How Long Does Menopause Last?

By Sherri Daniels

This is a question a lot of women find themselves asking as they hit their forties. That is traditionally the time that menopause begins. The reason this question is so important is because menopause seems endless. To anyone who has not or will not experience, it may not seem like an important issue. However any woman who has been experiencing the symptoms of menopause for more than a few months are likely already fed up with it. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell how long menopause will last for you. There is just know way to know for sure. It all depends on you as an individual. The only thing you can really do is think about your mother and grandmothers. How long did menopause last for them? That is the one possible guideline you can look to for answers.

It may seem outlandish to think menopause can last for years and years. That is because most women use the word menopause to describe the whole process. That is not right. Menopause is a very specific period of time. It is only one stage out of three, sometimes four. Some women go through only three stages, some go through four, others go through more.

Pre menopause is the first stage. Sometimes it is used interchangeably with perimenopause. Sometimes they are considered separate stages. It really all depends on your doctor. He or she may consider it the same as perimenopause. He or she might consider pre menopause the period of life when you start menstruating irregularly.

So, perimenopause may be considered that stage, or the second stage of menopause. For the purposes of this article, we are going to use the two terms interchangeably because their fundamentals are the same. Transition is the key aspect of pre menopause. Most people define it as beginning when your periods become erratic and ending after you have been without a period for an entire twelve months. The real point is that there is no set amount of time for pre menopause to last. It can last as little as four years. It can go on as many as ten years. It can fall anywhere in between. There is just no real way to tell.

No matter how long it lasts, it does begin when your hormones start to go a little crazy. Their levels fluctuate wildly, gradually tapering off altogether. You start menstruating irregularly because your body begins producing less estrogen. Your ovulation schedule starts becoming more irregular as well. You begin to have hot flashes and night sweats. Mood swings start to take hold during this period of time. You can also experience insomnia and exhaustion, irritability, and you can start to become depressed.

As stated, menopause is a specific term. You have not experienced menopause itself until you have gone an entire year without menstruating even once. You have to go twelve entire months without bleeding at all. After you have done so, you will not have a period again. You are no longer fertile, so conceiving is an impossibility.

Post menopause describes, basically, the rest of your life. It begins after that final period and lasts, succinctly, as long as you yourself do. Approximately a year afterwards, give or take, you will stop experiencing the symptoms of menopause.

Answers to questions like How Long Does Menopause Last? ; can be found at http://www.menopauseabout.com

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Symptoms & Treatment of Post Menopause

By Ryan English

Post menopause symptoms will occur basically during the age line of around 45 to 55, but it varies from person to person! Post menopause includes quite several symptoms like night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, and other more. If the situation prolongs without undergoing good treatment will result to several health oriented troubles including bone loss, risk towards heart diseases, variation in cholesterol levels and other more. You will be confirmed about the occurrence of menopause symptoms, only if you take urine and blood tests. With these check-ups, you will be explained about the level of hormone imbalance. To overcome the hormonal imbalance, you can take hormone tablets in order to relieve from the post menopause symptoms. But it is mandatory to get advice with a good medical practitioner, so that you can avoid risking your life.

There are several symptoms that will occur, if you are directed to post menopause! They are here for your better understanding.

Hormonal Imbalance - This is the first principle symptom that a menopause woman will experience. The hormonal imbalance will lead to post menopausal bleeding.

Vaginal Dryness and Itching - Itching or scratching! This is the other symptom that menopause produces. Post menopause will make your vagina to appear dry and dulls the happiness of your sexual contact.

Urethritis and Cystitis - If you have ever experienced this symptom in your daily life, then it is really good! This will create the bladder infection and gives a burning sense to the bladder. They really less hold you urine and as a result, urine might leak out when you perform any actions.

Tress Incontinence - This is basically the leakage of urine, while the time you sneeze, laugh, lift, cough or run fast.

