Menopause-Related Acne

Menopause has many interesting, seemingly unrelated symptoms. Women can experience any combination of mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, extreme night sweats, achy joints, headaches, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and even acne. Some women avoid menopause-induced acne, but for at least one in ten menopause sufferers, pimples and blemishes are a genuine problem. Some women have avoided pimples since they were teenagers, yet suddenly the have a face full of them. The truth is, though, teens and menopausal women have a number of things in common. Acne is typically a result of hormone swings, which occurs extensively throughout puberty and menopause. It can be very frustrating for women to endure the added embarassment of blemishes when they're struggling to deal with all of the other symptoms of menopause.

Menopausal acne occurs for much the same reason that acne occurs during any other life stage. The skin contains millions of sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil, scientifically termed sebum. Skin cells are constantly regenerated. Old ones die, are sloughed off and quickly replaced. When body hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA run rampant, the sebaceous glands become sensitive and start producing more sebum than necessary. More skin cells begin to die. As a result, not only do you have a surplus of facial oil, you also have a surplus of dead skin cells. Your body cannot rid itself of the unwanted oil and dead cells fast enough. Facial skin follicles get clogged with oil and dead cells.

White heads occur as a result of bacteria. Excess sebum builds up under the skin, naturally-occuring bacteria and the oil combine, creating an inflamed area filled with white puss. Blackheads also occur as a result of the combining of bacteria and oil with the addition of air that has leaked in. As a result, the material caught in the pore turns black. Menopausal acne identical to other acne, however. Both the follicles and sebaceous glands on the face contain an enzyme. This particular enzyme can turn estrogen into the hormone androgen testosterone. This has the ability to increase oil production even further. This leads to even more breakouts than a woman probably had as a teenager.

Menopausal acne can be extremely frustrating. There are, however, ways to alleviate it. Begin by examining your diet. It is important to eat foods that are high in fiber and calcium. It is also recommended to cut back on your fat and carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates can turn insulin into androgen testosterone. This androgen too can increase the skin's sebum production. Additionally, you might want ensure that you are consuming eight to ten glasses of water each day.

In addition to dietary changes, you might want to consider the addition of dietary supplements. There are so many widely-available herbs vitamins, and minerals that can help alleviate the body's excess oil production. Studies suggest that it is beneficial to add Vitamin B and Vitamin C to your diet. In addition to diet and supplements, you should cleanse your skin a minimum of twice daily. Regular exfoliation rids the skin of those dead cells. Also, it is beneficial to use a toner to close open pores.

William Miller enjoys writing for several web sites, especially http://nugad.com and http://jasof.com

Early Menopause And Your Emotions

Learning that you?re going through premature menopause can be devastating and it?s not unusual to suddenly fall into a period of depression upon receiving this unwelcome news.

Even if you weren?t planning on having children, learning that you?re suddenly infertile is an experience that can wreak havoc on your emotions. Somehow you feel as though you?re less of a woman or perhaps no longer sexy; as if a very integral part of you has died.

You try to share your feelings with friends or family, but early or premature menopause is something that few others understand. Like suffering a miscarriage or the death of a parent, unless someone has gone through it, they just can?t comprehend how emotionally devastating and upsetting early menopause can be.

Because early menopause is often unexpected, women who experience it are more at risk for depression than are older women who are approaching or experiencing symptoms of menopause. Women who are faced with early menopause as a result of surgery are often even more devastated due to the fact that they?ve not only gone through a major surgery, but a big part of who they believe they were is suddenly gone.

No matter what the reason for early menopause, all women who experience it ? both mothers and career women ? feel a profound loss and a significant amount of grief, shock and disbelief. These feelings won?t disappear right away; as a matter of fact, there?s a healing process that most women must go through before they begin to accept the fact that they?re experiencing menopause prematurely and much sooner than they would have preferred.

One woman I interviewed for this project says ?Once I learned to accept what I had become, I realized there was nothing I could do about it. I finally decided that I would do the best I could to remain young and feel good. What choice did I have?? So, certainly, you will mourn and it will take time, but eventually you will get through this and you will feel better. As a matter of fact, each day will bring less feelings of despair and time will bring you back to your old self ? determined, strong and capable; perhaps even more so than before.

One of the first steps to returning to the old you is by looking in the mirror and seeing how you really are still yourself. Your youthful appearance is still intact; as a matter of fact, all of you is still intact. Yes, your reproductive system is not working the way it should, but you?re still a wonderful, young and vibrant woman with so much potential and so much to offer.

Susan Megge started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life. Susan Megge is the author of "Being Beautiful Beyond 40," a book dedicated to helping women to be inspired, confident and beautiful as they approach menopause. Learn to cope with symptoms of early menopause by visiting http://www.40isbeautiful.com/Early_Menopause.html.

Menopause, Moodiness And Men

If you?re a woman experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, this means you?re dealing with hot flashes, weight gain, irregular periods, mood swings and/or other symptoms typical in middle aged women.

Quite often these symptoms are unsettling because you?re entering a new phase in your life and you?re not quite sure what to expect. Your mood swings may be as a result of declines in your hormone levels, but it?s also important to understand that it?s not unusual to experience everyday life events that can also bring on stress, depression or moodiness.

Perhaps your grown children are giving you reason to be concerned, or maybe you?re spending a lot of time helping an aging parent. In addition to trying to keep a home running smoothly, going to work, taking care of parents and dealing with your children, there?s a good chance you?re also dealing with a man (a.k.a. husband or mate).

It?s funny, but some of the personality traits that first attracted me to my husband now are a complete pain in my ?you-know-what.? For instance, I loved watching him get excited over a sporting event or video game. Now, these things irritate me. Not all the time, but when there are more pressing issues to deal with, such as a broken toilet, clothes dryer or numerous other items throughout the house that are in disrepair. I honestly believe that men will always be boys and this is just one more issue we women are faced with, along with so many changes taking place in our own bodies during this period in our lives.

Not only are men boys because they would rather ?play? than take care of responsibility, but so many men can become crabby and demanding at times, very much like small children. My sisters and I took a road trip one year, which should have taken about eight hours. Due to a poor sense of direction and numerous wrong turns, I believe we were probably in the car for a good eleven hours. We all had a good laugh discussing the fact that if our husbands would have been there, the extra time in the car would have been a tragedy equal to that of a nuclear war.

