Bleeding After Menopause Warrants Investigation

Bleeding after menopause isn't at all uncommon. It can be a cause for
concern, however. Understanding menopause and the potential causes of bleeding
after menopause can be very useful to help a woman decide if medical attention
is required to get at the root of the problem. In most cases, if bleeding does
occur, it is advised to make the condition known to a doctor.

In general, bleeding after menopause is spotting or full bleeding that takes
place at least six months after the last full menstrual cycle. The sudden
reappearance of blood can be rather alarming, but it can have many benign
causes. Some potential causes for it can be serious, which is why medical advice
is generally recommended.

Menopause itself is a perfectly normal phase of life that is characterized by
the cessation of menstrual bleeding all together. The period of time leading up
to that cessation is characterized by gradual changes in the cycle. Some will
experience periods that occur more frequently, but are lighter and shorter in
their duration. Other women will find they miss cycles completely for a month or
two at a time. The marker for true menopause is typically seen as missing six
consecutive cycles in a row.

When bleeding takes place after the full six-month cycle has passed, it is
considered bleeding after menopause and is known medically as post-menopausal
bleeding. The causes for it are many and include:

· Hormone replacement therapy - This is one of the most common causes of
bleeding after menopause. Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy develop
bleeding simply because the uterus is reacting to the estrogen and is promoting
the thickening and shedding of the uterine lining. Basically, the body starts
mocking a normal menstrual cycle. This is not at all unexpected with HRT.

· Lack of estrogen - When there is a large lack of estrogen in the system, the
uterus also reacts. Its lining might atrophy and cause the blood vessels to
become weak and fragile. This can lead to the spontaneous breaking of vessels
and spot bleeding after menopause.

· Fibroids and polyps - These are non-cancerous growths that can develop in the
uterus. They can cause bleeding after menopause in the light to heavy forms.
They are sometimes associated with pain and discomfort, as well.

· Hyperplasias - This is an overgrowth of the uterine lining. It can cause
bleeding, as well.

· Cancer - Uterine cancer is the real cause for concern. It can be the cause of
bleeding after menopause and it is serious. This is the main reason why it is
advised that women seek out medical attention if bleeding after menopause takes
place.

Women who experience bleeding after menopause might be asked to undergo tests to
determine the nature of the bleeding. The types of tests will likely range based
on suspected cause. They might include a D&C, a hysteroscopy, blood work and
more. Many physicians will seek to rule out cancer first and then work to
eliminate the other potential causes of bleeding after menopause.

Treatment of bleeding after menopause will depend on the actual cause. If HRT is
in the picture, an alteration of the medications or dosing might take place.
Polyps or fibroids might need to be removed during a special procedure.

If cancer is present, the options will range based on the severity. Many doctors
prefer doing a full hysterectomy if cancer is found in the uterus. This may be
followed up with chemotherapy or other treatments.

Bleeding after menopause isn't at all uncommon, but some of the causes of it are
reason for concern. Women are recommended to bring the issue to the attention of
their doctors just to be on the safe side.

What Causes Strong Vaginal Odor?

Along with vaginal dryness, vaginal itch, and vaginal discharge, vaginal odor is one the leading reasons women consult gynecologists. Even in healthy women, normal vaginal secretions can have a slightly "cheesy" or "antiseptic" smell. Contact of the vagina with semen can result in the release of a "fishy" odor. The greatest amount of vaginal discharge occurs at the midpoint of a woman's menstrual cycle, so this odor will naturally be stronger around the time of ovulation, when fertility is greatest.

Vaginal mucus (distinguished from menstrual blood) is released all the time, but the volume of discharge is about twice as great around Day 14 of a woman's period. The actual volume of discharge is normally 2 to 4 ml, about 1/2 a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon a day. Immediately after the menstrual period the mucus is "slippery" and produced in higher volume, and right around ovulation the mucus is "dry" and produced in lower volume.

