Birth Control and Perimenopause: When do I stop taking the Pill?

Perimenopause is the time just before menopause. Officially, menopause starts the year after you have finished menstruating, and perimenopause starts three to five years earlier. As your body changes, should you be reconsidering your birth control options?

So you're in your late forties, or your fifties. Your body is acting differently. You aren't sure if the changes are your birth control or your body, how do you react? If you are still getting your period, you can still get pregnant. You should still use birth control until a year after your last period, because often periods become irregular and have a longer time between them during perimenopause. If you have been relying on fertility awareness based methods of birth control, they will no longer work, because you will no longer be able to track your cycle accurately. If you are using barrier based methods of birth control, then you can continue using your regular method (diaphragm, sponge, condoms, etc). The difficulty at perimenopause comes if you are using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, the patch, or the vaginal ring among others.

Some doctors recommend switching birth control pills to a low-dose birth control pill at perimenopause. This would mean switching to a pill that has 20 micrograms of estrogen (such as Alesse or Loestrin), instead of the normal 30 to 50 micrograms of estrogen in a combination pill. The benefits of changing to a lower dose hormonal birth control are that you will still be protected against pregnancy, and your final periods will probably be more regular. Many women find that their side effects are fewer with lower doses of estrogen. NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that is inserted once a month and removed 21 days later; it also has a lower dose of estrogen than most birth control pills.

You are going to have to stop taking birth control at some point in your life. In the past, doctors would randomly choose when to stop you on birth control and when to begin you on hormone replacement therapy for menopause. This often happens around the age of 50. Now, doctors can measure your FSH, or follicle-stimulating-hormone to tell if you are in menopause. This way you can switch hormone therapies directly when it suits your body.

However, being medicated on hormones your entire life is not appealing to many women. You might choose to change to alternative forms of birth control. These include getting an IUD, or switching to a barrier method of birth control (like a cervical cap, condoms, etc.).

Going off birth control can cause difficulties for some women. A woman's body can become accustomed to being on contraceptive pills for years. It will take months for the pill to leave your body. Your body will learn to create different hormone levels for you.

There are many natural ways to deal with the side effects of perimenopause. The most important thing to remember is to maintain a balanced diet and exercise. It sounds overly simple, but for most of us, it can be one of the biggest challenges we face in our busy lives. Proper diet and exercise can help minimize side effects of perimenopause, and it will help you to feel better about yourself.

If you want to try going off birth control pills, you can stop at any time (though many women choose to finish one monthly cycle before ending. Try lowering your caffeine and alcohol intake. Other women use progesterone-cream to help lessen their side effects.

Perimenopause and menopause is a time of great change in a woman's life. This is a time to step back and begin listening to your body. Many women rush around their lives putting everyone else first: take this time to improve your own life by talking to your doctor and making informed decisions about your hormone use during perimenopause.

For more information on birth control, including hormonal, barrier-based, and biological methods, and more information on your fertitility, visit The Guide to Birth Control

Menopause Symptoms ? How Do They Appear?

Basically, menopause symptoms start to appear when there is an intermittent and erratic changing of your hormone production. The transition of menopause starts at this stage where your ovary fails to secrete enough hormones causing your estrogen to likewise fail gradually. Menopause symptoms, their kinds and levels, may vary on each woman. Some may interact with the symptoms a little difficult than other women, while others may feel less intensity with the problem.

What are these menopause symptoms and how to cope with them?

Psychological menopause symptoms ? when a woman undergoes menopause transition, different kinds and levels of depression is more likely to envelop her. However, some studies showed that these depressions are not only the cause of the menopausal transition itself but also other factors such as household circumstances and the lack of sleep. The following are the most typical psychological dilemmas that women go through:

? Difficulty in concentrating
? Irritability
? Forgetfulness
? Mood swings
? Overreaction to minor details
? Anxieties; and others

You can alleviate the severity of these emotional difficulties if you will exercise regularly. Through physical exercises, you can preserve your bone strength and maintain your hormonal balance. Also, talking with other women who are undergoing such process may be a big help to deal with the problem a lot easier.

Vasomotor menopause symptoms ? the most common is hot flashes, wherein you may experience them even few years before you stop menstruating. They are the result of the changing temperature control of your body. They would continue for a little more years, after your menopause. Hot flashes usually occur at nighttimes, where you may feel sudden waves of heat all over your body, more particularly on your face and chest.

