While most people associate menopause with older women, it can occur in younger women as well. Any women who is going through the full menopause cycle before the age of 40, is considered to be experiencing premature menopause. Imagine the emotional affect this can have on a young woman. In addition to the associated symptoms of menopause, experiencing this premature cycle can add another level of emotion which could be just as devastating.

Some of the causes of premature menopause are: premature ovarian failure, in which your body’s immune system attacks itself causing your ovaries to stop functioning.

Early menopause can also be induced by surgery. So too, if you have had surgery either to remove the ovaries or a full hysterectomy, your hormone levels drop instantly and you will experience instant menopause. Even if you do not have your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, the ovaries may be damaged during the surgical procedure or the blood flow to the ovaries may be affected resulting in early menopause. In addition, early menopause may also be derived by having your tubes tied. Other causes of early menopause include excessive weight loss associated with anorexia.

To determine the cause of premature menopause, it is necessary to ask your mom at what age she became menopausal. If there is a lack of estrogen, it is more likely that premature menopause will lead to menopausal symptoms which include: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, joint discomfort, change in skin, and sleep disturbances. These tend to be more severe for younger woman who are in menopause, than it is by women who experience menopause naturally.

If you are among many women who are going through menopause at an early age, it may help you to join a support group to help you through this rough time. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine if this in. in fact, premature menopause or something else. More importantly, losing the ability to have children is devastating and the time should be taken to grieve. The support of family and friends is crucial at this time.

Finally, understand and experience the loss. Your feelings and thoughts should be expressed in an honest and forthright manner. Remember, this is not your fault; it just simply happens. You will be going through many emotions at this time, and adding guilt to them will not alleviate the pain. There are always alternatives which you can discuss at a later date, but for now, be good to you and allow yourself the time you need to mourn.

Perimenopause is the time when hormonal changes occur in your body. Beginning in your late 30’s, 40’s and early 50’s, a disruption in your menstrual cycle may occur many times before menopause. If you are currently experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, sleep disruption, headaches, dry eyes, hair loss, and weight gain, or extreme emotional distress, you can be assured that these are all common signs of perimenopause. The hormonal changes which occur during perimenopause are responsible for many of these symptoms. For some, most of the symptoms only last for a few months. For others, no symptoms occur. What’s left is mild to severe symptoms. Generally, however, many women feel uneasy during this time; hot flashes, palpitations, fatigue, mood swings and even irrational thinking are among the many signs accompanying perimenopause.

Perimenopause does not often segue into menopause right away. Depending upon the woman, it could take months to years before menopause occurs. However, the symptoms are influenced by lifestyle. Have you been engaged in a proper diet and exercise regimen? Has stress been a major factor in your life? Do you drink or smoke in excess? Any of these factors can play an important part on the type of symptoms and their severity.

After a period of time, you will eventually become menopausal. What is menopause? It is that point in time, without having had a menstrual period for one year, you are considered to be in the menopause cycle. While the average ages is considered to be around 52; menopause can occur at any time between 30 and 60 years of age. The cycle of menopause can either be difficult or easy. For example: let’s assume you haven’t had a period for 6 months. Suddenly, in the 7th month it appears. Yikes! Conversely, your period stops and doesn’t return at all for a year. Easy! It depends upon the woman; it’s as simple as that.
The symptoms accompanying menopause can be difficult or easy as well. Some women experience no symptoms, while others are plagued with hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, spotting, and the full range of mood swings which invariably occur. Why is there such a wide gap in response to menopause? It is the hormonal imbalances and changes that cause the fluctuation. In addition, diet, lifestyle and genetics also play a major role in determining what type of symptom response will occur.

While perimenopause and menopause are natural to a women’s life cycle, neither have to be looked upon with fear or trepidation. Instead, view them both as the beginning of a new phase in your life cycle.

While both men and women think that menopause is synonymous with the loss of sexual desire, the fact of the matter is no, it definitely is not. In fact, most women will tell you the sex is better than ever. Perhaps because there are no preconceived worries about becoming pregnant, both men and women can pursue their passions with wild abandon. Another fact is that while aging can slow down the process, it is considered normal if sexual desire decreases just a bit. This by no means indicates that sex is no longer an integral part of your life; far from it!

Other causes can create angst as it pertains to your sex life. For example, certain medications can change the way you feel. In addition, certain diseases can affect your sex life such as heart disease; diabetes and arthritis. More importantly, the way you see yourself can be just as important a factor in your decreased sex drive as the aforementioned conditions.

