Alex Santoso PhDMenopause is a fact of life that all women will eventually have to face. It does not, however, have to be something to fear. Today, women have a number of options for relieving the symptoms they will face during menopause.
But first, let’s learn a little bit about menopause.
What is menopause?
Menopause is simply the permanent ending of a woman’s period. It signals the end of a woman’s ability to conceive children, and occurs naturally when there is no longer any ovarian follicular activity. In other words, she is no longer releasing ova or eggs from her ovaries. The onset of natural menopause is usually between the ages of 45 and 58, although it can also occur in women in their 30s and 60s.
Several types of surgeries, such as hysterectomy or the removal of the uterus, removal of a woman’s sexual organs to treat cervical cancer, as well as the removal of the colon and rectum, can induce menopause. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer can also induce menopause. Induced menopause can lead to more severe, frequent, and longer lasting menopause symptoms.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time right before and the year immediately following a woman’s last period. It can last approximately 4 years and can be marked with prolonged irregular periods. During this time, the ovaries reduce their production of female sex hormones.
What occurs during menopause?
During menopause, a woman’s hormone levels rise and fall irregularly. These changes affect the endocrine system as well as other glands in the body, and lead to changes in a woman’s metabolism, growth, and reproductive systems. Some of the symptoms of menopause include:
- Hot flashes
Hot flashes are the result of the drop in the level of estrogen in a woman’s body during menopause. As a result, her other glands secrete higher amounts of other hormones, which cause her body temperature to fluctuate. - Vaginal changes
As women age, the body experiences a host of changes, including the thinning and drying of the vaginal wall. This can make a woman’s vagina more vulnerable to infection. Intercourse can also become increasingly uncomfortable or even painful. - Changes in the urinary tract
For some women, menopause can cause changes in the urinary tract that lead ultimately to incontinence or leaking of urine. - Psychological changes
Menopause can affect women’s emotions in different ways. Some may experience depression related to their inability to have children, whereas others feel embarrassment, and even fear because of the changes in their body due to menopause. - Decrease in sex drive
One common symptom of menopause is decreased sex drive, probably caused by decreased blood flow to the vagina due to lowered estrogen production. Furthermore, changes in the vaginal tissue and lowered levels of natural lubrication can make sex uncomfortable for menopausal women.
What are some treatments for menopause?
Medical Intervention
A woman going through menopause may elect for medical intervention, such as hormone replacement therapy, to alleviate the symptoms of this natural life transition. Others however, feel more comfortable with natural alternative to relieve menopause symptoms, such as Prevedia menopause supplement (see below), especially since hormone replacement therapy has now been linked to health risks.
Lifestyle Changes
Changes in lifestyle can help a woman better combat the symptoms of menopause. This includes a diet that incorporates vegetables such as soy beans and other soy products that are high in phytoestrogens, which may reduce the intensity of hot flashes. Women should also avoid foods that may increase hot flashes, such as alcohol, caffeinated items, and spicy food. Regular exercise can also help a woman maintain her general health and improve her circulation. Exercise that relieves stress, such as yoga, can be extremely beneficial. Also, wearing natural fiber clothes that allow the skin to breathe can help with hot flashes.
What are some natural supplements for menopause?
Some herbs have been found to be beneficial for treating certain forms of discomfort associated with menopause.
Black cohosh, an herb used by Native Americans to ease the pain of menstrual cramping and other gynecological ailments, has been shown by recent studies to improve various symptoms of menopause. Some studies suggest that it helps relieve insomnia, hot flashes, as well as irritability, nervousness, depression, and vaginal dryness.
A clinical study on protodioscin, the active ingredient of an herbal plant called Tribulus terrestris, has shown that it is very effective in relieving the symptoms of menopause. This study found that 98% of women with natural and induced menopause experienced complete or almost complete disappearance of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and excitability.
A subsequent study on Tribulus terrestris’ protodioscin also showed that it can increase the body’s bone-turn-over activity . This suggests that it can help maintain bone health and prevent deterioration because of osteoporosis, in which a woman’s bone becomes increasingly brittle and prone to damage due to the decrease in estrogen level.
Why Continue to Suffer from Menopause Symptoms?
A supplement containing Tribulus terrestris’ protodioscin, Black cohosh, and calcium called Prevedia Menopause Treatment is available today. In addition to providing natural relief for the symptoms of menopause, it has also been shown to help increase the female libido or sex drive. For more details and the full transcript of the clinical studies, please visit www.prevedia.com.
Maryon Stewart
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
