Free Menopause Information

Although menopause is a natural part of a woman's life cycle, it is surprising how many women have misconceptions about it. There are a wide array of sources for information about what menopause actually is, how it progresses, and the broad range of effects that may affect women to one degree or another. A brief discussion on what menopause is some treatments that are available, and finally a list of resources where you can find free information on menopause will be provided.

Menopause and Its Effects

Menopause is just the cessation of a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. A woman is considered menopausal after one full year of having no periods. Menopause actually is a progressive end to a woman's fertile phase of life. It can start anywhere from two to ten years prior to the final period. The average age of a woman who is menopausal is 45 to 55 years of age.

Some of the symptoms that may accompany menopause include hot flashes, night sweats (night time hot flashes), flushing of the skin, irregular bleeding, and irregular periods. Vaginal dryness, lower sex drive, cramping, weight gain, lack of energy, and other symptoms may occur. These symptoms can occur from being minimal to being serious enough to be debilitating.

Treatment Options

Treatment options include pharmaceuticals, diet and regular exercise, and also, natural treatments such as herbal supplements. Some doctors do not put forth the natural treatments so you may have to ask them directly about it. Your physician should have resources available if you want information.

A healthy diet and regular exercise is the cheapest way to go and will be very effective if you have mild symptoms. Believe it or not, regular exercise can help keep your sex drive going.

Pharmaceuticals are prescribed medications which are typically Hormone Replacement Therapy. They are given to help keep a woman's hormone (estrogen and progesterone) levels at a stable level and this helps relieve many of the symptoms. They are very effective but have some side effects that are dangerous to those who take them. They include heart attack, breast cancer, blood clots or dementia. If you still have a uterus, the possible occurrence of uterine cancer increases. If you have to take them, do so at the lowest dose possible and for the shortest time possible.

Natural products such as Herbal Supplements are an option many are looking into. Herbal supplements are an effective treatment option for many women, particularly if they are looking to avoid the side effects associated with prescriptive medications.

Herbal supplements of the highest quality will be rigorously tested. The metabolism of the ingredients is tested at the molecular level for optimal health results. The interactions of the ingredients will be examined on quality supplements. When being manufactured, they should be made according to pharmaceutical grade standards. This ensures the purity, safety, and the effectiveness of the supplements. They have few if any side effects.

These supplements are a blend of specific herbs and other nutritive substances known to benefit menopausal symptoms. Black Cohosh has been very effective in treating symptoms. Black Cohosh is known to lower a hormone called luteinizing hormone due to the fact that it has isoflavones (similar to estrogen). Others that might be used are wild yam, chaste berry, red clover, don quay, and wild yam. When purchasing herbal supplements for menopause, some supplements may have all of these herbs or just a couple. If that is the case, for effectiveness, Black Cohosh should be at least one of the ingredients.

Free Information Resources about Menopause

The Internet - there is literally millions of sites available online.

Your Physician should have information available to you.

Local Health Services/hospitals - often have information fairs and resources.

They may also have support groups who will give you information.

The library has countless books, magazines and other materials that can be borrowed.

Friends/Family who have already been through menopause will also have free information but be warned they might be "old wives tales."

Conclusion

Menopause brings with it sometimes debilitating symptoms like the well known hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. There are pharmaceutical treatments that include either estrogen or progesterone, and some that may contain a combination of the two.

The serious and potentially dangerous side effects such as breast or uterine cancer are something most people want to avoid and as result turn to natural herbal supplements. They are safer with no or very few side effects.

Check with your doctor before taking them as they might have an effect on prescriptions you may be taking for other health conditions. These supplements also have a general good effect on your over all health.