Studies have been conducted which indicate that estrogen is not related to changes in sexual response in postmenopausal women. Researchers found only one issue related to decreased estrogen production during menopause; and that is, painful sexual intercourse. Another finding asserted that the only women to experience loss of sexual desire during the postmenopausal period “were those women who believed that loss of interest in sex is a normal part of the aging process.” This theory asserts that the facts surrounding loss of sexual desire are based solely on fictional assumptions.

While some women have taken certain drugs to induce their sexual desire, studies have shown that these hormonal drugs can increase the incidence of breast cancer. It is advised to seek medical assistance to determine the best course of action regarding loss of sexual desire. Hormonal replacements such as testosterone may not be the answer.
To reiterate, loss of sexual desire is not experienced by the majority of menopausal women. Moreover, loss of sexual desire is not associated with decreased levels of estrogen. Therefore, if you are experiencing decreased sexual desire after menopause, talk to your doctor to determine what type of treatment he can prescribe that is safe and effective. More importantly, talk to your spouse in an honest and open manner so that he is aware of your feelings. Perhaps there are alternatives you can both use to arouse the sexual desire in each other.

Therefore, what’s the good news about post-menopause? Read on.

There seems to be a double-standard for men and women. When men go thr
ough a mid-life crisis; they sometimes seek out younger women or buy expensive toys. However, when a woman goes through menopause, it is highlighted by the symptoms she experiences. There is a definite disconnect between how quickly one reaches their destination Vs the journey that is taken to arrive there.

While woman are more open than ever before about their experiences, it seems a far cry from years ago when our moms and grandmothers never even broached the subject of periods, let alone menopause. Well the good news is that there is good news. No more heavy bleeding and hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, night sweats; Kotex pads, Tampax, or pregnancy issues. Have you noticed that after menopause you begin to voice your feelings in a more forceful manner? The days of shyness and remaining in the shadows are gone, ladies. Stepping up to the plate and taking the all important swing has revitalized post-menopausal and their attitudes towards life. It’s quite refreshing. More importantly, as one woman stated, “I have earned the right to say what I feel, and how I feel, and I will continue to speak up.”

Post-menopause enables a woman to seek new challenges; with the children grown and married, it is the perfect opportunity to go back to college; or take a trip to a place they’ve never been. To be able to have the time to spend on what they enjoy is a dream come true. One woman stated she felt “young again,” and looked upon this time as being able to do all of things she never had the opportunity to do. Do not get the impression that post-menopausal women wake up one day and utter, “I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore.” It takes time and thoughtful consideration to determine, out of all the possibilities, what a woman might choose. But the process goes on every day. The ability to rediscover who you are is uplifting and invigorating. While some may still be going through discomfort and emotional angst, be assured this is not a pep talk; but merely an indication of what is to come.

Once you are in the post-menopausal stage, your passions and desires will be heightened. In addition, you will not look upon this time as the golden years, as some would suggest, but will simply continue in the circle of life with a renewed sense of passion and purpose.

Yes, it’s true. Men have been experiencing these symptoms for years, but have been either associating them to signs of aging, or have chosen to keep these symptoms to themselves. Because more men have been speaking out about these symptoms, researchers have been able to report that, in fact, there is a male menopause. The symptoms of menopause are psychological and physical, and can be compared to female menopause. Here are some astounding statistics: More than 25 million men in the U.S. are now going through male menopause; 52% of men between 40 and 70 suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction; Men, like women, experience complex hormonal rhythms that affect their mood, their physical well-being, and their sexuality; Emotional symptoms include irritability, worry, indecisiveness, and depression; Physical symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, short-term memory loss, and sleep disturbances; Sexual symptoms include reduced libido, fear of sexual failure, and increased desire to prove he can still perform by seeking a younger partner; Male menopause is like puberty the second time around where a man must face issues of identity, sexuality, dependence, and independence; When a man is going through menopause, it makes it very difficult to be an effective parent.

Male menopause occurs in all men generally between the ages of 40 and 55. While the symptoms of male menopause are not as severe as it is in women, nonetheless, 40% of men in their 40s, 50s and 60s will experience some degree of lethargy, depression, increased irritability, mood swings, and difficulty in attaining and sustaining erections that characterize male menopause.

In male menopause, the male hormone testosterone declines at a slower rate. The testes, however, do not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. Therefore, a healthy male may be able to make sperm well into his eighties or longer. Remember Cary Grant? As a result of disease, subtle changes in the function of the testes may occur as early as 45 to 50 years of age, and more severely after the age of 70, in some men.

