along with the possibility of skin problems, oh, don't let us forget to thank Mother Nature again for the decreased libido that will slowly start to make its own general appearance. Let's recap ladies.... the situation now seems unbearable.

PLEASE don't fret, Ladies these symptoms can be relieved and even eradicated with a few lifestyle changes.

Menopause is a prime example of how Western Medicine thinks everything can be cured with a pill or shot. Ladies in this day and age, we're becoming so much smarter than that and are aware this. In fact, lowering estrogen levels in our bodies can be regulated by incorporating some or all of the following things into our diet.

繚 80mg Black Cohosh, two or three times a day has been known to deal with many menopausal symptoms. Give 6 to 8 weeks to take effect.

繚 Flaxseed, 1 to 2 tablespoons daily. Take with 8-10oz water. Water helps hydrate the system from hot flashes and clean system. Drink as much water as you can daily.

繚 Soy Products, if you don't like tofu and such, try soy milk, and no it's really just like thicker.

繚 Plant foods, whole grains fresh vegetables and Fruits have a hormone balancing effect.

繚 Tuna, Cod, and Salmon help with skin conditions.

繚 Cold pressed nut and seed oil regulates estrogen production.

There are also a few things you want to eliminate from your diet. Try eating hormone free animal products, to stop a hormone imbalance. Eliminate Carbonated or alcoholic beverages they can aggravate the hot flashes. (That will probably be the hardest part of all. No carbonated drinks like sodas, but better kidneys as well. No Martini or second glass of champagne, but healthier liver... but trust me ladies, one glass of wine is still allowed so I've been told.)

How to Reduce Menopause Sweating

Menopause is a stage in women's lives when menstruation has ceased for at least 12 consecutive months. Drastic hormonal changes characterize this stage and the period of "change" that precedes it, called perimenopause. This hormonal change is said to be responsible for menopause sweating or night sweats.

Night sweats are very annoying because it can wake you up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and feeling very uncomfortable. It can keep you up and unable to go back to sleep. And when we don't get enough sleep, it can really affect our mood and productivity during the day.

Although we know that we cannot totally eliminate or stop the changes that take place, we can at least learn how to cope and reduce the incidence and discomfort of menopause sweating.

1. Right diet. To lessen the amount of menopause sweating you should eat lots of fruits and vegetables, flaxseed, food with plenty of fiber and low-fat protein foods such as soy.


2. Daily exercise. Increasing your metabolism during the day through daily exercise will help your body relax and be stress-free thus reducing your night sweats.


3. Relax before going to sleep. Take a relaxing bath with lavender oil or a calming shower using lavender soap at least an hour before going to bed. Relax before you go to sleep by listening to soothing music or just reading a book to reduce your menopause sweats.


4. Room temperature. Keep your room temperature cool either by turning on the air conditioner or a fan. Also use fresh and cool sleepwear to lessen your night sweats.


5. Clean beddings. Always have crisp and clean beddings on hand so that you will always feel fresh and cool. Having soiled beddings will make you fret and feel restless contributing to an increase in your night sweats. Also do not use heavy blankets which will just increase your sweating, use light sheets made from breathable fabrics instead.


6. Freshen up. If you are awakened during the night feeling flushed and perspiring, get up and freshen up. Take a shower or a sponge bath and change to fresh sleepwear if necessary to keep you cool and reduce your menopause sweats.


7. Vitamins and minerals. Vitamins B, C, E, magnesium and potassium are necessary to help our body function well and combat stress. Daily dosage of vitamins and minerals will reduce the frequency of menopause sweats.


8. Fragrance oils. Use fragrance oils in your room, on your beddings and in your bath water to help you relax and relieve you of the stresses of the day. This may help reduce menopause night sweats.


9. Sage. Sage tea made from fresh sage leaves is said to be a strong remedy for night sweats and other menopausal symptoms because of its cooling and drying effect. Although sage is not recommended for pregnant and breast-feeding women, only one dose a day is enough for the rest of us to benefit from it.

Perimenopause and Nausea

For most people, nausea is one of the worst feelings there is. After all, you don't only feel bad or feel sick, but your feelings are usually accompanied by the thought of what may happen if the feeling gets out of hand. The gross and undesirable outcome of nausea gone out of control is something everyone hates!

Unfortunately for women, perimenopause and nausea can sometimes go hand in hand. Many women say that the nausea experienced during perimenopause is similar to pregnancy's morning sickness, except much worse! Some women have reported going through days or weeks of nausea in which they are able to eat only one thing, and only in small amounts.