High blood pressure - High blood pressure is also called as hypertension will lead to severe health associated problems. The tenor of blood vessels will turn to be badly diminished thereby makes the blood passage way badly smaller.

Bone fracture, leg and muscle cramps - When you are directed towards menopause, you turn physically week and the density of the bone gets automatically reduced. If your bones turn weaker, you easy fall prey to bone fractures and leg cramps.

When considering the real fact, you never have to undergo any special treatment to get relief from the post menopause symptoms. Healthy dieting and good procedural lifestyle will make you to stay out from post menopause. Get a good sound sleep and rest well, as this is the most important key factor you must follow. Finding an alternative medicine will also be good and beneficial! The best treatments for post menopause are bulleted here for your reference:

Choose right food to intake. It is good to eat diets that have low fat content and fiber-rich. Along with, it is good to take good amount of vegetables and fruits. Eat good amount of soy, as they are really good to get relief from post menopause symptom.

Never take spicy foods and caffeine. Rest well and practice good exercise to overcome the post menopause troubles. If you have the habit of smoking, then your health risk will be aggressively doubled by resulting several other health problems like cholesterol, multi-vitamin, hear diseases and early aging. To avoid all these troubles, it is good to take mineral and multi-vitamin supplements like calcium and other more.

Related Articles:

Top Rated Natural Menopause Products -> Natural Menopause Products

Post Menopausal Hot Flashes

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Got Peach Fuzz After Menopause?

By John Russell

Got peach fuzz after menopause - this is a question that seems to be asked more and more by women ending menopause. While not a sign of menopause, perimenopause, or early menopause, recent studies seem to indicate peach fuzz after menopause is often associated with early or very early onset of menopause.

While not a major issue in contemporary women's health, there's a seeming, growing phenomenon of peach fuzz after menopause.

Women's health websites and information sources typically do not write about this emerging trend but peach fuzz after menopause is clearly a growing trend. Some reports do, however, seem to indicate actually starting in perimenopause, so called "peach fuzz" starts emerging either on the neck or above the upper lip. Additional studies are underway to find a scientific explanation or links between early onset of menopause and peach fuzz.

After doing a search on professional skin care products, it does not appear there are any natural skin care products other than the use of peroxide for bleaching.

The change in the action of hormones during menopause can cause additional hair growth. The most important hormone in hair growth is testosterone which, while thought to be only a male hormone, is actually found in females as well. Levels in males are actually about 10 times higher than the levels in women. There is a test called the Free Testosterone Test, which can determine if the cause for extra testosterone after menopause is from the ovaries, the adrenal glands, or both.

Sources of women's health information, while not directly addressing peach fuzz after menopause, indicate there are drugs that can effectively block the affect of testosterone on hair follicles. Probably the most effective solution for peach fuzz after menopause is prescription drugs, which work by slowing the metabolism of the hair growth. While it does not eliminate the hair, it significantly slows its growth.

There are professional skin care products that claim to eliminate peach fuzz after menopause, but you should remain skeptical and discuss the option of prescription drugs. As the trend grows due to the aging boomer population, professional skin care products will likely emerge and work satisfactorily.

Summary: The cause for peach fuzz after menopause is hormone imbalance and typically a rising rate of testosterone. Prescription drugs are emerging which can slow down the growth and provide relief without having to shave facial areas to get rid of unwanted hair.

John Russell of IH Distribution, LLC brings you health, anti-aging and skin care products from around the world. Find fabulous skin care tips and great articles on a wide range of topics for women at http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com

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Menopause Relief--Are Sleeping Pills One Of The Best Solutions For Menopause Insomnia?

By Randy Hough

If you watch much TV, you see the ads all the time: Sleeping pills can bring you menopause relief and they are touted as one of the solutions for menopause insomnia. But are they really the answer?

During menopause and perimenopause, many, if not most, women suffer to some degree from insomnia. Either you wake up and cannot get back to sleep, or you simply cannot fall asleep as you once could. You wake up tired and go to bed tired, but still you cannot get a good night's sleep.

