Natural Solution to Menopause, Premature Menopause: Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation. It’s a turning point, not a disease, but it can have a big impact on a woman’s wellbeing. Although menopause can bring physical upheaval from hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms, it can also be the start of a new and rewarding phase of a woman’s life — and a golden opportunity to guard against major health risks like heart disease and osteoporosis.
Early menopause (premature menopause)
WHAT IS EARLY MENOPAUSE?
When menopause happens before age 40, it is considered early. Early menopause can be caused by certain medical treatments, or it can just happen on its own.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE EARLY MENOPAUSE
See your doctor
You should see your doctor if your period stops or changes before you are 40. The cause may not be early menopause. You may have a treatable health problem, or you may be pregnant.
Usually, menopause is confirmed when a woman hasn’t had her period for 12 months in a row. To help determine if you may be reaching menopause, your doctor will ask if you’ve had signs like hot flashes, irregular periods, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness. But these signs are not enough to determine that you are reaching menopause.
Blood tests that can measure estrogen and related hormones, like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), can help determine if you have reached early menopause. You may choose to get tested if you want to know whether you can still get pregnant. Your hormone levels change daily, though, so you may need to have a test more than once to know for sure.
What Causes Menopause?
Age is the leading cause of menopause. It’s the end of a woman’s potential childbearing years, brought on by the ovaries gradually slowing down their function. Certain surgeries and medical treatment can induce menopause. Those include surgical removal of the ovaries (bilateral oopharectomy), chemotherapy, and pelvic radiation therapy. Having a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) without removing the ovaries does not lead to menopause, although you will not have periods anymore.
When Does Menopause Start?
On average, women are 51 at natural menopause, notes the National Institute on Aging. But menopause can start earlier or later. A few women start menopause as young as 40, and a very small percentage as late as 60. Women who smoke tend to go through menopause a few years earlier than nonsmokers. There is no proven way to predict menopause age. It’s only after a woman has missed her periods for 12 straight months, without other obvious causes, that menopause can be confirmed.
Before Menopause, Perimenopause
Natural menopause happens gradually. The ovaries don’t abruptly stop; they slow down. The transition to menopause is called perimenopause. Menopause is a milestone — it’s the day that marks 12 months in a row since a woman’s last period. During perimenopause, it’s still possible to get pregnant — a woman’s childbearing years are winding down, and although her periods may become more unpredictable, her ovaries are still functioning and she still may ovulate, though not necessarily on a monthly basis.
Menopause: What to Expect
Menopause isn’t a one-size-fits-all event. It affects each woman differently. Some women reach natural menopause with little to no trouble; others experience severe symptoms that drastically hamper their lives. And when menopause starts suddenly as a result of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, the adjustment can be tough. Here is a look at menopausal symptoms that many women experience, though the intensity can vary.
Menopause Sign: Period Changes
As menopause approaches, a woman’s menstrual periods will likely change. But those changes can vary from woman to woman — periods may get shorter or longer, heavier or lighter, with more or less time between periods. Such changes are normal, but the National Institute on Aging recommends seeing a doctor if your periods come very close together, if you have heavy bleeding or spotting, and if your periods last more than a week.
Menopause Symptom: Hot Flashes
Hot flashes (or hot flushes) are common around menopause. A hot flash is a brief feeling of heat that may make the face and neck flushed, cause temporary red blotches to appear on the chest, back, and arms. Sweating and chills may follow. Hot flashes vary in intensity and typically last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Dressing in light layers, using a fan, getting regular exercise, avoiding spicy foods and heat, and managing stress may help you deal with hot flashes.
Menopause Symptom: Sleep Issues
Nighttime hot flashes can hamper sleep and cause night sweats. Try these sleep tips:
- Use a fan in your bedroom.
- Avoid heavy bedding.
- Choose light cottons or sheer materials for your nightclothes.
- Keep a damp cloth nearby to cool yourself quickly if you wake up feeling hot and sweaty.
- Keep pets out of your bedroom; they can give off heat.
- Consult your doctor if menopause sleep problems persist.
Menopause Symptom: Sex Problems
Less estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, which may make intercourse uncomfortable or painful. Try using a water-soluble lubricant. Libido may also change, for better or worse, but many factors besides menopause — including stress, medications, depression, poor sleep, and relationship problems — affect sex drive. Talk to your doctor if sex problems occur — don’t settle for a so-so sex life. And remember, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) don’t end with menopause; “safer” sex still counts.
Managing Severe Symptoms
If menopause symptoms are a problem, talk with your doctor. He or she can help you weigh the risks and benefits of menopausal hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy. Other treatments include low-dose birth control pills if you’re perimenopausal; antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, or other medications to help with hot flashes; and vaginal estrogen cream. Your doctor may also have lifestyle tips about adjusting your diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Menopause Health Risks
With menopause comes a greater chance of heart disease (which is the No. 1 cause of death for U.S. women) and osteoporosis (thinning bones, seen here). Loss of estrogen may play a role for heart disease after menopause, but hormone replacement therapy is not recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke. Of course, heart and bone health is important throughout a woman’s life, but menopause means it’s really time to step up and get serious about it, if you haven’t already.
Menopause: Staying Healthy
Living a healthy lifestyle is important throughout a woman’s life. And, it’s not too late to start at menopause. Get a checkup that includes measuring your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar and make appointments for routine screenings such as mammograms. Menopause is also a great time to upgrade your diet, physical activity, and stress management skills — your doctor can give you pointers as you work together to plan for a healthy menopause.
Menopause: A New Era Starts
Western culture has long been obsessed with youth. But today’s menopausal women are making the most of — and even celebrating — their new phase of life. Instead of looking back mournfully, physician-author Christiane Northrup recommends using menopause as a time to redefine yourself with positive thoughts, love yourself, explore what brings you pleasure, and revive (not retire) your sex life.
EFFECTS OF EARLY MENOPAUSE
Women who enter menopause early can have symptoms similar to those of regular menopause. These can include hot flashes, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and decreased sex drive. For some women with early menopause, these symptoms are quite severe. In addition, women who go through menopause early may have a higher risk of certain health problems, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about treatments like menopausal hormone therapy that can help with symptoms. Discuss ways to protect your health.
Women who want to have children and go through early menopause may feel extremely upset. If you want to be a parent, talk to your doctor about other options, like donor egg programs or adoption. Your doctor may suggest that you see an infertility specialist. You also can talk to your doctor or a therapist about painful feelings from the loss of fertility and other effects of reaching menopause early.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment.
The following nutritional products are great companions to help women go through menopause more easily.
Aloe Berry Nectar contains cranberry, a known great natural remedy for urinary tract infection and helpful in balancing hormonal change. It contains 100% stabilized Aloe Vera which has special ability to transport cranberry nutrients to cells.
Forever Nature Min provides 11 minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus that are important to strengthen bones.
Forever B12 PLUS: An excellent combination of essential nutrients, Forever B12 Plus® combines Vitamin B12 with
Folic Acid utilizing a time-release formula to help make possible metabolic processes – including cell division, DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and proper nerve function.
Vitamin B12, or Cyanocobalamin, was first discovered in 1948 as a nutritional factor that is vital for red blood cell production.
B12 also works with folic acid to maintain healthy homocysteine levels in the bod
One thought on “Natural Solution to Menopause, Premature Menopause”