So, what should you do when you?re getting ready for work and your husband is complaining because he?s faced with quite a dilemma ? his coffee is cold. Or maybe he can?t find his blue shirt. Oh no! His wallet?s not where he put it. Unfortunately, it?s in our nature to nurture and take care of our husbands, so we stop what we?re doing and warm his coffee, find his shirt or his lost wallet. But, it?s so very important for you to also take care of yourself during this time. If that means neglecting your husband?s needs once in awhile, so be it. If your mate is in a lousy mood, don?t allow him to bring you down with him. Remember, you needn?t count on his happiness in order for you to be happy. Walk away. If you allow yourself to get into a confrontation or argument you?ll only be hurting yourself, sending your blood pressure sky-high and feeling emotionally and physically drained. If you?re not there to absorb negative feelings, he?ll just need to get over it, right?

Your body is going through some tremendous changes and needs to be well taken care of. If you continue nurturing everybody else and leave no time for yourself, there?s a very good chance that your hormones, combined with the many stressors you?re faced with on a daily basis will result in depression. Not only can depression leave you feeling lethargic, sad and hopeless, but it may also lead to physical conditions as well, such as heart disease and a loss of bone density.

Since the majority of us loves our mates and is still attracted to the boy in them, it?s not likely that we?ll be eliminating this particular ?pain-in-our-you-know-what? anytime soon. But, because you?re a strong, mature, capable and beautiful woman, it?s crucial to remain that way by nurturing your body; eat healthy, exercise regularly and take time for yourself. In a few years you?ll be past this transitional period and if you do as is recommended you?ll feel energized and able to enjoy life to its fullest.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan, a health and fitness expert started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally

Natural Remedies For Menopause - Black Cohosh

For many women, the side effects of HRT have made it a less desirable option to manage the symptoms of menopause. However, the discomfort of these symptoms mean some treatment is necessary.

Hot flashes, night sweats, panic attacks, headaches, and mood swings can make life difficult for a menopausal woman, as well as affecting her relationships with her family. When we feel ill, our whole outlook on life can be affected, making it more challenging to engage the levels of spiritual transformation that are associated with menopause.

Fortunately, there are a number of options available to women who'd prefer to experience menopause naturally. It's important to note though, that medication may still be needed for some. Dr Christiane Northrup has written of some menopausal patients of hers that were adamant they were not taking HRT. But after exhausting the herbal and nutritional options, the symptoms were still so bad that in the end they opted to take hormone replacement therapy.

One well known herbal treatment for menopause is black cohosh. Also known by the botanical name of Cimicifuga racemosa, this powerful herb is a phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens were originally thought to work by binding to the estrogen receptors in the body. Phytoestrogens are similar to natural estrogen in chemical structure, though they have a milder effect on the body. Thus, when they locked into the estrogen receptors, they were thought to have an effect that mildly mimicked estrogen, thus counterbalancing the reduced levels of estrogen in a woman's body.

However, this is now not believed to be the main way phytoestrogens like black cohosh work. Whilst they do in fact bind to at least one subtype of estrogen receptor, they may actually work to block that receptor, rather than activate it. It is now believed that black cohosh regulates the hormonal system in the body.

Despite a lack of clear understanding in how black cohosh works, scientists have found that it works very well. One study comparing black cohosh with HRT and valium found that it was just as effective in helping both the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause. A Japanese study also found that black cohosh increased bone mineral density, which makes it very useful in preventing age related osteoporosis.

Black cohosh has been found to help 76 to 93% of women find an improvement with the symptoms of irritability, hot flushes, heart palpitations, depression, headaches, and sleep problems. These women took a standardized extract, twice a day.

For more natural remedies for menopause, click here. For HRT and menopause information, click here

Menopause Relief is Possible with Herbal and Other Natural Remedies

Many women search for menopause relief. Though menopause does not technically occur until a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months, the symptoms associated with decreased estrogen production can be experienced for as many as ten years before. Menopause natural remedies are designed to address the symptoms that many women experience during this time, including breast tenderness, decreased sexual desire, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, depression and moodiness. Thankfully, not all women have all of these symptoms, but even one or two can be frustrating and difficult to deal with. And, from personal experience, I can tell you that we don't have to put up with them and we don't have to take drugs.

Menopause natural remedies may contain only one herb or a combination of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other plant derivatives. The ones mentioned here are only a few of the products that you may see in a health food or drug store. It is important to read the list of ingredients on any product that you are considering. Buy from a reputable manufacturer of dietary supplements and avoid the discount versions. Independent laboratory studies have shown that some of these contain only inactive ingredients or inadequate amounts of active ingredients. If you buy something cheap that is ineffective, this is probably the reason.

Black cohosh is one of the most widely recommended herbs for menopause relief. It was used historically by Native Americans for many purposes, but those which apply to menopause relief are related to its use for the symptoms of hormonal imbalance and as a mild sedative. Sleep disturbances being one of the symptoms for which many women seek menopause natural remedies, it has also proven to be effective in reducing hot flashes and night sweats. Several surveys have shown that black cohosh is one of the most frequently used herbs for menopause relief and that the majority of women feel that it has reduced their symptoms.

Red clover was used historically by Native Americans to correct hormonal imbalances and as a mild sedative. The active component in red clover is believed to be isoflavones called phytoestrogens, which simply means plant components that have an estrogen like effect on the body. In a randomized placebo controlled trial related to menopause natural remedies performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the study group experienced 44% less hot flashes than the group receiving placebo, a significant difference. Some researchers feel that because of its estrogen like effects, red clover should be used with caution by those women who have a history of breast cancer. A safer choice would be those menopause natural remedies that contain both red clover and sarsaparilla.

Sarsaparilla was used historically by Native Americans to treat a variety of conditions including hormonal imbalance. A recent study in Canada showed that it was effective in eliminating four different human cancer cell lines and has no known side effects. Studies in the US have shown that it is an effective immune system stimulant. Hundreds of studies have been published concerning the health benefits of sarsaparilla.