Many factors enter into the insomnia picture: stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, temperature changes, changes in routine, and just minor noises can disturb your slumber.

When you look at the overall picture, you can see that there are many things you can do to help with menopause insomnia. The factors mentioned above are all manageable by using natural methods.

Is there a natural way?

Stress can be managed by using numerous techniques. Our fast-paced lifestyle is mostly to blame, so with some consideration, you can certainly find ways to reduce the stress levels in your life. Perhaps restructuring your day so that you have time for walks, exercise, play or visiting with friends can make a substantial difference.

Anxiety is very pervasive and destructive. It can gnaw away at your core being and rob you of your energy and good humor. By taking the time to address the underlying causes, you will free yourself of this most miserable guest. Get help with the bills, mend the relationship, ask forgiveness, do whatever it takes to clear your foundation in life.

Imbalanced hormones can be helped by eating a well balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. A high quality vitamin/mineral supplement is very helpful as well. This cannot be over-emphasized because the hormones play such a critical role in your sleep patterns.

If you bedroom is too warm, you will probably wake up because your body is already prone to hot flashes and night sweats. Open the window, get a lighter blanket, but do something to provide for fresh air and a cool room. You will sleep much better. No wonder my own mother slept with her window open all year long!

Life changes all the time, and especially as menopause enters in. Teenagers grow up and leave home, relationships change, values begin to change, work takes on a different significance and all of this can easily prevent you from getting a good night's rest. Take the time to resolve these changes, accept them and adapt.

Minor noises that used to go unnoticed can now be most annoying. Flushing toilets, barking dogs, music in the next room, etc. can all keep you awake or wake you up. Often other people are quite willing to be more quiet, if you only ask them. When there is nothing you can do though, you might need to invest in something to mask the noise or cancel it out. Even simple ear plugs can go a long way in masking the unwelcome noise. Some people use recordings of thunderstorms or ocean tides to cover up outside noises.

So, who needs sleeping pills?

There certainly are times when sleeping pills are advised. However, there is no reason to make them the solution for menopause insomnia. There are many safe, natural sleeping pills that can get you over the hump when you need it and they can be a real life saver.

The problem arises when you become dependent on them, especially if they are a powerful pharmaceutical drug with the potential for dependency. It is quite common for women to become dependent on these drugs, and suffer the side effects as well.

In conclusion, take a look at the many natural, simple remedies to get menopause relief. By taking personal responsibility you will find that your menopause insomnia can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Sleeping pills have their place, but it should be to temporarily help you, not become the solution.

Safe Menopause Relief and Family Stress and Healthare two of the projects that Randy Hough and Laura Simon, MSW,MEd, have worked together on to help families. They live and work in the Upper Valley of Vermont.

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Foods That Should Be Eaten Regularly During Menopause

By Darlyn Burkle

When a woman reaches a certain age, some changes occur in the body. These changes are called the menopause, and indicate that the woman is no longer of child bearing age. As a part of these changes, her libido decreases, and she no longer goes through menstruation, because she is no longer ovulating. The changes can also cause hot flushes, mood swings, and other symptoms that indicate the changes in hormone production.

The foods that we eat can affect the chemicals in our bodies, so it is possible to reduce the symptoms of the menopause through changing the way we eat. One important thing about eating during the menopause is that you should try to eat natural, wholesome foods where possible, and avoid processed foods with lots of unnatural chemicals.

Eat Natural Foods

When we speak of all natural foods, we man foods that are not processed. Foods to be taken during menopause should be the type that are grown naturally. And there are many, such as lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods that are overly processed, such as crackers and, basically, anything that comes in a box or package. During those golden years, the foods to be taken during menopause essentially be purchased on the extremities of the supermarket, that's where the fruits and veggies usually are. Steer clear from the inside aisles as possible, which is where you find the junk and overly processed foods that can wreak havoc on your hormones. Consuming too much junk food will send a menopausal woman on a roller coaster ride of emotions and symptoms. This is a surefire way to make your menopause experience a very long and hard one.

