The symptoms of menopause vary from woman to woman and even from culture to culture. It’s interesting that this occurs and there are many things that play a role in what symptoms, if any, menopausal women experience. In fact, some researchers are concerned that culture plays a big role in the symptoms of menopause. For example, in cultures where growing older is respected and honored women experience fewer menopausal symptoms. However, in the west where the emphasis is mostly on youth and beauty women experience more symptoms of menopause. This could mean that there is a psychological role in symptoms, too. Another consideration for western women is their diet. Many women eat foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat, added hormones and antibiotics, and more unnatural additives. In addition many American women do not get enough exercise nor have many children, which could also play roles in menopausal symptoms.

Symptoms

You may have heard of common menopause symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes, however there are actually many other symptoms that are recognized as menopausal symptoms. Not only are their symptoms but there are changes and pains that many women experience. Menopausal symptoms include irregular periods, vaginal dryness, night sweats, reduced libido, fatigue, memory lapse, hair loss, concentration problems, problems sleeping, dizziness, allergies, incontinence, brittle nails, weight gain, irritability, depression, panic disorder, odor changes, headaches, itchy skin, digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches, osteoporosis, and more.

Of course, every menopausal woman will not experience every one of these symptoms. In fact, some women will have few if any symptoms at all. However, it’s not uncommon for menopausal women to experience many of the symptoms listed here at one time or another throughout the menopausal process.

All too often the symptoms women experience during menopause are mocked and considered laughable. However, women going through this change of life certainly do not enjoy the changes from hot flashes to migraines to mood swings and depression. It’s no fun and having the rest of the world take your symptoms lightly is not easy to deal with either.

Menopausal women may find themselves lacking energy and fighting a wide variety of symptoms that make them feel like staying inside all day. However, it is incredibly important for women who are premenopausal or experiencing menopause to get plenty of exercise. As a woman ages exercise becomes even more important than it was when she was younger. Getting significant exercise on a daily basis allows women to improve their bones and heart, maintain a healthy weight, and improve their mood and well being.

Women who are not active have increased risk for many conditions and diseases including obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure to name a few. Additionally, women who are sedentary will experience higher incidents of insomnia, chronic back pain, irregularity, and stiffness. Loss of bone mass, weak muscles, poor circulation, shortness of breath, depress, and more may be a problem.

The best way to avoid many of these health problems and to improve one’s menopausal symptoms is to simply get some physical activity. This may be accomplished by dancing, biking, jogging, walking, swimming, gardening, or other aerobic activity.

Muscles and bones are similar in the fact that if you don’t use them you will lose them. Loss of bone density is a real problem for many women and something that younger women should consider so they can get active and maintain their bone density. Any weight bearing exercise is important for women who want to maintain their bone mass. Good exercises include walking or running. Women who have already lost muscle and bone mass due to inactivity shouldn’t worry too much because they can rebuild it simply by beginning a new exercise routine. Not only is exercise important for bone mass, but it can reduce the risk of fractures. This is really important as women age due to the increased risk of falls that could result in fractures.

Another benefit of exercising for menopausal women is the fact that it can increase mood. When women exercise they will experience e release of endorphins to the brain. These are known as the “feel good” hormones and can help people respond better to stress. The effect of exercise on mood can last for hours. It’s important to talk with your doctor before beginning any exercise regime, however, because there may be some other considerations that should be evaluated.

It is important for everyone to eat a healthy well balanced diet. However, women who are going through menopause need to be especially careful about their diet in order to help relieve their symptoms and combat some of the side effects of menopause, like weight gain.

Of course, the nutritional requirements for each person vary and this changes with age, too. In general, it is important for women to take at least 1,000 mgs of calcium before they begin menopause. Then, women who are going through menopause or who are post menopausal should take 1500 mgs of calcium if they are not taking hormone replacement therapy and only 1,000 mgs if they are taking hormone replacement therapy.