These three herbs are rarely found in one product. These are the menopause natural remedies with which I am most familiar, because of their use in traditional Native American medicine, a subject I have spent much time studying. Until recently, I had to buy all of these herbs separately, which was quite expensive. But, then I found a product that combines all three for a reasonable price and provides adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium plus a natural antidepressant. I believe it is the best all natural product available for menopause relief. To learn more, please visit our website at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience as a healthcare professional and currently writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com

Two Types Of Herbs For Menopause Symptoms

Overview of Menopause symptoms

Menopause should not be regarded as an illness or a disease. It is simply an occurrence wherein the woman is entering her second phase of feminine life. Of course, these women are experiencing a gradual discomfort because of the transition?this is only natural. If there are telltale signs of menopause symptoms, you can opt to procure some treatment in order to minimize the feeling of discomfort.

But it is important to remember that any kind of treatment will not prevent you from undergoing menopause process, especially when your age is already falling from and between 48 ? 55 years old. It will only help you to deal a lot easier with menopause symptoms or relieve majority of their major discomfort effects. Your lifestyle might also need some changing especially your smoking, eating, drinking, and sleeping habits in order to minimize the severity of menopause symptoms.

What can herbs do to treat menopause symptoms?

There are many types of reliable herbs available that can treat menopause symptoms. They can maintain women?s healthy life even when menstruation process causes a lot of discomfort and decline in their health aspect. With herbs carefully and religiously applied you may not only alleviate those various forms of discomfort but you will also maintain your healthy life.

Two basic types of herbs for menopause

Phytoestrogenic herbs

These are the herbs or plants that contain natural phytoestrogen, a type of chemical compound, which is similar to the women body estrogen. These herbs work by replacing the lost natural body estrogen with the plant hormones, phytoestrogen. Aside from this, there are other elements of phytoestrogenic herbs that are considered beneficial to menopausal women such as amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Generally, these herbs are an alternative to disorders relating to low hormonal/estrogen levels.

Most popular phytoestrogenic herbs:

? Ginseng. Used to improve your overall vitality and energy, this is a dried root from one of the Araliaceae herb species.

? Ginkgo. Used to enhance memory, prevent memory-related diseases such as Dementia, Alzheimer?s and others. This herb is one of the oldest herbal medicines used in China.

? Dong Quai. Most effective in treating gynecological complaints caused by the change in hormonal production.

? Red Clover. Diseases treated are skin disorders and bronchitis, asthma and spasmodic coughing.

? Black Cohosh. Symptoms treated include depression, night sweats and hot flashes.

Non-estrogenic herbs

In contrast with the phytoestrogenic plants, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, are those plants that do not produce estrogen chemical structures. These plants are widely recognized by the doctors and medical experts because of their effectiveness to relieve women?s menopause symptoms. Furthermore, they are considered completely safe and do not provide side effects.

The right non-estrogenic herbs contain nutrients that can nourish endocrine system, eventually balancing your hormonal levels. With the proper application, occurrences of the loss of hormones will be reduced as they can promote your body to naturally produce the needed healthy level of estrogen hormones, without the distracting side effects.

Specifically, non-estrogenic herbs will provide relief to the following disorders relating to menopause symptoms:

- majority of the menopause symptoms
- hormonal imbalance
- osteoporosis or bone mass loss
- infertility
- sexual intercourse problems
- cardiovascular disease

It is important to note, however, that even these herbs are a natural treatment you need to research on the kind of plant that you are going to take as not all of these will relieve and alleviate you from those menopause symptoms. There are herbal plants that can cause many other side effects, may it be minor or major.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of http://www.menopausedomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about menopause symptoms.

Life, Post-Menopause

As a woman reaches mid-life, normally in her late forties, she may begin to notice how different she feels. Some women just feel generally worn out, as if they are deeply tired. Initially most women do not realize that what they are experiencing ispost-menopausal symptoms. A woman's body changes a great deal during menopause. Their ovaries are decrease production, which means causes blood hormone levels to drop. As women age and enter perimenopause, their cycles may become sporadic, they may miss the occasional cycle, but they will not reach post-menopause until they have had no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.

Women can feel many different kinds of things during post-menopause; many of which can be debilitating. They may experience whole ranges of emotions from anger to depression, and frustration. These varying emotions can wreak havoc on a woman's life. They can negatively impact new, as well as on-going, relationships. They make it tempting for old friends to avoid contact or communication because their moods are so unpredictable. Work can also be impacted because it is hard to concentrate on work when a woman is coping with so many other issues. It is imperative to keep in mind that all of these emotions are normal. Every woman has them to some degree. Though some women may deal with them without problem, others can have a much more difficult time coping with post-menopausal issues. Medication is often necessary in these cases.

If you do experience serious post-menopause symptoms, it is essential to select the correct physician. If your doctor seems unsympathetic, it may be necessary to find a different gynecologist who meshes with your personality. You need someone who can not only present the right treatment options, you also need someone who can encourage you. It is important to remember even though you may feel like you will never surmount the problems associated with post-menopause, you will. Eventually, you will be be able to move on with your life. Hopefully, the people around you who have been enduring your emotional changes will be understanding that this is simply a part of the normal menopausal process. More than ever, you will need their love and support during this emotional time.

One thing that has helped many women is to learn to shift your focus to things other than your menopause symptoms. For example, many menopausal women, take up new activities activities they did know but were forgotten. Some discover a new hobby like pottery or gardening. You might try joining a water aerobics class, for example. Others make regular dates to meet old friends. Still others try regularly to do something special for themselves. You might contact your local college and investigate available continuing education opportunities. By keeping busy and working with things you enjoy you may be able to control your symptoms. One key to coping with menopause is taking the time to comprehend it.
Linda Williams contributes to several web magazines, on health and fitness issues.

Menopause-Related Acne

Menopause has many interesting, seemingly unrelated symptoms. Women can experience any combination of mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, extreme night sweats, achy joints, headaches, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and even acne. Some women avoid menopause-induced acne, but for at least one in ten menopause sufferers, pimples and blemishes are a genuine problem. Some women have avoided pimples since they were teenagers, yet suddenly the have a face full of them. The truth is, though, teens and menopausal women have a number of things in common. Acne is typically a result of hormone swings, which occurs extensively throughout puberty and menopause. It can be very frustrating for women to endure the added embarassment of blemishes when they're struggling to deal with all of the other symptoms of menopause.