Another thing to remember is to drink lots of water. This is important for all people, not just women going through the menopause. It is actually possible to drink too much water, so don't just guzzle as much as you can - but try to aim for about six glasses of water a day - a glass with each meal, and a glass when you are feeling thirsty, is a good start.

The menopause is a natural part of life for every woman, and it does not have to be an unpleasant one. You will probably experience some of the symptoms described above while you are going through the menopause, but if you try to stay active and eat healthily then you should be able to minimize the symptoms. If you need some advice about what foods to avoid, or foods that are believed to help with the menopause, consult your doctor.

Learn about menopause natural remedies. Sign up for our FREE newsletter and make natural herbs remedies a part of your regimen.

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All About Menopause

By Tapan Pal

Menopause and Climacteric

Definition. Menopause refers to final cessation of menstruation while climacteric means the period at which the woman gradually changes from the reproductive life into one of senescence. Meno¬pause is also referred by the laity as 'the change of life'. However both the terms are often synonymously used, menopause being the popular term used. These are physiological processes due to cessa¬tion of ovarian follicular function. Aetiology. Menopause occurs as result of exhaustion of eggs from ovarian follicles and Consequent oestrogen deprivation.
Physiological Changes in Climacteric or Menopause and Post menopausal age.

Genital. Progressive atrophy of genital organs occurs with more and more deposition of fibrous tissue in them.

Ovary. They go small (5 gm. each), fibrotic with furrowed surface, Follicles get exhausted. Ovarian Vessels become sclerosed. Cortical stromal hyperplasia is a frequent finding due to high LH level in women aged 40¬46 years. Ovarian stroma becomes a source of small amount of androgens. Fallopian tubes shrink with diminished mortility.

Uterus becomes small and fibrotic due to atrophy of muscle. Endometrium becomes thin and atrophic (senile). In some women, endometrial. hyperplasia may occur after menopause as a result of constant oestrone stimulation. Cervix atrophies and flushes with the vaginal vault. Cervical secretion becomes scant, thick and later 4isappears. The vaginal epithelium atrophies with loss of rugosity. Vaginal smear shows atrophic changes. Vagina contracts with shallowness of the fornices. Vulva gradually atrophies with narrowing of the introitus : pelvic cellular tissue becomes gradually lax.

Secondary sex characteristics. Breasts show gradual atrophy of the glandular tissue resulting in flabbynes. These become pendulous due to deposition of fat around. Pubic and axillary hair becomes sparse.

Physical. Body weight decreases after 65 years. There is decrease in cell mass of organs. Skin wrinkles, becomes less elastic with hair appearing on face. Subcutaneous fat deposition. occurs on the hip and thighs. Height diminishes postraenopausally after 65 years. Kyphosis may develop due to spinal osteoporosis.

Metabolic. Osteoporosis occurs as a result of oestrogen deprivation. Reduction in trabecular bone (collagen matrix) (Osteoblasts) and Calcium leads to oestrogen deprived Osteoporosis. Premenopausally woman is protected against ischaernic heart disease due to high HDL and low LDL cholesterol. The latter rises postmenopause, thus incidence of ischaernic heart disease also rises. Premature menopause natural or by oophorectomy suffers from increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (cardiac and cerebral stroke) and osteoporosis.

Digestive. Hypochlorhydria develops. Motor activity of entire alimentary tract diminishes resulting in dyspepsia and constipation in postmenopausal women. Bladder and urethral epithelia atrophy. Psychosexual. Emotional upsets are common. At menopause sex urge may increase. After 60 years, sex urge wanes as an aging process.