Other problems that accompany hot flashes:

? Palpitations
? Perspiration
? Chilling or sweating
? Headaches

There are alternative treatments that you can take to control hot flashes. Some of these are:

- Herbal treatment
- Taking vitamins and natural supplements
- And some medical treatments prescribed by the doctor

By following these simple tips, you can minimize the discomforting effects of hot flashes:

- Avoid too much stress
- Minimize caffeine, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverage intake
- Drink cold water when you start experiencing signs of hot flash
- Wear comfortable clothes
- And when the hot flash starts, splash cold water on your wrists and face.

Sexual problems ? your intercourse activities will be affected as vaginal dryness is already appearing as another menopause symptom. This is the result of the decreased estrogen level. You can try to apply some stimulants so to reach orgasm. You can also have vaginal lubricants for a less painful intercourse.

Urinary problems ? estrogen loss has been discovered to play a role in the urinary problems of women undergoing menopause process. Because of the loss, tissues found on the urinary tract also undergo changes, leaving these women to encounter difficulties with their urinary activities. The following are the typical problems that these women may find themselves with:

? Urine leaks (may occur even from your small movements such as laughing and coughing)
? Vaginal dryness, and vaginal discharge, itching and burning.
? Urine infection
? Frequent passing of urine (daytime and nighttime)

You can have a regular exercise to combat the severity of these urinary problems. Also, exercise bladder training can be a simple yet effective treatment to lessen the amount of discomfort that urinary problems are giving you.

Sleep/Insomnia problems ? these are usually the result of the hot flashes occurrences. You may experience tossing and turning at nights leaving you awake all night and tiredness during the days. Seek medical help from the doctors so they can prescribe proper treatment from this problem.

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

Coping With Early Menopause Symptoms

There are several factors that may contribute to a woman experiencing early menopause (menopause before the age of 45), which include premature ovarian failure, surgery, cancer treatment, viral infections, thyroid disease and many others. No matter what the case may be, hearing that you?re going through menopause years before you were expecting to enter this transition can be very scary and intimidating, leaving you with many unanswered questions.

It?s so very important to realize that you can and will continue to be the same person ? you?re not going to suddenly transform into an old lady, so don?t allow your mind to believe you will. You may be feeling like you?re less attractive or less desirable, but when these feelings of inadequacy pop into your head, remind yourself that you?re still a young woman and all that comes with it. You?re beautiful, sexy, capable and strong. Yes, your reproductive system isn?t what it was, but keep in mind that you?re much more than eggs and fallopian tubes ? you?re a woman with so very much to offer.

Symptoms of early menopause can be uncomfortable, but fortunately there are many remedies that reduce and eliminate the discomforts of early menopause. Just as with menopause in an older woman, younger women experiencing early menopause will notice physical symptoms, such as:

? Irregular periods
? Infertility
? Hot flashes
? Night sweats
? Vaginal dryness
? Insomnia or disrupted sleep
? Weight gain (especially around your mid-section)

In addition to the physical symptoms of early menopause, women may also notice some changes in their emotional state, as well. It?s not unusual to experience the following:

? Irritability
? Mood swings
? Lowered libido
? Difficulty concentrating
? Confusion
? Fatigue

Coping with symptoms of early menopause can be emotionally difficult. Fortunately, lifestyle changes and other remedies can significantly reduce the physical symptoms of early menopause. Once you?ve conquered the physical signs it?s quite likely that you?ll begin to feel like your old self again and, as a result, you?ll become more optimistic and emotionally healthy. This is probably why many women choose to make lifestyle changes that have proven to effectively reduce the severity of symptoms associated with early menopause, perimenopause and menopause. For instance, it?s extremely beneficial to avoid triggers that have been known to cause hot flashes, such as hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol, hot weather and warm rooms.

If your sleep patterns have become disrupted, try to avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine. Also, it?s a good idea to read or take a hot bath right before bed so that you?re relaxed and more likely to fall into a nice sound sleep.

If you transform your diet into one that is healthy and includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you?ll notice a tremendous improvement in your overall health and just how much energy you have. You?ll want to avoid saturated fats, oils and sugars, and consume approximately 1,500 milligrams of calcium, plus 400 to 800 international units of vitamin D each day. Supplements may be required to reach these amounts. If this is the case, talk with your doctor to be certain you?re getting exactly the right dosages and ensure you?re on your way to as easy a transition as possible.