The relationship of vaginal odor to vaginal infections is not easy to sort out. It is possible to have an infection without odor, and it is possible to have odor without infection. Odor can also result from excessive growth of bacteria that normally inhabit a healthy vagina, such as Gardnerella. Vaginal odor can be caused by yeast or trichomonas, but about a third of women who have issues with vaginal odor do not have infections with any common microorganism.

Vaginal odor can also be a symptom of chlamydia infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If excessive vaginal odor is an issue, a trip to the doctor is in order to ensure that these two serious conditions do not exist. Looking at the vaginal mucus under the microscope usually reveals the exact source of the odor, but inflammatory processes that have nothing to do with infection can also cause odor problems.

As a general rule, however, itching with no odor is caused by yeast infection while inflammation with a strong "cheese" odor is caused by bacterial infection. Antifungals are prescribed for yeast infection, while antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infection-it is important to get the right treatment! Diflucan and fluconazole are more likely to be the right treatment when there is no strong odor, just vaginal itch.

Don't ignore vaginal odor. It is important to get treatment for bacterial infections of the vagina. Untreated infections with the bacterium Gardnerella can result in salpingitis, endometrial infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, and premature labor. Any kind of uterine surgery becomes much more likely to result in infection, and the woman also becomes more at risk for infection with HIV. Women at the highest risk for bacterial infections of the vagina are those who:

繚 Recently started sexual relations with a new male partner.

繚 Have lower estrogen levels as a result of perimenopause, the years of a woman's life before full menopause.

繚 Use douches for vaginal hygiene.

繚 Recently finished treatment with antibiotics (killing the friendly bacteria that keep odor-causing bacteria in check).

繚 Wear an IUD (intrauterine device) for contraception.

Finally, vaginal odor sometimes is the only warning sign of herpes infection. It is important to get a medical examination to be sure the cause of the odor is not a serious disease.

Dong Quai For Menopausal Hot Flashes and PMS

Every woman needs a remedy for mood swings. Having mood swings is just part of the package of being a woman. But then again, she has her hormones to blame for that. Once a month her hormone balances shift and as a result she gets those sweet mood swings and cramps to go with them. Of course, I am talking about the menstrual cycle. Even when a woman is going through menopause and her cycle permanently stops, she will go through a series of side effects. These side effects go beyond the temperamental mood swings. Menopause also burdens women with hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, and disturbed sleep. Focusing on ridding of side effects, dong quai is an herbal extract that can help relieve a number of symptoms.

Dong quai is also referred to as Chinese Angelica. Not only is it used in Easter medicine but it is popularly used for cooking. Dong quai is also known as the female ginseng and is an herb that is home to China. The herb also contains vitamins A, E, and B12. It is one of the most widely used herbs for treating menopause because of its phytoestrogen characteristics. Phytoestrogens are plant derived estrogen. Plants that are phytoestrogens are capable of pairing with natural estrogens in the body when consumed. For this reason, dong quai is very beneficial to women lacking estrogen during the menopausal stage of their life. It is capable of relieving a number of symptoms by replenishing the body with estrogen.

How does it help? Dong quai is capable of dilating blood vessels and in turn increasing blood flow. Not only does this action help dismiss hot flashes but it helps with vaginal dryness. A common side effect of low libido and estrogen is vaginal dryness, which is part of the reason why sex drive is so low during menopause. By regulating estrogen don quai help control mood swings and relieves stress. This is also beneficial for PMS. On top of helping with side effects related to menopause, this natural herb can help with a number of other illnesses like heart disease.

The best way to consume dong quai is by taking it as a pill. You can find it paired with other herbal extracts in menopause relief formulas. Other ingredients to look for are black cohosh root, soy isoflavones, damiana, and chaste tree berry. All are known for their ability to relieve menopausal symptoms.

How to Thrive After A Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Women are more at risk than men for osteoporosis. After receiving a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia it is important to keep moving and exercise in a safe manner. This means not putting compression on the spine, especially the thoracic area of the spine. Walking, dancing, strength training and swimming are often suggested.