Once the testosterone levels are low, testosterone replacement therapy may help relieve such symptoms as loss of interest in sex, depression, and fatigue. But, as with hormone replacement therapy in women, testosterone replacement therapy does have some potential risks and side effects. While replacing testosterone may cause breast cancer in women, it can increase prostate cancer in men.

When the ovaries stop producing estrogen, and periods cease for one year; this is the time of life called menopause. It is a natural process, however complex. When estrogen levels are low, menopausal symptoms begin to occur. What are the symptoms? Some women may experience none; while others may run the gamut from hot flashes to mood swings to night sweats. Other symptoms may include irregular periods, and vaginal or urinary tract infections. It is estimated that about 75% of women report some troublesome symptoms during menopause, but the severity and frequency of symptoms actually varies from woman to woman. Let’s discuss some of these symptoms in depth.

Irregular bleeding can occur up to menopause. In some cases, periods may be of a short duration, or last longer than usual. In addition, the bleeding may vary from light to heavy. The time between periods may also fluctuate.

Hot flashes are symptomatic of menopause. What is a hot flash? It is a sudden feeling of intense heat which encompasses your entire body. For example: your face feels very red; you begin to sweat, and sometimes experience anxiety or irritability. It is uncomfortable at best; but once you understand the cause, you can deal with it. Hot flashes can last from seconds to minutes. However, it must be said that it does feel quite longer. Again, it varies from woman to woman.

While studies suggest hot flashes occur in the first two years after menopause and gradually lessen, there is also documentation that some women have hot flashes for several years after menopause; up to 40 years or longer. This is evidenced by another case in which a woman is still having hot flashes at the age of 80. Disheartening, but true! In addition, hot flashes that occur during the night can disrupt sleep. In fact, some women report that their bed sheets become soaked with sweat when they have a hot flash during the night.
Vaginal dryness can also occur, as may itching or irritation. Although few women experience serious problems with vaginal dryness and thinning right after menopause, both dryness and thinning continue to occur over time. Some doctors estimate that at least half of all women older than 60 years have some degree of vaginal dryness. Regular sexual intercourse can help to keep the vagina moist and toned.

Mood swings occur frequently in menopausal women. In fact, these symptoms mimic PMS.

Many women have chosen this course of treatment to decrease symptoms associated with menopause. However, there are issues to consider. While HRT can be a blessing for some, it can also be a curse for others. Although it is reported to maintain strong bones and prevent heart disease, it can also increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition, it may assert itself by invoking side affects which can affect a woman’s life.

Because the production of estrogen ceases during menopause, the loss results in the symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Thus, many women decide to replace the lost estrogen through HRT in order to reduce these symptoms. However, there are contradictory reports about the long-term effects, leaving women in an uncomfortable position as to whether or not replacement therapy is right for them.

There are two schools of thought on using HRT. While it has been documented that Hormone Replacement Therapy is an effective remedy in reducing symptoms such as: hot flashes sleep disturbances, and vaginal discomfort; others believe women who did not have symptoms had worse physical function and lower energy levels when taking hormone therapy.

Many women decide against using HRT because they are concerned about the risk of developing cancer. Often, they prefer to take other steps to reduce their risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Studies are on-going to determine the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy over a long period of time. While some women and their doctors feel that HRT’s beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and general quality of life outweigh the risk of developing cancer; others are concerned about the possible negative effects of long-term HRT use. Many women choose to reduce the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease by exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco products, eating a balanced diet, and/or taking dietary supplements or other medications.

Whether or not to take HRT is a decision you ultimately have to make. In recent years, there have been reports of health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy. If you have been prescribed either Primpro or Premarin, you may choose other alternatives, such as utilizing a natural form of estrogen. By establishing a balance a proper diet, stress management and using natural progesterone supplementation, the hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause are either significantly alleviated or completely eliminated.

According to a recent report on menopause, it was determined that “lifestyle and psychological factors can increase the number and severity of hot flashes that a woman experiences. In fact, women who tested at a high level of anxiety had nearly five times the number of hot flashes as those who tested low. Women who smoked experienced twice the amount. Being overweight led to an increase in annoying hot flashes, as well.”

Hot flashes sometimes start with perimenopause, or they may not start until after the last menstrual period has occurred. Usually, they last three to five years and are usually worse during the year following the last menstrual period. However, it has been noted that for some women, hot flashes can last indefinitely.

Although it is a common notion that hot flashes are associated with a decrease in estrogen, there are those who believe it is simply the hormonal balance which acts as the catalyst. Before puberty, girls have low estrogen but no hot flashes. Conversely, women in the late stages of pregnancy may have hot flashes at a time when their estrogen levels are high.