The constantly turning stomach presented by nausea and perimenopause's other symptoms can be debilitating to a woman. Women often do not get enough nutrition, which leads to headaches, lack of concentration, and fatigue. In the worst cases a woman may be left unable to do any of her regular daily tasks or become under-nourished.

So what can a woman do about perimenopause and the nausea that may come with it?

If a woman is having her first nausea attack, she is asked to make sure that being pregnant is out of the question. Once this has been ruled out, she must find ways to cope with the symptom. Each woman's nausea tends to be different, and so she'll have to find a way that works for her. Some women say that eating soda crackers or drinking soda can help, while others say that an increase in the amount of water being drunk throughout the day can help as well.

Other women claim that meditation or relaxation techniques work as well. This is usually in support of the theory that perimenopause symptoms (nausea included) can be caused or made worse by extreme stress. Spending a few hours each day to meditate seems to help some women cope with both nausea and their other perimenopause symptoms.

Since doctors are still unsure which specific hormonal imbalance triggers the nausea experienced by women in perimenopause, the best advice they give involves a complete change in the woman's lifestyle. Usually doctors recommend regular exercise, strict sleeping habits, and healthy eating as one holistic way to rid women of nausea and perimenopause symptoms in general.

Remember, your perimenopause and your nausea can be entirely unique to you. Your best bet at surviving it all is to educate yourself about all the symptoms of perimenopause, understand what goes on internally, and find the coping tricks that work best for you!

How to Know the Symptoms of Peri-Menopausal Stage

How can you tell whether the symptoms of peri menopausal stage are occurring in your life right now? Also called 'menopause,' this stage occurs one year after your last period. So how do you deal with this life-changing experience?

Every woman is unique when it comes to experiencing these symptoms of peri menopausal stage. Menopause takes place at different ages among women. There are women who experience it during their thirties while others have it around their forties. Consider yourself lucky if you're one of the few women out there who won't experience big changes during their menopausal stage.

If you went through the surgical removal of your uterus or both your ovaries, you may encounter abrupt changes within your body, such as your hormones dropping instantaneously. This is also called surgical menopause.

So how do you know if what you're experiencing is the real deal? Below are some of the symptoms that are likely linked to menopause?

-          Hormonal hot flashes

-          Irregularity of periods

-          Insomnia or difficulty with sleeping

-          Mood changes

-          Palpitations

-          Hair loss

-          Dry skin

-          Decreased libido

-          Dryness of vagina

There are several other conditions that may mirror these menopausal symptoms. Health factors such as thyroid disorders also have similar symptoms to that of menopause. Ask your health care provider for appropriate tests and interventions in this case.

There are several menopausal tests that your health care provider might suggest. Follicle Stimulating Hormone test or FSH test work up will tell you if you're going through a hormonal change caused by menopause. A pelvic exam will determine cancer, cysts and tumors in your uterus and ovaries. PAP smear is also an essential test that will detect and apply early preventive measures against cancer. Menopausal women should also undergo a mammogram every year to assess for breast cancer. And lastly, a self-breast exam should also be done every month for early detection of breast cancer.

More Symptoms of Menopause - Dry Skin and Hair Loss

Is dry skin a big part of your reality now that menopause symptoms have taken their toll? It may not be one of the worst symptoms, but it certainly can be part of menopause. Also, losing hair is another one of those "not so pleasant" side effects of menopause. Let's find out why this happens, and how they relate to menopause.

It's bad enough that women have to suffer through the night sweats and headaches, loss of sleep and irritability, but losing your hair? This is going too far isn't it? Some doctors are not convinced it really is caused by menopause, or a decrease in female hormones. But since it happens around the same time, it's possible that there is a relationship - although age probably has something to do with also. Of course the sun and gravity take their toll on a woman's skin too, so don't blame it all on menopause. Maybe about 50/50? Nobody knows for sure, but one thing is certain you need to stock up on skin cream at this age.

Since estrogen is decreasing during menopause, let's look at some of it's chemical side effects. The collagen and elastin that is in skin starts to degenerate which causes wrinkles to appear, which can be related to the estrogen decrease. Your skin starts to lose it's flexibility, and in many women the fatty layer just under the skin starts to become thinner as well. This also leads to more wrinkles, and a loser look to the skin. As the skin starts to sag, the wrinkles show up even more. Add to this the dryness many women experience at this time, and your skin is looking more like your Mothers every day, right?

