The Many Symptoms Of Menopause
Like any other changes that occur in the female body, there are specific signs that your body signals these changes with. Menopause is no different in this same way, there are signs and symptoms that let you know your body is changing and that menopause has begun. Below is a list of menopause symptoms that occur naturally.
Menopause Symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Bone density loss
- Libido changes
- Stress and Anxiety increase
- Irregular bleeding
- Memory and concentration problems
All of the above signs are actually the symptoms your body allows due to the fluctuation and eventual cease in estrogen production. Due to the hormones becoming off balanced the body naturally begins to signal that menopause is beginning. These signs can become distracting and even over whelming for many menopausal women. There are treatments that can lessen the duration and severity of menopause symptoms. There are three methods for relief.
Menopause Symptom Relief
- Estrogen (ET/ ERT) or Hormone Therapy (HT/HRT)
- Herbal Therapy
- Lifestyle Changes
Each of the above therapies has been successful for numerous women struggling to deal with the discomforts associated with menopause. Each method though successful does carry it’s own risks and side effects, as do most medical treatments. Below is a more detailed description of each therapy and it’s related risks and side effects.
Estrogen Therapy and Hormone Therapy
Estrogen therapy is a treatment in which the body is replenished with estrogen through pills, patches, and creams such as Hot Flash Freedom. These treatments release estrogen in a consistent dosage through the skin or by a pill form. Some of the side effects may include: headaches, nausea, weight gain, breast tenderness, fluid retention and vaginal discharge. Some of the risks involved are chronic liver disease, uterus cancer, blood clots and stroke. Hormone therapy is very similar but along with the replenishment of estrogen, progesterone is also given. This is done to prevent cancer of the uterus. Many women who have had a vaginal hysterectomy will only need estrogen therapy. Those women who have not had the uterus surgically removed will be given Hormone therapy with estrogen and progesterone. Side effects and risks remain the same.
Herbal Therapy
Many women throughout civilization have treated the symptoms of menopause using herbs and plant extracts to ease hot flashes, vaginal dryness and the changes in libido. There are several well-known herbs used for this. Some of these herbs include, black cohosh, Hawthorne flower, wild yam and soybeans. Many plants make phytoestrogens, which act as estrogen that is produced by mammals. This is a natural method to restoring the levels of both estrogen and progesterone. This method however does carry its own side effects. Some herbs can increase blood pressure or lower iron levels in the blood. It is important to speak to your physician before treating yourself with herbal remedies.
Lifestyle Changes
Studies have shown that women who begin to make healthier choices and change their lifestyles reduce their menopause symptoms. Some of the lifestyle changes are maintaining a healthy weight, stop smoking, eat a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients, exercise and stress reduction. Following these guidelines can improve your over all health and make your menopause symptoms decrease in severity. You should however speak to your physician prior to beginning an exercise or diet routine for safety purposes.
There are many signs that are involved in menopause as your body changes. When we begin to understand what our bodies are going through and that we can find symptom relief we can make menopause a much more acceptable part of life. In fact, many women experience hotflashes after menopause, so taking on these lifestyle changes can benefit you for the rest of your life.
