Most
women still rank menopause high on their list of dreaded health
issues. They imagine vastly intolerable symptoms that drag on
for years, from uncomfortable and embarrassing hot flashes to
irritable moods and insomnia, to a decrease in sex drive and
a whole lot of weight gain!
While
all of these natural symptoms of menopause can unfortunately
be experienced, there are explanations and even treatments available
for women undergoing the milestone time in their lives between
the menstruation and childbearing years, and the point that
periods begin to change, which is entitled the premenopausal
phase. Menopause is only technically marked after periods have
stopped for a whole year. This change can take place at various
times for different women, but once she reaches 50 and over,
a woman’s body has generally stopped producing the amount
of estrogen required in her ovaries for a monthly period, before
they eventually stop. Because ovarian hormones have a marked
effect on many body parts from the vagina and breasts, skin,
blood vessels and digestive tract, the symptoms of
menopause
that occur when estrogen is decreased can vary in type and intensity
from woman to woman.
So
it’s perimenopausal changes that actually produce the
nasty side effects to a woman’s health, weight and sex
drive prior to the onset of menopause. Know what symptoms are
common and what can be done to alleviate them, and also know
the signals of abnormalities and when to see your doctor or
visit a hospital immediately. The warning signs include bleeding
or spotting between periods of after intercourse or at the point
of menopause, or extremely heavy periods with clots that happen
more than every three weeks.
Fantastic
natural treatments or treatment alternatives are on the rise
to help women with those irritating symptoms like hot flashes
and night sweats, nervousness and irritability and weight gain
or decreased libido due to vaginal dryness. Calcium supplements
will strengthen bones, and natural health foods like soymilk,
tofu, tempeh or roasted soy nuts can give you the phytoestrogen
supplements you may need. Massage therapy and other relaxation
treatments can trigger the body to produce natural pain relief
or ‘endorphins’, besides which a massage or facial
can make you forget about menopause for a while! |