Some women resort to taking the creams that are available with natural estrogen and progesterone ingredients, which are not only safer than taking HRT orally but more direct since they can be applied to the skin. These hormone-containing skin creams aren't a "miracle cure" for dry skin, but in many women seem to help slow down the process of aging skin, which is certainly a help. While you're at it, it's probably a great idea to either stay out of the sun, or use some type of high SPF sun blocking cream. Can you have both?
Shop around, as there are more than likely some creams that have both ingredients. If not just apply the estrogen or progesterone cream at night, and the sun block during the day! See if you find something that works, and keep experimenting. There are many alternatives out there these days, so why suffer with dry skin?

Another skin cream that seems to be popular is retinol-A, which has been around for awhile and seems to help the skin in many women. These creams are based on Vitamin A, and some women report smoother skin, reduced spots and wrinkles, and a healthier glow to the skin. They aren't cheap, but maybe worth a try. Of course the main thing you should remember is that eating healthy foods, which means less sugar for a start, is important to general health and skin. Drinking lots of water has also been known to keep the skin healthy as well, and don't forget those vitamins every day too.

How to Come Off HRT Safely, With Natural Treatments

If you want to know how to come off HRT safely, then you need to look at natural therapies. Many women don't realise that there are alternatives to HRT. HRT can be dangerous, with many links to serious disease, including cancer.

However, having the menopausal symptoms is little fun either. The hot flushes are especially unpleasant, as your thermostat goes completely haywire for a few seconds or minutes. Once a day would be bad enough, but many women have this several times a day.

Night time can be especially trying, with bedclothes on and off like the proverbial yo-yo. And this is likely to disturb your partner too. So you're both grumpy and tired in the morning, from lack of sleep.

Little wonder that you're prepared to try anything, even dangerous drugs.

However, there are always alternatives to everything.

A naturopath is likely to prescribe a herbal tincture or two for you depending on your symptoms. And this is quite likely to bring you relief, even if it doesn't cure the problem altogether. At least it doesn't harm you.

The raw food Maca is good at helping to restore balance to your hormones. Again, relief may be all that you experience, but it soon adds up.

If you carry a plastic water bottle with you, then the BPA which leaks into the water, especially in high temperatures, is likely to disturb your hormones badly. A change of water bottle to glass or stainless steel may make a huge difference to you.

Most people have a bad to terrible diet. They survive on large amounts of processed food and animal protein. If you can drastically cut both down, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results. Apart from the imbalance from de-natured processed foods, most farm animals are fed a cocktail of antibiotics and growth hormones through their short lives.

These are past on to the end consumer. You.

Modern diets are often critically short of the nutrients essential to a healthy immune system. By taking a natural, plant-based supplement, you can go a long way to rebalancing this deficiency. The blue-green algae, Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae, from Lake Klamath is probably the best on the market.

All drugs compromise your immune system. So only take what you can't survive without. Let all unnecessary drugs go.

Homeopathy is a complete and natural health care system which works by finding your personal cause of ill health. It works with your unique symptoms. If you work with a professional homeopath, you can replace your drugs, improve your health and let the menopausal symptoms go altogether.

Acne During Menopause - Easy Solutions

A change of life - that's what menopause is. It is the hallmark of changes that would lead to the actual menopausal event (that is the last menstrual bleeding of a woman) and the subsequent years after. Menopause then is the period of life in women when they have approached the stage of fertility loss, thus they would no longer be able to conceive after they have bled their last.

Apart from the loss of monthly menstruation, a woman in this stage will also experience a lot of changes which are usually hormonal imbalances. Women produce hormones called progesterone and estrogen while men have their own androgen. While these hormones could be found in various levels between both and women, estrogen and progesterone are still considered as the main hormones of the females. Since these hormones have their individual and vital functions for the development of women (most active during puberty and pregnancy), gradual loss of may mean gradual changes in the body. And during menopausal stage, the hormonal imbalances caused by declined production of the ovaries which will soon shut down would create various changes in the human body which include hot flashes, mood swings and menopausal acne or adult female acne.

The production of the female adult acne, like many other physical changes, is caused by hormones. But as we have said earlier, women during menopause are likely to have deficiency on the progesterone and estrogen. But since they continuously produce male sex hormones on small basis, several functions that are characterized with this hormone would still continue mature. Androgens, the male sex hormone, are responsible for muscular development, for stimulating the hair follicles and for the production of the skin oil or the sebum. The latter is the main culprit for the excessive development f the acne on adult female skin.