Endocrinal. There is gonadal failure at menopause. Plasma Oestradiol level falls, oestrone remains normal, ovarian stroma however, produces andostenedione. Extraglandular conversion of androstenedione to oestrone occurs in fatty tissue. Postmenopausally, adrenal cortex becomes the source of oestrone derived from androstenedione. Oestrone becomes the predominating oestrogen after menopause. Postmenopausal daily oestrone formation has been estimated as 15 100 gg/day (Mac Donald et al, 1973) and serum level at 30 70 pg/ml. Progesterone secretion ceases from the ovary due to failure of ovulation. Total urinary oestrogen level falls to about 6 Pg1 24 hours at the postmenopausal period. Androstenedione level mostly from adrenal cortex, little . from ovary comes to one half that seen prior to menopause. Testosterone level does not appreciably fall because postmenopause ovary secretes more testosterone.

Pituitary gonadotrophins. FHS and LH are secreted in increasing amount due to the absence of negative feed back control by the ovarian steroids. LH ovulatory surge disappears, the mean basal serum menopausal gonadotrophin levels are in the range of 50 150 rn LU/ml FSH and 50 100 m IU/ml LH. FSH level is 15 times higher than premenopausal level by 3 5 years after menopause while LH level is increased 3 fold. Prolactin level falls.

Timing. The process of climacteric may gradually start 2 3 years before menopause but may continue 2 5 years after it. The age at which menopause occurs varies widely from 40 to 55 years with mean age of about 47 years. Genetic makeup, race and climate influence age of menopause. Women of tropics get earlier menopause than those in colder climate. Some believe that the early the menarche starts, the later would be the menopause while late coming of the menarche is associated with early menopause. Early or delayed menopause is considered when menopause happens before 35 years or after 55 years respectively. Early menopause may be due to ovarian failure, oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation.

Delayed menopause is usually due to some pelvic pathology like uterine fibroid or in association with disease e.g., diabetes mellitus.

Clinical Features of Menopause and climacteric

Menstrual Symptoms. This occurs in forms of
(a) progressive scanty menstrual loss followed by cessation of menses,

(b) menses at prolonged intervals finally ceasing,

(c) sudden cessation of menses. Prior to menopause menstrual cycles become anovulatory. Any excessive menstrual loss or irregular haemorrhage is not menopausal as in commonly believed by lay public but is due to some pelvic pathology.

Other symptoms. Most women remain asymptomatic. They adapt nicely the physiological changes of menopause. Some may have mild symptoms of putting on weight, joint pains, increase of sex desire followed by its gradual decrease.

Signs. The following signs appear gradually in a normal woman in the menopausal period and thereafter.

1. General signs. Increase in weight, deposition of fat on the hip, buttocks, around breasts. Breasts are examined.

2. Genital signs. Vulva. Progressive atrophy with scanty hair with narrowing of the vaginal introitus. Vagina. This becomes narrow with 'tenting' of vaginal vault,, thinning of mucous membrane and 18ss of rugae.

Cervix. Portio vaginalis atrophies and gets flushed with vaginal vault. Uterus. Body is felt small and hard.

Adnexae. Ovaries become impalpable.

Diagnosis. This can be made from clinical features aided by atrophic vaginal smear and elevated serum FSH level of 50 mIU/ml and above. Elevated plasma LH level is less helpful. Urinary or serum oestrogen level shows value similar to follicular phase and thus less reliable for diagnosis. Differential Diagnosis. Stoppage of menses due to menopause may be simulated by that due to pseudocyesis or pregnancy.

Treatment. Psychotherapy. Explanations for the condition and reassurances are to be given to the woman passing through climacteric when seeking advice for cessation of menses. Improvement of health by dietetic adjustment, adequate rest and exercise and regular evacuation of bowel are to be ensured. For sleep disturbance, diazepam (Valium) 5 mg. or Lorazepam 1 or 2 mg. is taken orally at bed time.