Perhaps osteoporosis runs in your family. Or, you are reaching menopause and wonder how you can prevent it, since reaching menopause is one of the risk factors. In fact, several risk factors increase your chances of developing osteoporosis or having a fracture, including:

• a thin, small-boned frame


• previous fracture or family history of osteoporotic fracture


• estrogen deficiency from early menopause (before age 45) whether naturally, or from surgically removing the ovaries, or as a result of prolonged amenorrhea (abnormal absence of menstruation) in younger women (often from anorexia or extremely low body fat such as in athletes


• advanced age


• a diet low in calcium


• Caucasian or Asian ancestry (African Americans and Hispanics are at a slightly lower risk)


• cigarette smoking


• excessive use of alcohol


• prolonged use of certain medications or recreational drugs.

Women lose bone rapidly following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis especially in the first 4-8 years.

Often the first inkling that you might be at risk for osteoporosis begins with decreased blood calcium when you have blood work done. Sometimes this is accompanied by a thyroid imbalance, a Vitamin D deficiency and / or a magnesium deficiency.

Corticosteroid medications. Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone is damaging to bones. These and other corticosteroid medications are common treatments for chronic conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, to name a few.

You may not be able to stop taking them to lessen your risk of osteoporosis unless you find a way to deal with the underlying cause of the chronic condition. Ask your doctor to monitor your bone density if you need to take a steroid medication for long periods. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are other drugs they might recommend instead of the corticosteroid medications that won't have the same impact on your bones.

Other medication associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis include aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer; the antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); another cancer treatment drug named methotrexate; some anti-seizure medications; stomach acid-blockers called proton pump inhibitors and antacids containing aluminum.

Lab tests may be performed on blood and urine. The test results can help your doctor identify conditions that might contribute to bone loss.
These are the most common blood tests:

• blood calcium levels


• blood vitamin D levels


• thyroid function


• parathyroid hormone levels


• estradiol levels to measure estrogen


• follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) test to establish menopause status


• testosterone levels (in men)


• osteocalcin levels measures bone formation

Common urine tests are:

• 24-hour urine collection to measure calcium metabolism


• tests measuring the rate at which bone is breaking down

Once you learn if there is a deficiency or imbalance of nutrients in your body, then supporting your health by increasing your levels of missing nutrients and correcting a thyroid imbalance, for example, can do wonders for increasing calcium in the blood again and therefore in the bones themselves.

Other markers that indicate a need to correct a body imbalance show up long before low blood calcium or a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Poor digestion, high stress that affects the adrenal glands, and problems with the parathyroid gland can all lead to osteoporosis.

There are several predisposing factors to osteoporosis that you can control, sometimes on your own or with the help of a healthcare professional.
- Poor diet over a long period of time
- Excessive use of alcohol and recreational drugs
- Hormone dysfunction or dysregulation
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Drugs - recreational or prescription or over the counter
- Prolonged bed rest
- Anorexia and other eating disorders

It might be a good idea to look at the cells that make up our bones, in order to better understand the process of building up and breaking down of bone in the body.

1. Osteoblasts build bone by converting cartilage to bone.
2. Osteoclasts break down bone to help buffer the pH of the blood.
3. Osteocytes maintain bone tissue. These are the primary bone cells.

Calcium plays a role in homeostasis. When the blood becomes too acidic, calcium is the buffer. Think of it as Tums for your blood.

When the pH of blood drops, which means the blood becomes more acidic, calcium is used to buffer that acid, making the blood more alkaline. Less calcium is then deposited in bone. When the blood returns to its proper pH, calcium is then stored in the bones again. Calcium can also be deposited in other tissues.

Regulating the pH of the blood and calcium in the body is the role of the small parathyroid gland, located behind the thyroid gland in the throat area. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a regulator in the exchange of calcium between bone and blood.

How does this work?

1. PTH increases the osteoclast activity within the bones to free up calcium to buffer blood pH. Remember - osteoclasts break down bone.