Aside from oil production testosterone also affects the manner by which the skin disposes its dead cells. There is a high possibility then that these cells are trapped in the hair follicles and the pores along with the excess oil that have been produced. The accumulation of dirt on the outer layer of the skin plus the mixture of oil and dead skin cells in the pores will trigger the immune system to send its white blood ells to prevent the inflammation. But since all these components would e trapped in the pores, the white blood cells along with the oil and the dirt would get trapped inside the pores. Thus, producing inflamed red bumps or acne.

This cosmetic problem is very distressing among menopausal women. But since the problem lies with the deficient production of female sex hormones, the usual treatment used in these cases is the hormone-replacement therapy. This treatment uses anti-androgen progestin and estrogen to counter the excessive production of oil and the loss of many functions that are associated with progesterone and estrogen.

But aside from this major treatment, there are other easy solutions that a woman can use to counteract the production of acne. These include the following:

Maintenance of good skin, due to your lost of elasticity in your, you now have to attend to your skin more often to maintain your complexion. You could also apply non-comedogenic topical solutions or creams. Comedon is simply the medical term for blackheads and whiteheads, so non-comedogenic means solutions that would not stimulate the breakout of acne.

Skin cleansers which are soap-free are also good for your skin. It is also good not to use soaps with high moisturizer content as this may aggravated the present skin problems. The use of astringent must also be minimized. Although this can aid the skin to remove the excessive oil production, the benefits are only short-term which might also lead to irritation. Abrasive cleansing of the skin must be prevented as this may irritate the blackhead and whiteheads and the developing acne.

Regular sunbathing must also be minimized. While some women have noticed improved changes on their acne after sunbathing, too much exposure in the sun would likely lead to more grave consequences.

Lastly, another great solution for acne removal is simply by maintaining good diet and regular consumption of fluids. Diet and fluids may not have direct effect on acne these could result to far healthier skin which is crucial during the menopausal stage.

Vaginal Dryness Symptoms And Treatments - Atrophic Vaginitis

A woman's genital area often changes during, after or even just before they reach menopause. Many women can suffer from symptoms such as pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal dryness and itching and urinary discomfort. Thankfully, all of these symptoms can be easily treated nowadays. Treatments such as HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), oestrogen gels and female lubrication gels are all readily available.

Atrophic Vaginitis - What Is It?

At the neck of the female womb there are glands which produce fluids and lubrication (mucus), these fluids act to keep the tissue and skin around the vagina supple,tight and moist. Oestrogen levels in the females body directly affects these glands and the skin tissue and muscles around the vaginal area and this leads to vaginal dryness. The oestrogen affects the elasticity of the vagina and also the thickness of the vaginal lining. The oestrogen also helps to produce the natural proteins (glycogen) which helps to prevent infection in the vaginal area as well as prevent menopausal vaginal dryness.

When a woman reaches either perimenopause or menopause her ovaries will start to produce less and less of the oestrogen. This reduction of oestrogen leads to a thinning of the skin tissue around the vagina. The glands that produce the lubrication also start to reduce and the fatty tissue around the vagina also starts to reduce. It is very common for the vagina to change its appearance after going through "the change."

The reduction in the glands and the thinning of the skin results in vaginal dryness. The vagina may also start to lose its elasticity and the skin may also start to look paler than it did. These changes will start to occur over a period of months or years and the symptoms can vary greatly between different women. The proper medical term for these problematic conditions and symptoms is Atrophic Vaginitis.

Is Atrophic Vaginitis a Common Complaint?

Atrophic Vaginitis is extremely common and almost one in every two women will face some of the symptoms associated with atrophic vaginitis. The symptoms are likely to increase in years after menopause but can be experienced leading up to the menopause (perimenopause).

The Symptoms Of Atrophic Vaginitis

Not all women experience the aforementioned symptoms and may go through menopause with little discomfort. In some women however, some of the following symptoms may occur. Atrophic Vaginitis can be the cause of some of the following symptoms but they can also be caused by other infections or conditions. Always get the advice of your Doctor.

Painful And Uncomfortable Sexual Intercourse

Because the lack of oestrogen causes a reduction in lubrication, the vagina loses the ability to keep itself lubricated during sex. The vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable and even painful. The lack of moisture will ultimately lead to your vagina becoming sore.