Researchers have stated that “the secretion of hormones is regulated in the brain by the hypothalamus, which houses the body’s thermoregulatory center. They believe that something happens in this center that causes the body’s thermostat to be altered. The result is a hot flash, a feeling of excessive warmth if the body gets just a little overheated. In an attempt to cool down, the body perspires and blood vessels dilate, causing skin to turn pink or red. After a brief time, maybe a few minutes, the heat dissipates, leading to chills.”

The solution to relieve hot flashes was implemented by using hormone replacement therapy. However, we now know that HRT could have side affects which may cause more harm and good. It has also been recommended to support your body in a natural way, thus not having to rely on prescription drugs used in hormone replacement therapy. Many women find that with the proper support, their own bodies can correct the hormonal imbalance that is the real cause.

Finally, taking everything into consideration; the research, the case histories, and our own experiences, it seems that hot flashes – while a definite nuisance – can be handled in a very simple manner. Ignore them as much as possible. Accept them as part of the menopause cycle, and do not give them any more importance than you would an annoying stranger who just won’t leave you alone.

According to recent studies, soy is one of many types of isoflavones. Isoflavones are estrogens which come from plants. It should be noted that isoflavones are estrogens; they are not alternatives to estrogen. Therefore, a woman who wants to avoid estrogen is obviously not supposed to be taking soy, because soy is a form of estrogen, even though it is from a plant. Although the research indicated that soy would help menopause symptoms, the recent trials have failed to show effectiveness. Unfortunately, the FDA does not control these trials, and therefore the purity and ingredients vary from bottle to bottle, even with the same manufacturer. In addition, because of the lack of FDA control, manufacturers have no requirements to prove safety or side effects. This means that because of the lack of required research information, much more is known about the side effects of prescription estrogen than about soy. According to the sparse research conducted on soy, there are still conflicting results as to its efficacy. Some studies show that soy can cause multiplication of breast cells, implying that it may increase breast cancer risk. Fortunately, due to massive public interest, research is once again beginning.

The reason behind all of this conflicting evidence is that it is unclear what is being tested since studies have looked at all kinds of soy foods and supplements, and there has been no consistency in the products being tested. This may be one of the reasons why soy research does not always produce positive results.

Another study was conducted recently in which 37 women who used the soy supplement. 75 percent reported relief from hot flashes. Tests showed they also experienced a measurable increase in bone density as well. While experts say the results are promising, one nutritionist believes the research makes too many “leaps of faith about issues that remain unproven.” It was also stated that woman should exercise caution with soy supplementation until more research is done. However, it was concluded that including soy products in your diet may still offer many health benefits.

There you have it; the studies, research, and results which apparently prove, and at the same time, deny that soy products can decrease hot flashes. The best course of action perhaps is to take nothing, and to simply maximize your comfort level so that when you do have hot flashes, they only disrupt your life to a bear minimum.

It is believed that hormone levels associated with menopause are not the sole cause of weight gain. However, aging and lifestyle does play a major role in how your body changes over the course of time. The reasons are that menopausal women tend to exercise less; eat more; and burn fewer calories. The result is a shift in the composition of your body which results in more fat and less muscle as your metabolism slows down. It is no surprise that genetics most definitely contribute to weight gain. If your parents are on the heavy side, chances are you or one of your siblings will inherit that particular body type as well.

While we all know that weight gain can cause health problems, excess weight gain during menopause increases the chance of developing serious conditions. Studies have shown that women who gain in excess of 20 pounds after menopause increase their breast cancer risk by nearly 20 percent. On the other hand, women who lose weight after menopause can reduce their risk of breast cancer by that much and more. It is estimated that women who lose 20 pounds after menopause reduce their breast cancer risk by as much as 23 percent.

In order to maintain a healthy body and reduce the risk of weight gain after menopause, a proper diet regimen combined with exercise is the answer. Exercise increases the metabolism, which allows you to burn fat. In addition, strength training exercises increase muscle mass, which not only boost your metabolism but strengthens your bones as well. Anyone who is on a diet and exercise program knows this to be true. It doesn’t need to be reiterated. However, for purposes of this particular subject, it needs to be emphasized.

While everyone knows the benefits of a proper diet, it has also been established that as you age you require less than 200 calories a day to maintain your weight. This applies to women in their mid to late 40’s. Thus, if you begin to establish and maintain a healthy diet with the onset of perimenopause, it is more likely you will not gain as much weight when you are in a full menopausal stage.
We all have to deal with the changes in our bodies; there is no escaping that fact. The ugly truth is as we get older; parts of our body will sag; shrink, and expand. Perhaps the trick is to not worry about what you can’t control, but to control the things you can.