Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

A woman’s body changes throughout her lifetime. Many of those changes are due to varying hormone levels that happen at different stages in life. Puberty often starts when a girl is about 12 years old. Her body changes, breasts and pubic hair develop, monthly periods begin.

Menopausal transition, commonly called perimenopause, is the time when a woman’s body is closer to menopause. At this time, a woman’s periods may become less regular, and she may start to feel menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats. Perimenopause usually begins about 2 to 4 years before the last menstrual period. It lasts for about 1 year after your last period. Menopause is marked by a woman’s last menstrual period. You cannot know for sure what is your last period until you have been period free for 1 full year. Postmenopausal follows menopause and lasts the rest of your life. Pregnancy is no longer possible. There may be some symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, which may continue long after you have passed through menopause.

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Menopause is a normal part of life. It is one step in a long, slow process of reproductive aging. For most women this process begins silently somewhere around age 40 when periods may start to be less regular. Declining levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause changes in your periods. These hormones are important for keeping the vagina and uterus healthy as well as for normal menstrual cycles and for successful pregnancy. Estrogen also helps to keep bones healthy. It helps women keep good cholesterol levels in their blood.

Some types of surgery can bring on menopause. For instance, removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) will make your periods stop. When both ovaries are removed (oophorectomy), menopause symptoms may start right away, no matter what your age.

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Although some women have few noticeable symptoms of menopause other than the ending of menstrual periods, most women will have some other symptoms. Symptoms may come and go, and more may develop, as the process of menopause progresses.

Symptoms that generally improve with time include:

* Menstrual period changes.

* Hot flashes.

* Emotional changes, such as mood swings or a change in sexual interest or response.

* Sleep disturbances (insomnia).

* Rapid, irregular heartbeat (heart palpitations).

* Generalized itching.

* Joint pain.

* Headaches.

* Problems with concentration and memory.

Symptoms of menopause that can be long-term and get worse with time include:

* Vaginal changes, such as:

* Vaginal dryness and itching.

* An increased risk of vaginal infections.

* Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).

Urinary tract problems, such as:

* An inability to control the leakage of urine (urinary incontinence).

* Urinary tract infections (UTIs).

* Changes in appearance.

Symptoms often end soon after menstrual periods stop. However, some women continue to have menopausal symptoms for several years after periods end. Many women report an increase in symptoms, such as hot flashes, following menopause caused by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, and these symptoms also seem to be more severe.1 Some conditions, such as depression, sleep problems, anxiety, and irritability, may be made worse by menopause.

Although menopause can cause a wide variety of symptoms in some women, other women do not experience any symptoms other than the end of menstrual periods. Many women feel positive about the changes that occur with menopause, such as freedom from menstruation and the risk of pregnancy.

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Surgery is not a treatment for menopause, but conditions requiring surgery become more common at the time of menopause.

Menopause Surgery Choices

Procedures that may be used to diagnose or treat problems, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, that occur during or after menopause include:

* Dilation and curettage (D&C).

* Endometrial ablation.

* Endometrial biopsy.

* Hysteroscopy.

* Hysterectomy.

What to Think About When Deciding Menopause Surgery

Bothersome symptoms and abnormal bleeding often stop naturally after menopause is completed. If menopause is nearing completion, watchful waiting may be the best approach when uterine fibroids or endometriosis is present.

Some women may prefer the risks of surgery to the burden and inconvenience of their symptoms.

Surgery may be the most appropriate treatment for cancers of the reproductive organs.

Indications for Surgery During Menopause

Surgery to treat or prevent problems during menopause may be considered when:

* Vaginal bleeding is severe and interferes with your daily activities.

* Abnormal vaginal bleeding does not respond to other treatments and anemia develops because of blood loss.

* Other problems are found or suspected, including:

a) Endometrial hyperplasia.

b) Uterine fibroids.

c) Endometriosis.

d) Uterine prolapse.

e) Gynecological cancers, such as cancer of the cervix, the ovary, or the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Side effects that can occur with all forms of estrogen but are more frequent with oral estrogen include:

* Headaches.

* Nausea.

* Vaginal discharge.

* Fluid retention.

* Weight gain.

* Breast tenderness.

* Spotting or darkening of the skin, particularly on the face.

* Deep venous thrombosis.

* Pulmonary emboli.

* Rarely, an increased growth of preexisting uterine fibroids or a worsening of endometriosis.

Some of these side effects, such as headaches, nausea, fluid retention, weight gain, and breast tenderness, may go away after a few weeks of use. The estrogen patch (trans-dermal estrogen) may cause skin irritation.

An estrogen ring must be replaced every 3 months. If the ring falls out at any time during the 3-month treatment period, you may rinse it with lukewarm water and reinsert it.