2. This hormone also reduces calcium excreted in urine by having a direct affect on the kidneys.


3. PTH also pulls the calcium made available from digestion into the blood.

If you eat a diet rich in calcium then lots of calcium can be available for all the different needs of the body. Some suggestions for calcium-rich foods are, in alphabetical order:
繚 Alfalfa sprouts, which are easy to make at home
繚 Almonds, almond butter and almond meal or flour
繚 Avocados which contain healthy fat too
繚 Coconut
繚 Dairy foods: particularly raw milk hard cheeses, goat's milk
繚 Gelatin
繚 Greens, including kale, turnip, beet tops, cabbage and romaine lettuce
繚 Seaweed and sea vegetables: agar, dulse, kelp and nori
繚 Sesame seeds

In addition to calcium, all the foods listed above are high in additional nutrients. That's important because simply taking more and more calcium supplements will not necessarily translate into absorption and then utilization of this nutrient. Calcium needs co-factors to be available for its many roles in the body, including its use in bones.

After you have determined calcium rich foods, then assess if you are actually digesting and utilizing your foods. If you have the classic signs of indigestion: gas, bloating, excessive fullness after a meal, cramping and general discomfort in the abdomen shortly after eating, then you may need give some attention to your digestion.

Since calcium is absorbed in an acid environment, you may need hydrochloric acid supplementation with your meals to acidify the stomach. This may seem counter-intuitive, especially if you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux. However, as we age our hydrochloric acid levels decline. We can actually suffer more from lack of acid in our stomach than from too much, despite what you might hear on the TV.

As mentioned, calcium needs co-factors to be effectively utilized. That means other minerals need to be present, along with Vitamin D and healthy fats. Eating a variety of foods, real whole foods helps to ensure that most of these co-factors are present.

EFAs, essential fatty acids, are needed for transporting nutrients across the cell's membrane:
- flax seed oil, black currant seed oil, fish oils (EPA & DHA), mixed fatty acids from walnut, hazelnut, sesame, apricot kernel
- all these healthy fats help increase calcium tissue levels

Don't forget hormonal support may be needed, so check for any thyroid, estrogens, testosterone or parathyroid dysfunction (PTH).

Other co-factors that support the bones are Vitamin D which works with PTH to increase calcium in blood and increases absorption in the GI tract. Vitamin A, from bright orange and yellow fruits or vegetables, and iodine are needed because iodine supports thyroid function. The seaweeds and sea vegetables mentioned earlier are rich sources of iodine.

Kidney function is important and directly connected to blood calcium levels. One of the best things that you can do is support good hydration by drinking adequate amounts of pure, filtered water. Cutting out soda is also a good idea. It has detrimental affects on digestion.

Other minerals that are important as co-factors to calcium utilization are potassium, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. Zinc is particularly important for good digestion.

Steps for the steady support of healthy bones and the possible, slow reversal of osteoporosis:

1. Improve digestion


2. Take good bone mineralizing supplements or make and utilize bone broths from organic chicken bones.


3. Increase essential fatty acids (EFAs).


4. Add vitamins A, D, E, and K (unless on blood thinners, avoid K).


5. Eat good high quality proteins.


6. Eliminate processed foods, artificial foods, sodas, and caffeinated food and drink.


7. Weight bearing exercise is imperative.

Now that you know the risk factors, take the steps to help your bones stay healthy before a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia. You also have the seven steps to possibly put the brakes on the further deterioration of your bones once you receive a diagnosis. It may even be possible start rebuilding bone and lose that diagnosis as your overall health improves.

Urinary Incontinence and How to Stop Leakage Brought on by Menopause

Menopause can bring uncomfortable symptoms such as incontinence in several different forms. Even younger women experience occasional bouts of urinary leakage during pregnancy, after childbirth, and sometimes even during sex. But menses seems to bring out more occasions of uncontrollable incontinence.

This inability to control your bladder can happen when you put pressure on yourself by wrenching your gut due to laughing or yelling, sneezing and coughing. The condition worsens if your bladder is full. Incontinence can also feel like a strong, uncontrollable urge to pass urine resulting in continuous leakage. Sometimes the sound of running water can trigger this urge.