Foods women may enjoy include low fat yogurt, milk, cheese, sardines, oysters, salmon, broccoli, spinach, and more. Women who take supplements should take calcium carbonate because the body can absorb this the easiest. Women who are lactose intolerant should include acidophilus milk in their diet because it can be digested more readily.

Women also need to ensure they are getting enough vitamin D because this helps with calcium absorption. For example, women who take vitamin D may reduce their risk of osteoporosis or if they already have osteoporosis may reduce the risk of fractures due to this condition.

It’s important to take only the recommended amount of these supplements because doses that are too high may cause abdominal pain, kidney stones, constipation, as well as other problems.

Other nutritional considerations premenopausal women should keep in mind include eating foods low in cholesterol and fat. It’s important to keep fat intake to only 30% of one’s daily calorie intake. Foods that are good choices include whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and foods that are high in Vitamin C. Good choices include grapefruit, oranges, tomatoes, winter squash carrots, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, cauliflower, as well as others. Eating the recommended amount of daily fiber is also important to improve bowel movements and reduce one’s risk of colon cancer. The recommended amount of fiber is 20 to 30 grams per day.

Many women suffering from menopausal symptoms are interested in alternative treatments. There are quite a few complementary therapies and alternative therapies available to women beginning menopause. Some of the treatments that are considered “alternative” by the medical world include massage, herbal supplementation, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, homeopathy, biofeedback, healthy eating, exercise, and more.

Treatments that are considered to be complementary are usually used in combination with other treatment options, which might include surgery or even drugs. Alternative treatments are usually used on their own. Some women find that by including botanical phytoestrogens in their diet they are able to relieve some of their menopausal symptoms. Other supplements that may help include flaxseed and cohosh.

Botanicals are plant derived medicines and have been used for hundreds of years. Botanicals are not really “alternative” in the sense that they are not mainstream simply because more than half of today’s prescription drugs use some form of botanical medicine. Many alternative therapies are made up of nutritional supplements and herbs.

Many women wonder if their menopausal symptoms can truly be relieved from botanicals. The answer is “yes” in some cases, such as those who take phytoestrogens. The reason phytoestrogens may help relieve menopausal symptoms is due to the fact that they have a very low estrogen like effect. In some cases women taking phytoestrogens experience lower instances of night sweats and hot flashes while others find their cholesterol levels are lowered. Isoflavones are a good example of a plant estrogen and these are found in foods like soybeans, tofu, and soymilk.

Other women choose to incorporate black cohosh into their diet. Remifemin is a popular brand of this supplement. In general, it is not recommended to take this supplement for more than six months because safety has not been determined past this period of time. However, for a short term method of treatment it does appear to help relieve vaginal dryness, night sweats, and hot flashes. There are some minor side effects, like gastrointestinal upset, that some women experience. In general, though, the benefits significantly outweigh the potential side effects of these natural alternatives.

Hormone replacement therapy, commonly referred to as HRT, has been frequently prescribed to women to treat their menopause symptoms. This particular therapy has also been recommended to help women reduce their risk of heart disease and/or osteoporosis. However, Hormone Replacement Therapy does have some significant risks and it has become clearer over the years what those risks are.

Hormone Replacement Therapy is a supplement that uses either estrogen or both estrogen and progesterone to treat women during menopause as well as after. Women’s ovaries naturally produce these two hormones however when menopause begins the body does not produce enough of these hormones, which is why so many women experience symptoms. The HRT supplements allow women to replace some of the lost hormones to reduce the extent of their symptoms.

The body needs to replace these hormones for several reasons. Initially, the hormones prepare the uterus for pregnancy. However, in later years these hormones help in the absorption of calcium as well as assists in the maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels. The vagina also needs estrogen to remain healthy.

As women approach menopause the production of these hormones by the ovaries reduces significantly. When the estrogen levels are lower in the body or fluctuate significantly women begin to experience symptoms like hot flashes and even osteoporosis. Women taking hormone replacement therapy can relive some of their symptoms by supplementing the body with the missing estrogen levels.

Progesterone is also taken by women who have their uterus. The reason why progesterone is taken by these women is because without it their risk of endometrial cancer is higher.