Menopausal acne occurs for much the same reason that acne occurs during any other life stage. The skin contains millions of sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil, scientifically termed sebum. Skin cells are constantly regenerated. Old ones die, are sloughed off and quickly replaced. When body hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA run rampant, the sebaceous glands become sensitive and start producing more sebum than necessary. More skin cells begin to die. As a result, not only do you have a surplus of facial oil, you also have a surplus of dead skin cells. Your body cannot rid itself of the unwanted oil and dead cells fast enough. Facial skin follicles get clogged with oil and dead cells.

White heads occur as a result of bacteria. Excess sebum builds up under the skin, naturally-occuring bacteria and the oil combine, creating an inflamed area filled with white puss. Blackheads also occur as a result of the combining of bacteria and oil with the addition of air that has leaked in. As a result, the material caught in the pore turns black. Menopausal acne identical to other acne, however. Both the follicles and sebaceous glands on the face contain an enzyme. This particular enzyme can turn estrogen into the hormone androgen testosterone. This has the ability to increase oil production even further. This leads to even more breakouts than a woman probably had as a teenager.

Menopausal acne can be extremely frustrating. There are, however, ways to alleviate it. Begin by examining your diet. It is important to eat foods that are high in fiber and calcium. It is also recommended to cut back on your fat and carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates can turn insulin into androgen testosterone. This androgen too can increase the skin's sebum production. Additionally, you might want ensure that you are consuming eight to ten glasses of water each day.

In addition to dietary changes, you might want to consider the addition of dietary supplements. There are so many widely-available herbs vitamins, and minerals that can help alleviate the body's excess oil production. Studies suggest that it is beneficial to add Vitamin B and Vitamin C to your diet. In addition to diet and supplements, you should cleanse your skin a minimum of twice daily. Regular exfoliation rids the skin of those dead cells. Also, it is beneficial to use a toner to close open pores.

William Miller enjoys writing for several popular online magazines, on health and fitness and women's health topics.

Weight And Menopause

Menopause is normal part of aging most women begin to experience between the ages of forty-seven and fifty-two. Menopause is brought on by reduction of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. As the process progresses, a woman will eventually completely cease producing these hormones completely. Menopause brings with it many changes. Most women find they have difficulty concentrating on tasks they previously enjoyed. Many suffer terrible moods swings. Most endure potentially debilitating hot flashes and night sweats. Others endure regular joint pain and headaches. Many women complain of sleeping difficulties. However, one of the most dreaded menopause-related problems is weight gain. In recent years, there have been many scientific studies examining the link between menopause and weight gain in an attempt to understand how woman can prevent this problem.

One interesting study suggested that as a woman loses two very important hormones, estrogen and progesterone, she will be predisposed to gain more weight she no longer burns the calories necessary to manufacture the hormones. Moreover, because most women experience fatigue and feel generally unwell during this time, they do not tend to retain their motivation to stick with their normal exercise routine. Couple this with the fact that her condition brings on a sudden cravings for standard comfort foods and desserts, which are usually high in calories, and you have a recipe for certain weight gain. Menopause have also brings with it a decrease in metabolism rate, which leads to even more retained calories.

All of these factors combined can also make it very difficult for a menopausal woman to lose any weight she has gained. Losing weight during menopause is certainly possible, but is a daunting challenge. The most important adjustment a woman can make in is to work with her resting metabolic rate or resting energy expenditure. To retain a healthy weight, the resting metabolic rate should account for more than seventy percent of the energy usee on a daily basis. Because this rate is related to an individual's muscle mass, the resting metabolic rate will decrease as a woman ages and loses muscle mass.

In order to lose weight during menopause, it is wise to begin by making dietary changes. Refrain from turning to high calorie comfort foods during this challenging time. A sensible diet should consist primarily of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, brown rice, whole grain bread, and whole wheat flour. It is also wise to change one's eating habits. Consider four to five small meals each day, rather than the customary three big meals per day. Each small meal should be healthy and balanced. This will help weight disappear and stay away. Proper exercise can also assist in the fight against weight gain. Moreover, proper exercise can give you a better feeling of well-being during this difficult time.

For the most part, losing weight during menopause is as basic as losing weight at any other point in your life. The bottom line is that you must consume fewer calories than your burn during the course of your normal routine. It might help to avoid fast food and start by walking for thirty minutes daily. These two simple things alone can strengthen your heart muscle and help you feel better about your life. If you are concerned about weight gain, consult your physician and the two of you can set up a suitable program.
William Miller writes articles for several web sites, on womens health and health and disease topics.

Men, Muscles and Menopause

A few weeks back, a Body for Mind reader wrote a letter that really started me thinking about the topic of staying fit after menopause. She is someone who adopted a fitness and healthy eating lifestyle and really transformed herself over a period of time. Now, she is starting to feel like she might be having the beginnings of menopause. Her question was whether she would lose her ?new body? because of menopause.

In short, my answer to her was NO! She would not gain body fat or lose muscle JUST because of menopause.

After years of seeing fitness clients go through menopause, I feel that we as women are focusing on menopause as an isolated event and not as a transient life phase. The medical community prepares us for the changes we will have during the menopause years and rightly so. It?s pretty freaky to have your body not behave the way you are accustomed to it behaving!

So, I would like to present to you a different way of viewing this life stage from the fitness angle:

I like to think of menopause as being like puberty. The body goes a bit whacky for a time, but it is temporary ? your body adjusts to the changes. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, etc are directly related to menopause. Most are symptoms, not permanent conditions ? things that happen to women specifically during menopause as opposed to those things that happen to both men and women as they age , such as weight gain, tiredness, wrinkles etc.

The other bits people talk about related to menopause seem to really be more about age and lifestyle rather than diminishing female hormones.

Think about this, estrogen protects women against heart disease. After menopause, women?s risk of heart disease becomes similar to a men?s of the same age. In men, the risk of heart disease is predominantly due to lifestyle choices, aging and heredity. So, the risk of heart disease for men and postmenopausal women is the same and depends on lifestyle with a bit of heredity thrown in.