There is also overflow incontinence. No matter how many times you frequent the restroom and urinate, there are always some urine leaked. This is a result of function of the nerve supply to the bladder being impaired and the consequence is a distended bladder that leak when over filled. Women with this condition do not feel the urge top ass urine. Delaying the need to pass urine can cause this type of incontinence.

If you experience continuous incontinence, there is leakage of urine more or less all of the time without warning. Although this type is uncommon it is caused by abnormalities in the urinary tract which may be congenital or resulting from childbirth, or from surgery such as hysterectomy and medical treatments such as radiation.

Bouts of incontinence can also be due to menopause, specifically hormonal imbalances. Producing less estrogen can cause the lining of the bladder to weaken, causing irreparable control of bladder movement. The older we get, the harder it is for us to hold back our urine - bladders get weaker and reaction times become slower.

Depending on the type of incontinence you are experiencing, your doctor may recommend from several types of treatment. Antibiotics are sometimes required to treat infection. Drugs can be taken that control abnormal bladder contractions or to create contraction in an over distended bladder.

Balancing your hormones with either HRT or natural, bioidentical replacement therapy can significantly relieve stress incontinence. And, of course there are the traditional pelvic floor exercises and kegels to strengthen the muscles surrounding the urethra and vagina. In more severe cases, surgery may be required or electrical stimulation of the muscles around the bladder. This is definitely one your need to work out with your doctor.

Why Am I Still Hungry, Unsatisfied or Tired After I Eat?

Does hormone in-balance contribute to hunger, and is this related to a vitamin deficiency that contributes to hunger and loss of energy? Even disease?

I believe it does. I have never been on hormone replacement therapy, because, as I transitioned through menopause, I started having breast cysts, and I found out I had fibroids. These were both caused by an estrogen dominance. At my last physical in November 2011 (3 years after my last physical), my Ob-gyn told me my fibroids had shrunk (I never opted to remove them) and I have not had another breast cyst.

Yet, as I feel I have conquered this eating thing to at least maintain one size (you can too) without buying new clothes, I find that sometimes I am still hungry, and have that gnawing feeling of not quite feeling satisfied. The whole goal is to feel satisfied without eating more.

The closer I get to 60 ( 2.25 years away) I find that I can still discern the monthly times. Sometimes, I found as I neared the end of menopause, that I could cause a monthly cycle simply by eating something that would throw me out of whack. Simply eliminating the offending compound has enabled me to skip this monthly cycle. Maybe I am on the other side (Finally!) Have you had PMS all your life, been ravenously hungry before your period, and then it goes away when everything starts? Well, I believe the same thing happens even though there are no menses. I was ravenously hungry and couldn't get satisfied. After about 1-2 weeks, the drive to eat was gone, and I would no longer have unsatisfying times. I could once again feel like my old self and not feel the need to supplement.

I would supplement when I didn't want to keep eating, during these stressful times. When stress would creep in and the cortisol would start rising, I would add all the anti-oxidants I thought I might low on. I would and still take vitamin C, and rhodiola for energy (and particularly good for Blood Type O). I use the homeopathic nutrients I recommend. If you find you are challenged as you transition through menopause, you may find you can choose homeopathic support, before you succumb to prescription medicine. If a doctor prescribes anti-depressant medicine and you know that this is not the problem, you may research for yourself, how to reduce stress and maybe even adrenal fatigue, to get yourself back to normal. Prescription medicine is harmful to your liver and kidneys. Eating whole foods is best. There are health issues listed under Supplements and the corresponding supplement recommended. Each of these supplements is composed of natural foods. When you read what they are made of, you may choose to eat more of "these".