Vaginal cream may be used by women with liver or gallbladder disease.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What to Think About

Recent studies are recommending that hormone replacement therapy using estrogen and progestin (HRT) be used only for short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms. Studies involving women taking estrogen without progestin (ERT) are still in progress.

While ERT alone increases the risk of endometrial cancer, estrogen taken in combination with progestin (HRT) does not increase the risk. Women who have had a hysterectomy do not have an increased risk of uterine cancer.

A woman who has a uterus and is unable to tolerate the side effects of progestin in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may consider estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) if testing shows no abnormalities of the endometrium. Close observation for precancerous changes of the endometrium is required, including an annual pelvic exam and an annual endometrial biopsy.

No studies have compared different types estrogens to see whether there is a difference in their effects. Some women prefer estrogens that do not come from animal products.

Tags: Hormone Replacement Therapy, HRT, Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Ultrasound may tell how much time’s left on biological clock

The number of eggs left in a woman’s ovaries is like the grains of sand in an hourglass, ticking away the hours on her biological clock.

Researchers now say they may be able to predict when that clock will wind down.

And while doctors can’t actually count the number of eggs in an ovary, they can measure ovarian volume. British researchers say there’s a direct correlation between the two, and by measuring ovarian volume with trans-vaginal ultrasound, doctors should be able to predict when menopause will set in and how many fertile years a woman has left.

According to the study authors, this information will revolutionize the care of women looking for assisted reproductive technologies, including those who were treated for childhood cancers as well as women who want to put off starting a family for whatever reason.

Although information still needs to be validated in clinical studies, its benefit is most likely to start with women who are being treated for cancer and women attending fertility clinics, said Tom Kelsey, co-author of the study appearing June 17 in the journal Human Reproduction. (more…)

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

When you talk to your doctor, ask what your options are to relieve symptoms and what you can expect. Ask about side effects and alternatives to these treatments. Knowing what your options are and what to expect will help you make an informed decision about your health.

Here are some tips for talking with your doctor:

* Make a list of concerns and questions to take to your visit with your doctor. While you’re waiting to be seen, use the time to review your list and organize your thoughts. You can share the list with your doctor.

* Describe your symptoms clearly and briefly. Say when they started, how they make you feel, what triggers them, and what you’ve done to relieve them.

* Tell your doctor what prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and other supplements you’re taking. Be honest about your diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol or drug use, and sexual history withholding information can be harmful! Describe allergies to drugs, foods, or other things. Don’t forget to mention if you are being treated by other doctors.

* Don’t feel embarrassed about discussing sensitive topics. Chances are, your doctor has heard it before! Don’t leave something out because you’re worried about taking up too much time. Be sure to have all of your concerns addressed before you leave.

* If your doctor orders tests, be sure to ask how to find out about results and how long it takes to get them. Get instructions for what you need to do to get ready for the test(s) and find out about any dangers or side effects with the test(s).

* When you are given medicine and other treatments, ask your doctor about them. Talk about the latest studies and recommendations for treating menopausal symptoms. Ask how long treatment will last, if it has any side effects, how much it will cost, and if it is covered by insurance. Make sure you understand how to take your medicine; what to do if you miss a dose; if there are any foods, drugs or activities you should avoid when taking the medicine; and if there is a generic brand available at a lower price (you can also ask your pharmacist about this).

* Understand everything before you leave your visit. If you don’t understand something, ask to have it explained again.

* Bring a family member or trusted friend with you to your visit. That person can take notes, offer moral support, and help you remember what was discussed. You can also have that person ask questions as well. (more…)

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment

Stop Suffering From Menopause. Find Relief Now!

Some women say their doctors treat menopause like a disease. It’s important for you to remember that menopause is not a disease. However, you may have some symptoms that are difficult to cope with. There are ways to make this time in your life easier.

Learn About Your Options to Deal with Menopausal Symptoms

You have probably heard about different ways women relieve menopausal symptoms. We know that hormone therapy (HT) for menopause relieves symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, using HT may increase your chances of getting breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. There are other products, such as soy, ginseng, black cohosh, and flax seed, which women use to relieve symptoms. But are they safe?

Unfortunately, we don’t yet know if they’re safe and effective. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting research to find out.

In the meantime, before you take HT or any herbs or dietary supplements, talk to your doctor. Also, keep in mind these points about herbal therapies:

* Herbs are NOT necessarily safer than medicine prescribed by your health care provider.

* Herbs can cause side effects.

* Herbs can interact with other medicines you’re taking.

If you’ve already started using herbal therapies, tell your doctor. It’s important to get his or her advice.

Tags: Menopause, Menopause Symptom, Menopause Treatment