See where I am going with this?

It?s been my observation that friends and clients who were not making healthy lifestyle choices before menopause, after menopause continue to look and feel pretty much as they did before.

Those friends and clients who were fit and ate well before menopause, after menopause continue to look and feel?.. pretty much as they did before.

AND?some even see it as a wake up call and improve their lifestyle considerably.

I have one client and friend who had early menopause at age 40. Now, eleven years later she is fitter and more beautiful than ever, and she has run 3 marathons since age 48! She also started lifting weights at 46 and has a very much more toned body than she had at 40. She eats well, doesn?t smoke and wears her sunscreen. At 51, she looks and acts much younger than she did at 40.

The bottom line: ladies, it takes a lot more than just menopause to cause your body to lose muscle and gain fat. Aging, lack of exercise, years of poor eating and other habits that contribute to ill health are the major contributors.

After all, if loss of female hormones were the only cause of increased body fat ? men wouldn?t have any!
Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. You can see other articles by Ainsley and more at http://www.bodyformind.com

Menopause And Weight Gain

If you're like many women who are thirty-and-forty-something, you've probably noticed that you're gaining weight that stubbornly refuses to take its departure. You're also probably thinking that this extra weight couldn't possibly be due to menopause - after all, you're still experiencing regular periods.

Weight gain in pre-menopausal women is quite normal because menopause actually occurs in three major stages and can take 15 years or longer, depending on your age and family history. The first stage of menopause is known as perimenopause, and symptoms include spotting, hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, irregular periods and weight gain.

Most women will notice weight gain as one of the first symptoms of menopause, especially around the abdomen. This is due to the fact that their hormone levels are declining drastically.

One of the hormones that will have an effect on women as they approach and experience menopause is estrogen, which is the female sex hormone that is responsible for causing monthly ovulation. During your menopausal years, your estrogen levels decline rapidly, causing your body to eventually stop ovulating. This is the hormone that seems to play a big role in menopausal weight gain. When your ovaries produce less estrogen, your body will look for other places from where to get needed estrogen. Fat cells in your body can produce estrogen, so your body works harder to convert calories into fat to increase estrogen levels.

Another hormone responsible for your new body is androgen, which can be blamed for sending your new weight to your middle section. In fact, weight gain during these menopausal years is often referred to as ?middle age spread? due to the rapid growth of the mid-section. Often, this is one of the very first signs of menopause.

Women also experience a drop in their testosterone levels during these years. While it?s true that testosterone is known as the ?male hormone,? women have testosterone too, and this hormone helps your body to create lean muscle mass out of the calories that you consume. Since muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells do, with higher testosterone levels you?ll have increased metabolism. Because your body is producing less testosterone during menopause you?ll notice a loss of muscle, an increase in body fat and a much lower metabolism. Muscle burns more calories than fat does, so the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be. As you know, the lower your metabolism, the slower your body burns calories.

Women can benefit a great deal by committing to a regular exercise routine. It's important to know that weight training plays a very important role in losing the extra weight you've gained. You can keep the weight off by building muscle to help burn calories.

In summary, every woman's hormone levels decline at some point in their lives. Yes, this is going to result in some uncomfortable symptoms, but it's certainly not the end of the world. You can naturally reduce a lot of menopausal symptoms by simply making some lifestyle changes that will help to make you look and feel beautiful and energized.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. She is a grandmother, who started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.

Helpful Things To Know About Menopause

Menopause is a traumatic time that has to be faced by every female. It causes a host of changes in your body, and the more you know about it, the better fit you will be to get through it smoothly. In this article, we'll discuss some facts about menopause so that you can be better informed about this turbulent period in a woman's life.

- Approximately four thousand women begin menopause per day.

- Roughly one third of a woman's life occurs after menopause.

- Exercise is a key factor in getting through menopause with a minimum of complications. A regular exercise pattern helps to limit the effects of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause: hot flashes, depression, sleep disorders and irritability can all be lowered through a proper exercise plan. In addition, exercise has merit in preventing the physical aspects of menopause. Osteoporosis and heart disease are more prevalent in those post-menopause, and regular exercise can help to curb these risks.

- While hormone replacement therapy is commonly used to help women get through menopause, it is by no means a complete solution and it has problems associated with it. Estrogen that is used in hormone replacement therapy has been shown to increase the risk of uterine cancer. For this reason, it is important for women who have had past cases of cancer to have a thorough conversation with their doctor discussing the merits and risks of getting hormone replacement therapy.

- Low dosage anti-depressants have long been used to help women get through some of the more mental issues associated with menopause. In addition to helping with post-menopausal depression, anti-depressants can help to reduce the amount of hot flashes that are experienced. Another drug that is commonly prescribed to help menopausal patients with hot flashes is clonidine. This agent is used to help patients with high blood pressure and it has been shown to be effective in reducing hot flashes.

- Eating healthy is a key factor in just how many of the menopausal symptoms are experienced by you. Ensure that you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D, as these two compounds help your body to deal with bone mineralization, thereby decreasing your risk for osteoporosis.

- Smoking can really affect a woman in menopause. Your risk of heart disease is increased when smoking, and certain studies have shown that smoking may increase hot flashes and actually cause menopause to occur earlier than it should.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Women, Beauty, and Women's Health

Understanding Your Symptoms Of Menopause

As a woman, you have probably been through many drastic changes in your life. Around early or late teen years came the concept of puberty and periods. Then for some came the miraculous, yet painful process of pregnancy. Once again, your body is ready to go through another hormonal change. It is important to learn and understand what your body will be going through. You will be thankful when you are prepared. Your loved ones will also be thankful when you have somewhat of a handle on this new experience.

Menopause can be identified with a few signs. The most popular sign is the start of irregular periods. Expect to go through abnormal vaginal bleeding. Your period may come once in every three months or so or two to three times a month. Some women come across heavy, painful bleeding, while others have barley any bleeding. It will feel like you are going through a uterine problems, but do not fear, this is the initial stage of menopause. The cause of these irregular periods is due to the fact that the ovaries are shutting down.