Menopausal or Climacteric Syndrome

Menopausal Syndrome refers to group of symptoms that are experienced by some women during climacteric. Hot flushes (vasomotor instability symptom) that last for one year in 80% are characteristic of menopausal syndrome. It diminishes of its own by 3 4 years. The cause of hot flush is unclear but follows oestrogen withdrawal in women with poor vascular control. Rise of hypothalamic endorphin is implicated. It is experienced by, 25% women with psychological background, particularly following oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation at younger age. Flush depends on rate of oestrogen loss and extragonadal oestrone formation. The body gradually adjusts itself to natural decline of oestrogen and flushes gradually pass off. Symptoms. These appear as follows: vasomotor and other symptoms usually follow but even precede cessation of menses.

1. Menstrual. Menses stop as already described under menopause. A proportion of premenopausal women come with emotional symptoms, loss of libido and dry vagina during intercourse, Hot flushes and sweats are complained with scanty and delayed menses by some women.

2. Vasomotor. 'Hot flushes' (feeling of warmth) due to cutaneous vasodilatation are commonly experienced by these, women on the face and neck spreading all over the body; this feeling of heat may be followed by sweating. They may come once a day but sometimes every hour; they come particularly at night. These are characteristic manifestations of menopausal syndrome.

3. Emotional. This is manifested by headache, irritability, sleeplessness, giddiness, fatigue, depression, palpitation. There may be sensations of 'pins and needles' in the sole and palm. Disturbed sleep can be due to hot flushes and sweats.

4. Sexual. These are decreased libido and dyspareunia due to atrophic vaginitis and lack of vaginal lubrication during intercourse.

5. Musculoskeletal. These appear as backache, pain in joints due to laxity of ligaments and muscles.

Signs. These are same as described under menopause. Diagnosis. This has been already described under menopause. Differential Diagnosis. Pseudocyesis of spurious pregnancy may be mistaken by the patient for menopausal syndrome. In the former, amenorrhoea, enlargement of breasts and abdomen due to deposition of fat like that in pregnancy occur; there is also the false feeling of foetal movements due to flatulent dyspepsia. The patient should be assured that her symptoms are menopausal. In all these cases, pregnancy may also occur and should be carefully excluded by thorough examination, immunological urinary pregnancy test and pelvic ultrasound.

Premature Menopause

Definition. Menopause coming on a patient below 35 years is called premature menopause. Cause. Poor stock of ovarian follicles gets exhausted. Clinical Features, Symptoms, Secondary amenorrhoea for more than 6 months. In some hot flushes, mood instability, disturbed sleep, loss of libido, (menopausal syndrome). draying of hair. Signs. Atrophic vaginal epithelism, normal or small sized uterus. Investigations. Raised serum FSH above 50 mIU/ml.; ovarian biopsy showing no ovarian follicles is not done. Treatment Assurance, diazepam for poor sleep. Oestrogen therapy for menopausal syndrome are given. Menstruation can not be brought on hormone therapy. Male Climacteric. About 10 per cent men experience climacteric symptoms at a later age than women due to androgen deprivation. The rest 90 per cent gradually adapt themselves without symptoms.

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Women in Menopause - Vitamin and Mineral Needs

By Dr Jenny Tylee

Menopause is the transitional change in a woman's life when menstruation ceases. It is a natural occurrence, which marks the end of the reproductive years, just as the first menstrual period during puberty marked the start.

To address the symptoms and concerns about the increased risks of heart disease and osteoporosis some women have opted for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However worries about the links between HRT and breast cancer, or simply a belief that nature should take its own course, have motivated other women to try a natural approach.

Alternatives to HRT for dealing with the symptoms

As women approach menopause the production of hormones by the ovaries starts to slow down. As this process accelerates, hormone levels fluctuate more and often a woman notices changes in her menstrual cycle, such as:

· cycles may become longer, shorter or totally irregular,

· bleeding may become lighter, or

· bleeding may become unpredictable and heavy (seek advice from your health professional if this is the case).

· Eventually the hormone levels will fall to a level where menstruation (periods) will cease altogether and the menopause is reached.

