Understanding And Coping With The Symptoms of Menopause
August 26th, 2009 | by Nancy Boyler |Menopause is a milestone in a woman’s life. It is the end of monthly menstrual cycle and marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The average age when menopause occurs is 51 to 52 years in the US. It usually happens between ages 45 and 55. In this article we will explore the symptoms of menopause and ways to manage them.
Menopause is a time of shifting hormones and many annoying symptoms. Many of the symptoms are common and affect most women to some degree, but each woman experiences menopause in her own unique way. It’s important to remember that menopause is a completely natural process and not a disease or an ailment. It’s a normal part of life.
Women in menopause may face multiple physical and psychological symptoms. These may include: hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, irritability, depression, mental lapses, poor concentration, urinary incontinence, weight gain, joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, loss of bone density, indigestion, headaches, facial hair growth, dizziness, and more.
Women can use a variety of treatments that can help alleviate the menopause symptoms. There are two basic choices – medical treatments (hormone therapy) or natural treatments. There is no one treatment that will work for all women.
Hormone replacement therapies are designed to restore estrogen levels which the body itself after menopause no longer produces in sufficient quantities. Up until recently this was a standard recommendation for menopausal women.
Today, however, we know better. In 2002, a large clinical study (16,608 women were included) found that drugs used in these therapies do not come without risks and side-effects. They may increase the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism.
What are the alternatives? There are a number of natural alternatives a woman can try, if she decides against HRT. With herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, dietary and lifestyle changes most of the menopausal symptoms can be reduced, if not completely eliminated.