Along with wacky periods, you will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and times of depression. Unfortunately, these symptoms can last as long as five years. More symptoms include hair loss, loss of libido, memory lapse, ringing ears, dry vagina, burning tongue/mouth, increased sensitivity to allergies, weight gain, decreased bone density, and muscle and joint soreness.

Among the physical hindrances that menopause brings, the worst symptoms would probably be the mental ones. While the physical symptoms can be annoying, the depression and mood swings can really take toll on a woman.

Now that you are aware of the symptoms, rest assured that there are many remedies. Visit a doctor who can help you through this time and prescribe you medication to ease some of the symptoms. The support of women friends who have gone through or are going through the same thing right now can offer you much encouragement and help you get through this new time in your life. Remember that you do not have to suffer alone.

Thanks for reading. If you found this article helpful you can check out more menopause tips, information, and more articles on my website: http://www.themenopausesymptom.com

Natural Treatment For Peri Menopause

 Perimenopause, can last up to ten years, so it's important to find a treatment for peri menopause that alleviates some of the unpleasant symptoms.

Perimenopause, also called the climacteric, is where hormonal fluctuations begin within a woman's body. A woman's monthly cycle can become irregular, with months between them. Most women don't stop menstruating immediately. Rather, the onset of menopause is gradual and prolonged. Women begin to miss ovulating some months. And the number of ovarian follicles that are shed by the body increases, depleting the finite supply each woman has.

These hormonal changes within the body can give rise to the symptoms we associate with menopause. Symptoms include hot flashes, sweating, problems with sleeping, mood swings, depression, tiredness, headaches, vaginal pain during sex, and forgetfulness.

Not all women will experience symptoms. They depend both on what is going on individually within each woman's hormones, and what else is going on in her life. Even though the production of estrogen starts to decline in the ovaries, a woman's levels of estrogen don't usually decline during peri menopause. This is because estrogen is also produced in other areas of the body, including body fat. For many women during perimenopause, estrogen levels will actually increase.

But a woman's emotional and spiritual health impacts on her hormonal health. Stress, from work, relationships, home - or a woman's relationship with herself - can impair the natural balance within her body's processes. Unresolved life issues can also affect how the body handles menopausal changes, changes which are part of a natural process.

However, if a woman is facing these issues, finding a treatment for peri menopause symptoms is important. Keeping the body in balance makes it a lot easier to handle other changes and issues that may be surfacing. Here are some natural options:

Homeopathy Treatment For Peri Menopause

* Ferrum phosphoricum - for hot flashes with redness in the face
* Belladonna - for hot flashes that start and stop suddenly
* Sepia - for anxiety and irritability
* Sanguinarina - for hot flashes to the face, neck and ears
* Kali Phosphoricum - for anxiety, nervousness, depression, and hot flashes

Vitamins Treatment For Peri Menopause

* Evening primrose Oil - As well as helping the skin and mood, evening primrose oil is important for the production of estrogen
* Vitamin C with bioflavanoids - This is excellent for hot flashes
* Brewers Yeast - This is a great source of calcium, which is important for maintaining bone health
* Vitamin E - helps treat hot flashes and other symptoms. It's also an excellent antioxidant
* Vitamin B complex - Vitamin B is excellent for stress, and it helps with cellular function and circulation

Perimenopause is a time for growth as well as change. Even though we may find it challenging, a time where we are guided by our bodies to look at things we thought were sacrosanct, it is ultimately a time of great renewal. The natural treatment for peri menopause options here can help support that journey, but they will in no way mitigate the need for that journey. But through the end, we will emerge happier and more whole than the place we started in.

References:
1. Dr Christiane Northrup, The Wisdom Of Menopause
2. Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing
See this article for more natural remedies for menopause. Or read about free natural remedies for hot flashes

List Of Common Menopause Symptoms

Below is a partial list of Menopause Symptoms. As you read through the list I think it will help you to see that these are some of the normal changes you may experience when you're entering the menopause arena! Even though these symptoms can be scary, it can be a comfort to know that you aren't experiencing these menopause symptoms alone! There are thousands and thousands of women just like you and me who face these issues every day. Together we can conquer menopause. Lets take a quick look.

- Irritability - Hot flashes, night sweats, cold flash or clammy feeling - Heartbeat irregularities - Mood swings - Can't get a good nights sleep - Irregular periods; heavy to very light periods, longer or shorter cycles - Loss of sexual interest - Vagina dryness, can be painful during sexual intercourse - Extreme fatigue - Feelings of anxiety and/or depression - Memory lapses - Tenderness in your breasts - Weight gain, especially in the waist and thigh area - Disorientation, difficulty in concentration, mental confusion - Sudden onset of bloating - Losing your balance, light-headed, dizziness - Changes in your body odor - Itchy skin, a creepy crawly feeling - Increased muscle tension - Increase of facial hair

When your hormone levels change you can experience a wide variety of symptoms. Some symptoms will last for a short period of time while others can last for years. While some women just breeze through menopause with little or no symptoms, some of us suffer severely with the menopause symptoms.

What can we do to help ourselves?

Try to keep a diary of your changes. This will help you figure out what is going on with your body. You will start to see a pattern that will help you figure out your transition point into menopause. Keep track of any type of treatments you've tried as well. This will help you gain insight into helping you manage your menopause symptoms in the future.

Every woman will have her own unique experience during the transition into menopause. Just because you have a severe symptom today does not mean its going to last forever.

Remember, there are many ways you can take control of your menopause symptoms. You CAN Conquer Menopause!

A final thought... Don't look at the changes as 'negative' ones. Having a positive mental attitude will go a long way in helping you cope with menopause symptoms.

Carlie Edwards publishes articles & resources on Today's Issues & Topics. For info on Menopause Relief visit Menopause Relief For a variety of topics & issues visit Natural Beauty Tips

Male "Menopause" - The Alternative Anti-Aging Approach

 

If you are a male over the age of 40 and are suffering from weakness, impotence, pain, stiffness, drooping muscles, depression, anxiety, or heat intolerance, you may be experiencing "andropause".