General Discomfort in the Vagina

This can be caused by the Vulva being inflamed. Discharge from the Vagina. Vaginal discharge can be caused by infection which occurs because the Vagina's ability to fight infection is reduced.

Vagina Itchiness.

The lack of moisture and mucus in the vagina makes the skin dryer and more sensitive in the vaginal area. This will make the vagina more likely to itch and irritate.

Urinary Problems.

Atrophic vaginitis can be the cause of several urinary problems and they are usually y caused by the thinning of skin and muscle around the neck of the bladder or urethra. These symptoms can be anything from a need to get to the loo quickly or painful urinary infections.

Vaginal Dryness - What Can You Do?

The symptoms of atrophic vaginitis are varied and will be different for everyone. The cause for a lot of the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis are the lack of oestrogen, this can be treated by replacing oestrogen.

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

This form of treatment is not always popular with women, it involves taking oestrogen in tablet form or via gels or patches. There are pros and cons, but these will need to be addressed in a separate article.

A treatment that is successful for many women who are suffering from symptoms of atrophic vaginitis is the use of Oestrogen creams or a vagina ring which contains oestrogen. This enables you to apply oestrogen to the vagina area only over the course of about 3 months. Be careful when reading the instructions when using this treatment and make sure you apply the right amounts of cream. This is usually enough time to see the effects of the treatment. After a period of time the symptoms may occur again, so it is often necessary to be assessed by a Doctor and a second round of the treatment may be what is required.

Female Renewal (Vaginal Lubrication Gels)

One of the most common symptoms can be Vaginal dryness and if this is the only symptom that you have, then a Vaginal lubrication gel may be the only thing that you require. These gels (like Intivar ) have been designed and formulated to help replace moisture and to increase blood flow in the vaginal area. This increase in blood flow can help the Vagina to start lubricating itself again. Intivar Female renewal gel also has tightening properties which can also help with increasing enjoyment from penetrative sex. Read the full Intivar review elsewhere on this site.

Author: Jackie HJ White

Menopause Relief And Herbal Remedies From South America

What about the rain forests

With all the attention in the news these days concerning the depletion of the Amazon rain forest, you might be concerned about the supply of herbal remedies from South America. What happens to all those amazing plants that are used everyday by millions of women to get menopause relief by using herbal remedies?

This is a huge problem, and getting worse all the time. Not only are the rain forests being depleted and plants disappearing at an alarming rate, but other sources of wild herbal remedies are under attack as well.

Wild herbs and their harvests

It is surprising that many wild plants are nearing extinction or being severely depleted by wild harvesting. Just take a look at this quote from the Botanic Gardens Conservation International:

On January 18, 2008, the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (representing botanic gardens in 120 countries) stated that "400 medicinal plants are at risk of extinction, from over-collection and deforestation, threatening the discovery of future cures for disease." These included Yew trees (the bark is used for cancer drugs, paclitaxel); Hoodia (from Namibia, source of weight loss drugs); half of Magnolias (used as Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to fight cancer, dementia and heart disease); and Autumn crocus (for gout). The group also found that 5 billion people benefit from traditional plant-based medicine for health care.

It is not hard to imagine all the small group of well-meaning harvesters of wild herbs and plants gathering their natural products and feeling happy in what they are doing. On the other hand, by over-harvesting they are actually doing incredible damage to their own livelihood.

What are some of the herbal remedies from South America?

There are literally thousands of plants used in South America for treating the night sweats and other symptoms of menopause. One of the best and non-endangered is maca. Maca is well known and safe to use. It has no known health risks, but many wonderful benefits.

In Peru, where maca is common, there are government agencies that regulate the it's production and exportation. While it is readily available at any village market in the regions in which it is grown, exporting is a different story, especially if you are certified to be organic.

Maca is a wonderful food and is called an herbal remedy, though it really is not an herb. It is a bit like a potato, and is eaten by the locals, as it has been for thousands of years. It is well known that maca acts as a balancing agent in the body to help maintain health and well-being. It is also widely recognized as having no ill side effects.

As an added plus, maca often helps increase libido in men and women. This is obviously a wonderful benefit because the libido can dwindle down to near zero during menopause. Not only do you feel better, your hot flashes diminish or disappear, but you can feel aroused again and ready for some loving!

Learn more about maca and sex drive here...