You?ll be absolutely amazed by what a regular exercise program can do to reduce and even eliminate many symptoms of early menopause. If performed correctly, exercise will protect you from conditions that are common among post-menopausal women, such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. In addition to preventing these conditions, exercise will eliminate the weight gain associated with menopause and will also provide you with energy that you thought may not ever come back. Exercise has also been proven to reduce the occurrence of hot flashes.

Hormone therapy (HT) also is quite beneficial in reducing many symptoms of early menopause. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that the risks of HT, which include heart attack, stroke and breast cancer, may outweigh the benefits. While these studies may have changed the course of HT, estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for many early menopause symptoms. If you have not done so already, talk with your doctor to find out if a very low dose of estrogen will provide you symptom relief.

Finally, I know that this is very difficult for you and you?re likely very confused. Perhaps you were planning on having children, which may no longer be possible. Even if you weren?t considering a pregnancy, early menopause can be emotionally devastating. Please remember that you are young, you will remain young. You will no doubt get through this, because you?ve shown your strength simply by logging onto the Internet and searching for options and treatments. You?re beautiful and you have a strong resolve; I believe this and I want you to believe it too.
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 Werewolf

Do you send family members running for the hills or are colleagues looking at you like you've sprouted two heads? No you're not turning into a werewolf at the next full moon. If you are a perimenopausal woman, it's more likely you're experiencing one of the more common and often misunderstood symptoms of menopause, irritability. The definition of irritability is: a quick excitability to annoyance, impatience, or anger. Sounds about right, on the surface your simply going about your business doing what you've always done. You arrive home from work tired and wanting a few minutes to unwind and almost instantly your husband asks what's for supper, your son wants help with a project, and your daughter wants a ride to a friend's house. A variation of this scene has played out thousands of times before but tonight your head is teaming with thoughts like..... 'What you can't work the stove?', 'Why does it always have to be me helping?', 'Couldn't she have gotten a ride from her dad?', 'What do I look like the master servant!!'. You may utter a sarcastic quip or snap a retort but you just do it all and wonder what's wrong with you. Does this sound a little too familiar? What you and those around you don't realize is there is a major renovation underway.

Urban legend would have it that menopausal women are like werewolves with dropping estrogen as their 'full moon' to trigger the scary transformation from docile caretaker to raging lunatic. In fact mood swings do occur with the menopausal changes in hormonal balance. But the greater change is occurring in your brain. Your brain is essentially rewiring. There is new brain growth, specifically the myelin sheath, the coating that insulates the nerve and speeds up the connection between nerve cells, in the part of the brain responsible for emotional learning. These changes allow for greater clarity. This combined with the decrease in our 'nurturing' hormone, estrogen, accounts for our shift in awareness from caring for others to more self nurturing pursuits.

The irritability usually starts subtly, like low voltage through a wire barely strong enough to keep a pilot light lit. Over time the current becomes stronger and stronger until you could light a stadium with it. The minor irritability, low voltage anger, will continue to build if you ignore it. This is an internal signal telling you to take a look at what's going on in your life and asking yourself if the situation is really serving you anymore. By answering honestly and taking a clear look at your needs you can renegotiate your relationships to better support you. Changing the unwritten contract in relationships, you know the one that says you do all the cooking or that it's alright to make last minute requests that rob you of your down time, can be challenging and it takes time.

Here are some other immediate support measures to help ease the irritability. * Keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum * Avoid processed foods * Be sure to get enough calcium and magnesium * Engage in stress reducing activities like meditation, yoga, exercise, fresh air & sunshine * Foster supportive friendships

If ignored this irritability often blossoms into other health issues. After all it's your body's way of trying to get your attention to make some changes.

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can't wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach, or visit http://www.pathwayscoach.com. For a free Menopause Assessment go to http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRcoachcmb1156881430.html

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can't wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach , or visit http://w

Natural Menopause Treatment

 Signs of Menopause


For more information please visit

Am I Menopausal?