The thing that happens when I go through these monthly cycles, is that I would get the feeling like I did with the old birth control pills. Always hungry and never satisfied. I knew there was a lot of estrogen in the older pills, and what I felt, was like that feeling of a lot of estrogen. Stress can cause the progesterone to be converted to cortisol, unbalancing the estrogen progesterone equilibrium. Aromastat is a natural blend of herbs, shown in clinical studies to inhibit the enzyme aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme found in the liver that converts testosterone into estradiol and androstenedine into estrone. Thus its' primary action is to convert steroid hormones into estrogen class hormones.

Aromastat contains indole-3-carbinols, like those found in cuciferous vegetables like cabbage, brussells sprouts, cauliflower, collards and broccoli. These indole-3-carbinols, help transform dangerous estrogens into more benign forms, as recognized by the National Cancer Institute.

Chrysin found in the herb Passiflora Incarnata. The flavone Chrysin is a potent natural aromatase inhibitor. In 1993 Chrysin was tested with 10 other flavonoids and found to be superior to an aromatase inhibiting DRUG (aminoglutethemide). Scientists conducting the study concluded that the aromatase-inhibiting effect of certain flavonoids may contribute to the cancer preventative effect of certain plant-based diets.

Apigen found in most species of chamomile, the flavone apigen is also a safe and effective aromatase inhibitor, with inhibitory effectiveness about equal to that of chrysin.

The isoflavones in soy most notably genistein and diadzein were shown in studies to be potent aromatase inhibitors

Another homeopathic compound works in a different way to prevent cancer due to unbalanced hormones. The body's detoxification systems have a daily demand placed on them by both external and internal pollutants. This product is for those, whose systems carry the burden of additional demand, where specialized nutrition would help.

Calcium combined with Glucaric Acid to form Calcium D-Glucurate and the botanical Phyllanthus. Glucaric acid is found in small amounts in our bodies, and in fruits and vegetables. Calcium D-Glucarate is a form of glucarid acid, which is utilized in the body to enhance the process by which the body rids itself of potentially dangerous environmental pollutants, including foreign organic compounds, fat soluble toxins, and excess steroid hormones such as estrogen.

Some fruits and vegetables where glucaric acid is found is, oranges, apples, Brussels sprouts,broccoli and cabbage.

There is a lot of interest in using calcium D-glucarate for preventing estrogen related cancer such as breast cancer and other hormone related cancers. Calcium D-glucarate is thought to decrease estrogen levels by affecting estrogens' elimination. Estrogen is metabolized hepatically in phase II metabolism by combining with glucuronic acid. It is then excreted in the bile. Unfortunately a bacterial enzyme in the intestine called beta-glucuronidase normally breaks the estrogen-glucuronide bond, allowing estrogen to be reabsorbed. Calcium D-glucurate works at this step by inhibiting beta-glucuronidase. Blocking this enzyme is thought to decrease the amount of estrogen being resorbed to lower circulating estrogen levels. There is some evidence that beta-glucuronidase activity may be increased in patients with hormone-dependent cancers like breast and prostate cancer.

Finding what vegetables on these "lists" are optimal for you, may prevent cancer. If you hate these "vegetables" you can opt to take them in supplement form.

When you are starting out, and in your late 40's or early 50's, you may want to know what is causing your lack of energy. If the regular MD. says your iron is all right, you may want to see if you can lower your stress, and find out what is causing loss of energy. I found that (read that) Blood Type A's have low alkaline phosphatase, and do not absorb the Vitamin B's well. I started taking vitamin B and could not feel the difference, so I took the B-vitamin and anti-oxidant genetic test. Genetic tests are for all the Blood Types. This took some time, that is to feel the benefit of Vitamin B's Cleaning out my colon was key and took about 18-24 months. Don't give up! When I cleaned my colon, I found I could tell when a supplement was actually helping. This genetic test was "proof". Finally I felt like my old, younger, self. I found my energy! Check the amount of milligrams. Some people say 3000 mg per day. You can over do anything. The Methyl B supplement I take has 1000 mg per capsule, and is counter balanced with folate. I even eat Cheerios (cereals are fortified with Vitamin B's and Folate. (I no longer eat Shredded Wheat, Wheaties, Raisin Bran, or 40% Bran) I have found that wheat is genetically modified to create greater yield, and that wheat itself has lost its' nutrient value.