Andropause is a syndrome resulting from the deficiency of hormones, especially testosterone. It's onset and symptoms may not be as dramatic as female "menopause", but its effects can be just as serious. It is interesting that hormone replacement is quite routine in women but barely even addressed in men. The decline in hormone levels in both sexes has an adverse impact on one's state of health. Starting around age 25, DHEA and testosterone levels begin a progressive downward trend. With falling hormones, it is much harder to maintain muscle mass. Things begin to sag and fat begins to form increasingly thick layers around the lower back and abdomen. Stamina is affected and exercise intolerance occurs. Osteoporosis is well-documented in women and occurs in men as well. This can result in hip and vertebral compression fractures. Wrinkles that carve deep crevices in the face are partially due to testosterone deficiency. Libido is reduced and even impotence may develop. These changes are all a result of male "menopause".

Hormone replacement has been available for women for decades and the positive results continue to multiply. In Anti-Aging medicine, it is expected that maintenance of hormone levels in the youthful range (that of a 25-30 year old) will provide substantial health benefit. Proper monitoring of hormone replacement is a relatively recent innovation that makes this therapy much safer. We can now insure proper dosages in the accepted normal physiologic range. Cancer risk is greatly reduced by this refined approach to replacement therapy.

The decline in testosterone occurs as a result of multiple causes and treatment should be directed accordingly. Aromatase (an enzyme that converts Testosterone into Estradiol) increases as we gain years. This increases raises the free estrogens and lowers the free Testosterone. Prostate cancer is correlated with high circulating estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors, such as chrysin, nettle extract, and Arimidex can inhibit aromatse. Testicular atrophy leads to decreased testosterone production. A course of treatment with HCG stimulates testicular development and can boost Testosterone production. A complete vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement plus a proper diet help to correct nutritional deficiencies. DHEA and possible melatonin replacement also serve as alternatives and as adjuncts to testosterone therapy. A diet that includes a large amount of legumes, especially soy, is helpful in providing the necessary building blocks for our bodies to manufacture hormones. Maintaining cholesterol in the normal range (not to high or to low) is also critical for hormone synthesis. Testosterone replacement can be accomplished by the use of creams, pills or even injection. It is best if the physiologic patterns natural to the body are mimicked, which makes injection less favorable. Creams containing natural testosterone are well absorbed through the skin, bypass metabolism by the liver, and are easy to apply, thus making them superior to pills. The potential risks of testosterone administration include increases in red cell mass, worsening of sleep apnea, changes in plasma lipid levels, and fluid retention. There is some concern that testosterone replacement might exacerbate benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There is no change in PSA with testosterone therapy. You are not a candidate for this replacement therapy if you have an active testicular or prostate cancer. Finally, testosterone supplementation may produce adverse side effects if administered to men with normal levels, hence the importance of monitoring.

With proper replacement, you can expect to regain muscle mass, increase bone density, increase stamina, increase libido, reduce your risk for a variety of cancers and Alzheimer's disease, and live an improved quality of life.

Dr. Rod Rojas is a board certified physician and Medical Director of IHC SKIN LASER & ANTI-AGING CLINIC, member of the prestigious American Academy Of Anti-Aging Medicine.

If you are suffering any of these symptoms, give us a call at The Skin Laser and Anti-Aging Clinic 843-757-8717.

We will be very happy to assist you.

How To Survive Menopause

 

Ever heard of hot flushes and mood swings? These are among the common symptoms of this medical condition commonly associated with women called menopause.

Menopause is actually a process which results to the stoppage of a woman?s monthly period. Menopause, which is characterized by hormonal changes, begins between the ages of 40 and 50.

A woman who is undergoing the process of menopause experiences lots of hormonal changes which are manifested through various symptoms like hot flushes, irritability, erratic menstrual cycle and other symptoms. Women who are in the process of getting menopause may also experience insomnia, loss of sexual urge, forgetfulness, headaches, osteoporosis and even gain in weight.

The whole cycle of menopause merely prepares a woman for that time when she stops ovulating because her ovaries have stopped producing eggs for the process of ovulation. During this process, a woman?s estrogen decreases while her progesterone is produced in minimal levels. The lack of progesterone results to a thinner uterus lining and a stoppage of the monthly menstrual cycle.

The symptoms of menopause can be quite unnerving for women particularly the changing moods and the hot flushes. However, there are ways to lessen the impact of these symptoms like estrogen replacement therapy for hot flushes. Most women however decline its use due to the risk of cyclical bleeding and getting cancer.

Menopause is not really something new because it naturally occurs in a woman?s life. However, menopause is not experienced by women alone because there is also male menopause called andropause

Women who refuse to use synthetic hormone replacement can take other options depending on the specific symptoms they are experiencing. What is important is they live a healthy lifestyle by eating the right kind of food, getting regular exercise, and refraining from bad habits like smoking and drinking.

There are menopausal women who opt for alternative or herbal medicines. However, it is safe to consult their doctors first before using these herbal medicines to make sure these are not harmful to them.

Most of the women who dread menopause are usually women who lack the basic information of what menopause is. Menopause is part of a woman?s reproductive make up and no one can avoid it. Being in this stage does not mean they can no longer live the way they used to do. There are just changes that women have to live with and confront. Instead of dreading that day when menopause sets in, women should get to know more about menopause, its symptoms and how they can live healthier and more active lives after menopause.

The author is a regular contributor to Menopause and Life where more information about menopause is freely available.

Diabetes and The Menopause

You might be thinking "What's the connection between diabetes and the menopause?"

Well, for ladies reaching that certain age, it can be very traumatic - especially when some of the effects experienced can easily be mistaken for those we have to be aware of when managing our diabetes...

For a diabetic taking medication, keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing act. If sugar levels drop too low, because of not eating enough or at the right times, you suffer a hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called 'hypo' for short). For me, this usually manifests itself as shaking; irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling. If you are diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may recognize some of these symptoms, amongst others. A quick 'glucose fix' usually settles it within 5-10 minutes.

Now, compare that to some of the symptoms of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them 'power-surges' ;)] - similar to the sweats of a hypo; mood swings - akin to the irritability you might experience during a hypo. It's very easy to confuse the symptoms you are feeling.

When I first started the menopause, I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my blood sugar levels up when I didn't need it. Not a good idea!

It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about these frequent, unexpected hypos I discovered I was starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s, so it was rather unexpected, normally it doesn't occur until early-to-mid 50s).