Natural Menopause Relief

Menopause Symptoms

Defeating Menopause

Description


* Menopause refers to the cessation of menses, a normal process in a woman's life. It marks the ending of a woman's reproductive years, and the beginning of a new stage of life known as the climacteric stage. Menopause usually occurs near the age of fifty, but can begin in the early forties.,


* During menopause, the production of ovarian hormones, including androgens, decreases. This can result in signs of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, depression, vaginal dryness, excessive perspiration, headaches, memory impairment, digestive disturbances, and sleeplessness. At the time of menopause there is an increase in the production of androgens from other androgen-producing sites in the body. Androgens act as weak estrogens, helping the body to adjust to the hormonal changes that are occurring.


* The stronger the woman's adrenals, and the better her nutritional status, the easier is her transition into menopause. Chronic stress over long periods of time can lead to adrenal depletion. If a woman is nutritionally depleted and emotionally stressed she may require hormonal, nutritional, or other support.2


Prevention and Management of Signs of Menopause Symptoms


* Regular physical exercise is necessary to protect against bone loss. Exercise has many other benefits as well.


* A diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in complex carbohydrates, such as grains, fruits and vegetables is important.2


* Vitamin E supplementation may reduce symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and breathing difficulties.,,


* Calcium is important in maintaining bone mass.
* Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption.
* Magnesium intake is often low in women with osteoporosis. Low magnesium intake is associated with low bone mineral content (BMC).


* Boron reduces urinary calcium loss and increases serum levels of 17 estradiol (estrogen).


* Essential fatty acids can help prevent dryness of the hair, skin and vaginal tissues.


* Soy supplementation has been suggested as a possible alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Soy isoflavones act as estrogen-like compounds. Forty-five grams of dietary soy, per day for 12 weeks was shown to decrease post-menopausal hot flashes.


* Certain herbs such as black cohosh, chasteberry, licorice and dong quai have shown to have a beneficial effect in managing many of the menopause symptoms.

References

1 Golan R. Optimal Wellness. New York:Ballantine Books; 1995 p 359-40.
2 Mayo JL. A Natural Approach to Menopause. Clin Nutr Insights 1997;5(7):1-8.

 

Menopause and Weight Loss

During menopause, many women report that the challenge of weight loss becomes even more difficult. The need to lose weight haunts women most of the time, and now more men are reporting the same struggle. When women hit menopause, weight gathers around the waist and hips; despite our best efforts to diet and exercise.

What we know is that this additional body fat is linked to your hormones. Most women follow a conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with lots of processed foods. Eventually this diet creates a condition known as insulin resistance; see Dr. Schwarzbein's book on the book list. When you are insulin resistant, your body converts calories into fat even when you are dieting. Menopause feels like a losing battle, but it doesn't have to be.

When you are stressed, as the body typically is during menopause, stress hormones block weight loss. Despite adequate food, the body acts as if it's in a famine and stores all spare calories as fat.
This leads to a metabolic disorder called adrenal fatigue.

Many women combine a high-stress life with a low-fat, high-carb diet which creates a powerful hormonal imbalance which causes us to gain weight. Yo-yo dieting exacerbates the problem.
Also, when a woman is on a high-carb diet she is often barraged with a craving for sweets. The body can't maintain optimal blood sugar and serotonin levels, so you snack and drink caffeine to feel better. That makes your insulin resistance worse and the vicious cycle of gaining weight is accelerated.

During perimenopause, women lose estrogen which is an added factor to this problem. As estrogen decreases, the body needs extra fat resources. Other factors that play into this problem, are unresolved emotional issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues such as yeast, and even heavy metal toxicity.

So what do we do?

The most important step is to GET HEALTHY!

Follow an eating plan like the one in the Schwarzbein Principle or the Zone Diet

You need protein at every meal, low carbs, very little to no processed food, and lots of fruit and vegetables

Drink plenty of water

Take nutritional supplements

Try Supplements Designed for Menopause

Stop weighing yourself, use your clothes as a gauge (focus on your health not your weight)

Start exercising - walk 4-5 times a week for 30 minute (it boosts metabolism)

Get help for emotional eating - you have to face your fears to get through them

Reduce the stress in your life, make time for fun and relaxation - strive for BALANCE

Learn to love yourself during menopause and accept who you are and at what stage in life you find yourself

Menopause can make weight loss even more challenging for both women and men. But with the right knowledge and some hard work, it can be done.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.


Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men particularly menopause, and a copy of her book can be found at http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com
To read a sample of this book go to http://www.everythingmenopause.com/currentissue.html