I Recommend highly, the necessary basics. Vitamin D3 with K (Bone health, cancer prevention, colon health), Bilberry and Luteins and Zeaxanthins (macular degeneration, retina loss, even breast cancer reduction), and Omega 3's for heart and brain health (I prefer to eat mine every day) or Walnuts have a lot of omega 3's too. I also promote lots of green leafy vegetables, and add simple recipes for collard greens and kale in the e-mails. I do believe The Doctors TV and Dr. Oz, that these 3 are the absolute minimum three to prevent inflammation, and cancer and disease. I supplement these three, because I do not get out in the sun enough, and I can't eat enough blueberries and blackberries.

I have listed what works for me, and how I adjust for changes in hormone levels during the month. Are you able to discern what works for you, by yourself? Give eating your highly beneficial foods a good long try, at least 18 months, see what it does for you. I know you will feel a difference. Learning to deal with stress, and getting your adrenal fatigue under control, will do well, to put you on the path toward healing.

To see how to put this together for your own blood type, opt in for the keys to basic health. Honestly believe the 10 keys, and then use the e-mails to learn how to put your own eating plan together, and how to use the blood type diet most efficiently. There are also some simple recipes to help you get to your goals faster.

Chocolate Cysts - Learn About Treatment For Endometrioma Cysts

There are many different types of ovarian cysts and fortunately, most do not cause serious problems. A functional cyst develops as a glitch in the normal functioning of the ovaries and is rarely problematic. Other types of cysts develop as a result of abnormal cell growth. Endometrioma cysts or chocolate cysts fit this description.

Chocolate cysts occur in women who have Endometriosis of the ovaries. Under normal circumstances, endometrial tissue lines the uterus. When endometriosis is present, this tissue grows abnormally in other parts of the body. When endometrial tissue grows on the outside of the ovaries, small blood filled cysts form called Endometrioma cysts or chocolate cysts. Diagnosis of endometriosis can only be done by laparoscopy.

It is unclear what causes Endometriosis or chocolate cysts to occur but they are very responsive to hormone fluctuations in the body. They are frequently benign and often go undiagnosed until a woman is unable to conceive. Endometriosis is one of the major causes of infertility. It can cause severe pain around the time of menstruation and pain may be experienced during intercourse.

Endometrial tissue grows more rapidly when surges of estrogen occur and decrease in its absence. As a result, endometriosis often diminishes during pregnancy and after menopause. The most common traditional medical form of treatment is hormone therapy. Sometimes birth control pills are prescribed for a brief period of time to help shrink the endometrial tissue in order to allow a woman to become pregnant. Pain relieving medications are recommended to treat the symptoms.

Laparoscopy is sometimes performed to remove the adhesions that often occur as a result of endometriosis. In more serious cases surgery such as a hysterectomy or bowel resection are performed to help minimize the growth of the abnormal tissue or to relieve pain. Occasionally, a chocolate cyst can grow in size and rupture. In this case, emergency surgery may be required.

Regardless of the treatment plan recommended by a traditional medical practitioner, it can be extremely beneficial to take a holistic approach to dealing with chocolate cysts and endometriosis. Like other types of cyst development, hormones play a crucial role and hormone levels are influenced by such things as emotions, diet, stress and other lifestyle factors that can be altered.

Natural treatment methods work well in combination with traditional medicine. They can help slow the growth of chocolate cysts and improve your overall health to such a degree that recovery from any surgical treatment may be quicker. Vitamin supplements are an important component of a natural treatment plan for chocolate cysts.

Making important dietary changes and adding a vitamin and mineral supplement will help balance hormone levels in the body, raise immunity, improve liver functioning, and help guard against abnormal cell growth.

Helpful herbs are also included in a natural treatment plan. They provide the added benefit of helping the body rid itself of harmful toxins that may contribute to a hormone imbalance and the growth of all types of cysts.