If you are a lady, with diabetes controlled by medication, and you are in your early 50s and you start having frequent, unexplained hypos - check your sugar levels before 'treating the condition'. And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the menopause.

And guys; if your lady normally has great control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be showing the same symptoms when she was getting her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please be supportive and understanding, she's going through one hell of an experience, but I promise, she will come through and be her normal, loving and charming self once again.

[? 2006 Carol Ann Bentley]

Carol Ann created http://www.your-diabetes.com to present information on diabetes from a diabetic's viewpoint

Find out more about diabetes; how to recognise it; live with it; important linked health issues. Plus, read inspiring stories from other diabetics and share your experience.

Include delicious recipes from here in your diabetic meal plan and, if you send in your favorite recipe, you could win the monthly prize draw.

Here comes "The Change": Managing Menopause

There are a variety of symptoms you may experience leading up to menopause when your periods stop for good. Most are mild, and may involve both the mind and body. Some can be so mild that you hesitate to even mention them to your doctor. Anxiety, bloating, and weight gain, and most of the other not-quite-well symptoms can be attributed to other things.

The first acknowledgement that there's something new happening for some women is that they don't feel the way they usually do, and they don't react in the same way. Situations they might have ignored, or not even noticed, suddenly provoke sleepless nights, mood swings, and even panic attacks.

If you're in your early forties, or even in your thirties, and are experiencing symptoms which seem to have arrived out of the blue, go and see your doctor. They may be a sign that you're going through the perimenopause.

The dreaded hot flash

Host flashes are the most common perimenopausal symptoms, and can make you severely uncomfortable. Women experience them both at night and during the day. If they occur at night, they may even wake you. Although you feel hot, your core temperature is actually going down, as you perspire and as increased blood flows to the skin. Some women experience the flushes as cooling sensations and feel chilled.

You can manage hot flashes during the day by drinking more water, wearing layers of natural fibre-clothing, so you can remove a layer when you're too hot. At night, ensure that your bedroom is cool and that your nightwear and bedding are natural cotton.

Sleep disorders

Sleeplessness and restless sleep is common during perimenopause. The lack of sleep can make you tired, irritable, and unable to concentrate. Night sweats can wake you from a deep sleep, and lead to several hours of lying awake.

The challenge with insomnia is that when you'd been unable to sleep for a couple of nights, you can become stressed at the idea that you won't be able to sleep, and the stress keeps you awake. Try to create a bedtime routine, during which you go to sleep at the same time every night, have a warm drink of decaffeinated coffee or herbal tea, and listen to soothing music to lull yourself to sleep.

Headaches

Headaches are often more common during perimenopause. If you've experienced headaches before and during your periods right throughout your life, you may find that the fluctuating hormones of perimenopause mean that you experience more headaches more often. Try herbal tea or herbal headache remedies to relieve your headaches.

The Challenge

The menopausal years can certainly hold some challenges, However, knowing what is behind the changes and taking control of your own health during these years can make all the difference in the world. The importance of reading all you can, asking your doctor pointed questions, and insisting on having a program tailored to your specific needs can't be overemphasized.

Focus on yourself for a change! This should be an exciting and uplifting phase of your life. Don't let troubling symptoms ruin it for you.

Dr. Martin Milner, ND is author of "The Menopause Revolution" As Medical Director for the Center for Natural Medicine Inc. he has helped thousands of women take control of their own health, balancing their hormones safely and naturally. Visit his site to find out more The Menopause Revolution

Menopause Primer

Menopause is often cryptically referred to as "the change of life." But as lovely as this sounds, it doesn't tell anyone a whole lot about menopause. After all, there are plenty of "changes to live" experienced by men and women of all ages that has nothing to do with menopause.

Menopause is something every woman with all her reproductive organs eventually experiences. Menopause is a natural part of the biological process. It is not a disease or illness although some menopause side effects can be unpleasant.

Some doctors claim that menopause is a process that can start in a woman in her 30s and last as late as her 60s. But menopause occurs in most women between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause is officially the full stopping of menstrual periods for at least 12 months in a row.

Some of the signs and symptoms of menopause include the obvious, irregular periods. Unpredictability of periods is one of the first signs of menopause. Menstrual periods can suddenly vary between gradually getting lighter, then heavier, and then lighter again.

Another sign of menopause is decreased fertility. A menopausal woman does not ovulate and cannot get pregnant. But women in the menopause transition should still be cautious. Pregnancy in a woman who hasn't completed menopause can still happen, especially if it's only been a few months since her periods stopped. Remember, full menopause doesn't occur until a woman's menstrual periods have stopped for at least 12 months.

Menopause is caused by a woman's estrogen levels decreasing. So a woman in menopause doesn't produce enough estrogen to keep the vagina and urethra well lubricated. So menopause causes the vagina and urethra to become less elastic and drier, causing those areas to become itchier and more at risk for infections. Sex can also be more uncomfortable for women in menopause.

The drops in estrogen levels during menopause can also cause what's called hot flashes. Hot flashes are often the butt of jokes, but can be quite bad for some women experiencing menopause. Hot flashes in menopause last at least 30 seconds to up to several minutes. They're characterized by a flushed face and red blotches on chest, neck and arms. They can happen any time during the day or night.
Other symptoms and signs of menopause include an inability to sleep as well as a modest - usually five-pound - weight gain. Adult acne can get worse during menopause. Plus with decreased estrogen levels in menopause, the small amounts of testosterone every female produces takes over. Because of this, sometimes women in menopause can get coarse facial hair and coarse hair on the chest and stomach.

Menopause is a natural life transition. But sometimes complications in the process of menopause occur. For example, if a woman knows for sure she's in menopause (that is she hasn't had a period for at least 12 months in a row), and she's bleeding from her vagina, she should go see a doctor.

If a woman thinks she's in menopause, but isn't sure, she can always go to a doctor. Depending on the situation, a doctor might take a blood test to determine menopause. In this case, a blood sample is usually tested for the level of estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). During menopause FSH levels increase as estrogen levels decrease. So higher levels of FSH and lower levels of estrogen will show a woman has gone into menopause.

Menopause Hub is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Menopause Resources. It can be found at: http://www.menopauseinfohub.com