Other symptoms

The most common symptoms are hot flushes and cold sweating. However, women sometimes experience other symptoms including:

· palpitations,
· tingling, or itching sensations,
· vertigo,
· aches and pains in muscles and bones,
· forgetfulness,
· headaches,
· irritability,
· insomnia,
· depression,
· lack of self-esteem,
· reduced sex drive (libido),
· tiredness,
· urinary frequency, and
· vaginal dryness.

What you can do to help

There are many aspects of your lifestyle and diet that you can alter to help improve the symptoms that can be associated with menopause. These include following a diet that will help to balance the hormones.

This diet consists of:

· eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (at least five to seven serves per day),

· eating complex carbohydrates - wholegrains like brown rice and oats,

· eating organic foods if this is possible,

· eating phytoestrogens, including, beans such as lentils, chickpeas and soya products,

· eating oily foods, including, fish, nuts, seeds and oils,

· reducing your intake of saturated fat from dairy products and meat,

· drinking plenty of pure filtered water,

· increase your intake of fibre (which should occur if you are also eating complex carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables),

· avoid additives, preservatives and chemicals, such as artificial sweeteners,

· try to eat whole unprocessed foods wherever possible,

· avoid or reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages, such as tea and coffee,

· reduce or eliminate alcohol,

· avoid sugar on its own and hidden in foods.

Supplements are beneficial during the menopause in order to ensure that you have adequate nutrients for maintaining healthy bones. Many of the following supplements are also known to help with the symptoms of the menopause.

A good quality multivitamin and mineral would form the foundation of your supplement programme to make sure that you are getting a 'little bit of everything'. Use the supplement programme below for at least three months and then re-evaluate your supplement needs. Some women need higher doses than are given below.

· A good multivitamin and mineral supplement designed for women, which includes boron.

· Vitamin C with bioflavonoids 1000 mg per day,

· Vitamin E 400 IU per day,

· B complex 50 mg per day,

· Magnesium 300 mg per day,

· Calcium citrate 500 mg per day,

· Zinc 10 mg per day,

· Linseed oil 1000 mg per day.

The herbs: Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Dong quai (Angelica sinensis), Ginseng, Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and Licorice (Glycrrhiza glabra) can help to control the hot flushes and other symptoms.

Regular exercise, at least 30-45 minutes most days of the week will:

· maintain your heart health and improve your general health,

· help to keep your bones healthy and prevent bone loss through osteoporosis

· help maintain your muscle strength and balance, thus reducing the risk of injury from falls,

· provide a feeling of relaxation and general wellbeing, and

· help improve hot flushes.

If you smoke cigarettes try to give up. Cigarette smoking is related to hot flushes.

Special Note

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, the contraceptive pill, fertility drugs, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or any other hormonal treatment, unless they are recommended by your health professional.

Scientists have begun to study the benefits of a group of plant hormones known as phytoestrogens. These hormones naturally occur in certain foods such as soya. Soya contains two flavonoids, genistein and daidzein, and studies have shown that they are chemically similar to Tamoxifen, which is the drug used to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer.

HRT, used for five or more years, may increase your risk of breast cancer. Try to find relief from your symptoms and some peace of mind with vitamin and mineral supplements and herbs.

References

Baird, D.D, Umbach, D.M, Landsedell, L, et al.1995, Dietary Intervention Study to Assess Estrogenicity of Dietary Soy Among Postmenopausal Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:1685?90.

Cassidy, A, Bingham, S, and Setchell, K.D. 1994, Biological Effects of a Diet of Soy Protein Rich in Isoflavones on the Menstrual Cycle of Premenopausal Women. Am J Clin Nutr 60:333?40.

Nestel, P.J, Pomeroy, S, Kay, S, et al. 1999, Isoflavones from Red Clover Improve Systemic Arterial Compliance but not Plasma Lipids in Menopausal Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:895?8.

Tice, J.A, Ettinger, B, Ensrud, K, et al. 2003, Phytoestrogen Supplements for the Treatment of Hot Flushes: The Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA 290:207?14.

Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking, cleansing their body, taking essential vitamin and mineral supplement and many other methods, including herbal remedies. Visit Dr Jenny's blog and join her newsletter for more quality information.

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Coping With Menopause In The Countryside

By Beatrice Taylor

Well, there's an assumption that women who live in the countryside suffer from menopause more then others. Let's have a look whether it is wrong or right.

Menopause is a special time for any woman and it can be physically and psychologically unsettling in a woman's life. It is a time of hot flashes, night sweats, poor sleep and ever-changing mood shifts. These debilitating symptoms can significantly interfere with family life, close or distant relationships and work.
And the fact is that the impact of menopause often depends on where a woman is in her life. And in rural areas it is much harder to cope with menopause. Why? Let's see.

First of all, there's the lack of female rural doctors. You can't deny it. But country women want better medical expertise on the subject of menopause. They need better healthcare support that is impossible in rural areas at present. As a result, lack of access to health care and support groups make menopausal experience especially stressful for such women.

Second of all, there's lack of psychological support. Country women (and all women, beg your pardon) entering menopause seek some sympathy. But, unfortunately, countryside can't provide them with reliable information and mere human understanding. Of course, there such thing as Internet, TV and mass-media, but, to tell you the truth, I personally don't believe that these things can give you comfort and consolation in such issues as menopause. They just give a certain amount of conflicting information. Hence, country women are left alone in their confusion and distress.

Third of all, country women have to perform multiple care-giving roles. You can deny it, but this is true, they have much more occupations and responsibilities than other women. Having no time and to think and care about such things as menopause, country women are often deeply surprised by the intensity of the psychological, physical and social consequences of menopause when it strikes them.

What can be done about it? Actually I can see at least two options here. One of them is to offer holistic care and comprehensive support to rural women going through the menopause. I believe, it would enhance the women's well-being as they go through menopause and enable them to optimize their health. Another option would be to train female community leaders to deliver local information sessions and help to set up support groups.

And last but not least. Menopause is a significant life event affecting millions of women globally. And women living in rural communities should not be forgotten.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beatrice_Taylor

Menopause Physician - Do You Really Need One?

By Vanessa Evans

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when she stops menstruating i.e. having periods. In the years leading up to this time there is a shift in the levels of female hormones that are produced. This can have both physical and emotional side effects. For some women these side effects are a slight inconvenience, for others they are debilitating. It is quite common for women to seek the advice of their doctor or a menopause physician at this time to help overcome these problems. But some have raised doubts as to whether the medical profession should be involved in the majority of cases, if at all.

A complaint that you frequently hear from some commentators is that the menopause is not a 'disease' that requires 'treatment'. It is just a normal process that every woman goes through. For centuries women have coped without any ill effects so why does there need to be any medical intervention at all?

A more sinister accusation is that there has been a medicalization of menopause, which is driven by greed and profit, rather than the welfare of women. The argument is that pharmaceutical companies are pushing their products into this field and actually creating a marketplace where there was not one before.

Why would the drug companies bother to do this? The provision of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is an expensive and profitable type of treatment. Once a patient is on HRT, it is a continual treatment that may go on for years. There are presently a large number of baby boomers who are passing through the age when the menopause occurs. In short, this is a highly lucrative marketplace for pharmaceutical companies to be in.

More recently there have been some health scares over the safety of taking HRT over long periods. Specifically, there is a fear that there is an increased risk of contracting cancer. This has led many women to question whether they need to receive treatment for their menopausal symptoms. Things have changed. Rather than believing that 'there is a pill for every ill', now women are making educated decisions about their own health.

There are many natural and alternative treatments on the market that aim to provide relief from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. There are even some innovative products such as menopause pajamas.

Although medical treatment can provide relief to many women suffering severe symptoms, the relative risks and benefits should be weighed up for each individual.

Visit http://www.naturalmenopausetips.com to find out more about coping with menopause night sweats and hot flashes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Evans