Menopause

Menopause is a naturally occurring event, defined as the final menstrual cycle and normally confirmed when a woman misses her periods for 12 consecutive months. Menopause, often referred to as the “change of life,” takes place when occurs when a woman’s body no longer releases eggs. This goes together with a reduced production of the hormones Estrogen and Progesterone in the ovaries.

Menopause is exact opposite process to the Menarche, the start of a woman's menstrual cycles.

Menopause normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.  When occurring in women below the age of 40, Menopause is referred to as Premature. Premature menopause is confirmed by measuring the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). If premature menopause has occurred, the levels of FSH and LH will be unusually high.

When a woman's last period occurs between the ages of 55 and 60, the event is referred to as late menopause.

Menopause may trigger symptoms that cause women varying levels of discomfort. It also raises the risk of various health disorders, including weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) and various heart conditions.

In adult females who still have a uterus, who are not pregnant or lactating, post-menopause is identified by a permanent (at least 12 months) absence of periods. In women without a uterus, menopause is characterized by a very high FSH level.

With the increase in life-expectancy, many women live long enough for half their adult life to be spent in post-menopause.

In women with a uterus, peri-menopause is the years before and after the final menstrual cycle. During peri-menopause, the production of most of the reproductive hormones, including estrogens, progesterone and testosterone, reduces and becomes irregular. Often the levels of hormones will fluctuate widely.

In the peri-menopause years, many women experience symptoms of hormonal changes such as:

• Vaginal dryness
• Hot flashes
• Irregular sleep
• Mood swings
• Weight gain (particularly in the abdominal area)
• Hair loss

Those symptoms caused by low estrogen levels (dry skin for example) appear even after the menopause transition years are over. Other symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, caused by hormone fluctuations, usually disappear altogether or show significant improvement when peri-menopause transition is over.

Hormone therapy has been widely researched and  millions of women have benefited from the treatment. Hormone Therapy however, may increase a woman's exposure to the risk of serious conditions such as:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Blood Clots
• Breast Cancer
• Dementia

Recognizing these increased risks should be at the basis of any hormone therapy and regular Pap smears, pelvic examinations, breast exams and mammograms should be a part of any woman's hormone therapy regime. Hormone therapy should be taken at the lowest possible effective dosage for the shortest possible time frame.

Natural Menopause Treatments include the use of medicinal herbs such as:

• Black Cohosh
• Evening Primrose Oil
• Dong Quai
• St. John's Wort

These herbs have been in use in traditional medicine for hundreds of years and have made a significant contribution to the quality of life of millions of peri-menopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women.