There are two types of hormone replacement therapy. The first is estrogen therapy and this consists only of estrogen therapy. The next is progesterone/progestin hormone therapy with estrogen. This is frequently referred to as a combination therapy.

Women who begin taking hormone replacement therapy for their menopausal symptoms need to be reevaluated every year to ensure they are taking the right amount of the supplement and that they are reducing their risks while maximizing benefits.

Women going through menopause want to know every treatment option available to them. The issue isn’t that they have to go through menopause, because that is just a natural part of life. The issue that women have is that their symptoms can vary from mild to extreme and that is in just a matter of minutes! There are many different options that women may find helpful when it comes to treating menopause. One option is hormone replacement therapy.

Hormone replacement therapy is made of progestin and estrogens that work with the woman’s body to help relieve menopausal symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy is available as an implant, cream, vaginal ring insert, patch, injection, and even as pills. There are some side effects of hormone replacement therapy, HRT for short, and these must be considered before beginning this course of treatment. Some of the side effects include cramping, breast tenderness, bloating, depression, bleeding, and more. These symptoms may last for months or years after menopause. There are some serious side effects, too, include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer, deep vein thrombosis, and breast cancer. There are benefits of HRT, too, including colon cancer, osteoporosis, aging skin, macular degeneration, urinary incontinence, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.

Estrogen medications are another treatment option. They are made of conjugated estrogen and may come from the urine of a pregnant mare or else be synthetic. Esterified estrogens, dienestrol, estradiol, estropipate, ethynyl estradiol, testosterone, and more are some of the supplements that may be offered to women going through menopause to help them with their symptoms.

Some women choose to use natural methods to treat their menopausal symptoms and some are successful while others are not. The degree of symptoms women experience with menopause is varied and some women truly do not experience many severe symptoms at all. On the other hand, other women experience extreme symptoms that last for months or even years. It can be a difficult time for women and that’s why it is important to find the right treatment method.

Are you perimenopausal or menopausal? If so then you have probably thought to yourself, “When will this ever stop?” Unfortunately, menopause can take some time to resolve on its own and women must deal with the changes in hormones and other symptoms in the meantime.

The question regarding when menopause will stop has a different answer for every woman. There is no set schedule for menopause will start or when it will end. However, women still want to know how long they will need to put up with the symptoms of menopause. There are many factors that will play a role in menopause and when it will occur as well as end. Some of these factors include diet, genetics, lifestyle, overall health, and culture.

During the mid to late 40s the average woman will be experience menopausal symptoms. Not all women will experience menopausal symptoms but many will. In general, after a woman has missed her period for 12 months in a row she may be considered menopausal. That may seem like a long time to you; however there are some women who have menopausal symptoms for five years or more.

That may seem like an unacceptable amount of time, however it has been researched and the majority of women will take anywhere from 2 to 10 years to experience menopause. This usually occurs in the mid 40s to mid 50s time frame. Many women take hormone replacement therapy or use natural approaches to help them deal with the symptoms of menopause due to hormonal imbalance. There is no set time for menopause or set amount of time it will last. Women just need to be patient and listen to their bodies to try and get through this change as best one can.

The average age for menopause to begin is usually in the early 50s. However, it’s not uncommon for women in the 45-55 age range to be going through menopause. However, women are not officially menopausal until they have missed their periods for 12 straight months. There is something called perimenopause that confuses many women and it is the start of the body’s natural change from fertile to infertile. During this time frame women will notice they have a normal period for several months and then miss their period for several months. The flow may vary somewhat during this time frame, too, and women may wonder if they are pregnant or if there is something wrong with their bodies. Women can get pregnant during this time so it is important to use contraception if pregnancy is not desirable. However, this is nothing unusual or worthy of worrying over simply because it is the body’s natural process of changing.

Premenopause occurs even before perimenopause. This stage may begin during the early 30s or 40s. This stage simply means that women experience their reproductive cycle slowing down. During this stage some of the symptoms that might occur include hair loss, reduced sex drive, PMS, facial hair, weight gain around the waist, water retention, infertility, fibroids, and many other symptoms.

During perimenopause women are just a few years out from full fledged menopause and the symptoms will be stronger and more noticeable. During this time frame women may have mood swings, fibroid tumors, tender breasts, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, hormone imbalances, sleep problems, weight gain, and other symptoms.

The vast majority of women who experience natural menopause will see an end to their cycles between the 45 and 55 years of age. Women who experience early menopause may do so as a result of chronic stress, anorexia, malnourishment, obesity, bulimia, or even an autoimmune disease.

Women going through menopause at the average natural age will have a zero percent progesterone production level and an estrogen production level that is roughly half what it used to be. When the balance between these two hormones is off then the symptoms can be quite difficult to deal with. That’s when the common menopausal symptoms occur including hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, memory problems, incontinence, high blood pressure, and more.

Women know that menopause is coming and they have likely seen their aunts, mothers, and other women in their family go through this change. However, knowing what exactly to expect is difficult since every woman is different. It’s similar to childbirth in the fact that while all pregnant women go through the same process the experience is incredibly individual and different for everyone. That’s how menopause is and some women will have a difficult time while others won’t. It’s not fair, but nothing about life seems to be fair!

Menopause is a normal part of the aging process. It signifies the end of menstrual cycles due to the fact that the ovaries are making less and less progesterone and estrogen, which are female hormones. The menstrual cycle is regulated by these hormones so when they are no longer being produced by the body menopause is only natural.

Age of Menopause

Many women start thinking about menopause in their late 30s and wondering when it will happen and when it will start. Although 51 is the average age for menopause it may begin as early as the age of 40 or as late as 59. There are some women who even start “the change” earlier and later than these ages, however that is unusual unless there is an operation or something else going on.

For example, when both ovaries are removed then this is considered a “surgical menopause” however if the ovaries are left in place and only the uterus removed then a surgical menopause does not occur. Women who are 40 or younger who start missing their periods should have a blood test to determine if menopause or something else could be the cause.

Menopause does not occur over night and actually takes place over several years. Menopause is considered to be full fledged after a woman has missed her period for 12 consecutive months. Since women cannot conceive after they have gone through menopause it is important for woman to plan the number of children they want to have and try to conceive them before the age of 40. The older a woman is when she conceives the higher the incidence of disabilities as well as multiple births.

The symptoms of menopause vary from woman to woman and even from culture to culture. It’s interesting that this occurs and there are many things that play a role in what symptoms, if any, menopausal women experience. In fact, some researchers are concerned that culture plays a big role in the symptoms of menopause. For example, in cultures where growing older is respected and honored women experience fewer menopausal symptoms. However, in the west where the emphasis is mostly on youth and beauty women experience more symptoms of menopause. This could mean that there is a psychological role in symptoms, too. Another consideration for western women is their diet. Many women eat foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat, added hormones and antibiotics, and more unnatural additives. In addition many American women do not get enough exercise nor have many children, which could also play roles in menopausal symptoms.

Symptoms

You may have heard of common menopause symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes, however there are actually many other symptoms that are recognized as menopausal symptoms. Not only are their symptoms but there are changes and pains that many women experience. Menopausal symptoms include irregular periods, vaginal dryness, night sweats, reduced libido, fatigue, memory lapse, hair loss, concentration problems, problems sleeping, dizziness, allergies, incontinence, brittle nails, weight gain, irritability, depression, panic disorder, odor changes, headaches, itchy skin, digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches, osteoporosis, and more.

Of course, every menopausal woman will not experience every one of these symptoms. In fact, some women will have few if any symptoms at all. However, it’s not uncommon for menopausal women to experience many of the symptoms listed here at one time or another throughout the menopausal process.

All too often the symptoms women experience during menopause are mocked and considered laughable. However, women going through this change of life certainly do not enjoy the changes from hot flashes to migraines to mood swings and depression. It’s no fun and having the rest of the world take your symptoms lightly is not easy to deal with either.