Male Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a problem that occurs in men as well. Man is said to suffer from menopause when the testosterone levels in the body fall at the rate of1% per year after the age of 40 years. The most common male menopause symptoms are sexual dysfunction, fatigue, mental disorder and irritability. The best treatment for male menopause symptoms is testosterone replacement therapy to replace the declining levels of testosterone in the body.

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles in small amounts. The levels of testosterone begin to fall in men after mid life. As a result men may suffer from male menopause symptoms like low sex drive, memory and concentration problems, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes and excess sweating. However erectile dysfunction may also be a symptom due to other causes also.

It is advisable that if you face any of the above symptoms for a considerable long time then it is necessary to consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will try to find out the cause of these symptoms and then suggest treatment accordingly. Hormone replacement therapy is normally suggested by doctors for those men who have low testosterone levels. Male depression and irritability have decreased in many cases after hormone replacement therapy. Testosterone replacement has also helped the patient in his mental functioning, preventing night sweats and increasing bone density and muscle mass.

Testosterone replacement therapy can be prescribed in the form of injections, oral supplements, implants, transdermal patches and gels. The injections are given once every fortnight. The oral capsules are also very beneficial for those people who can take injections. Patches are also a very good option for a steady release of testosterone in the body. The implants are inserted in the lower abdomen area. The treatment may last up to six months.

Your doctor will be your best advisor in case of alternative treatments and he will be able to guide you on the different types of treatments. Many treatments have their own side effects and so it is better to consult fully with the doctor before starting any treatment. Some of the most common side effects of heavy medications include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, etc. Sleep apnoea is also an occasional risk factor with androgen therapy. Hence the male menopause symptoms can be cured by taking the right advice and selecting the right treatment options.

Menopause in women is said to occur when the ovaries of women produce less and less amount of estrogen and after a certain period the production is completely stopped. Menopause is said to occur in women after the age of 40 years. The average age of women menopause worldwide is said to be 50.2 years.

Today we delve into the topic of male menopause. Male menopause is also known as Andropause. Andropause in men is caused due to low testosterone levels. Male menopause is also regarded as a natural cessation of the sexual function in elder man. Male menopause is also known as sexual regression in men over the age of 40 years due to decreasing hormone levels.

Men suffering from menopause also suffer from the same psychological and physical disorders as women in menopause. Men also suffer from low confidence level, mood swings and depression. Physically men suffer from decreasing levels of androgens and estrogens as women. Men also suffer from bone related disorders like osteoporosis. Men also lose sexual drive during male menopause. Women like men also suffer from the loss of sexual desire.

The decreasing hormone levels in men due to male menopause have a negative impact on the mood and mental abilities. There is lack of concentration on tasks, erectile dysfunction and urinary problems. Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and it regulates the structure of all body proteins and the integrity of genitals in adult men. The other symptoms in case of male menopause is weight related disorders and obesity. The face looks aged and the muscles and the bone tissues begin to weaken. The body organs fail to function at their full potential. Then there is high blood pressure, clogged arteries, increased cholesterol and high estrogen levels add to the woes. It is necessary that if any of the above symptoms persist for a long time, then a doctor's opinion should be sought after. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is the most sought after treatment for male menopause. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be prescribed in the form of injections, oral medication, gels and transdermal patches. Capsules are given to men who can't take injections. Patches are also a very good option to ensure that testosterone is released steadily. Testosterone levels should be maintained at optimum levels to provide the best benefit to men suffering from menopause

Leokadia Angela offers Natural Health Resources and has years of experience selling a wide variety of herbal supplements:
http://www.HerbalBeautyClinic.com

Perimenopause Symptoms ? The Transition

Until you reached this stage in your life, there?s a high probability that you?d never even heard of perimenopause. As a matter of fact, you were probably a bit surprised that perimenopause (the transitional period before menopause) could begin so early in life, and last for ten years ? sometimes even longer.

Symptoms of perimenopause are described almost exactly as those associated with menopause, and may include:

? Weight gain (especially around the mid-section)
? Mood changes
? Night sweats
? Hot flashes
? Vaginal dryness
? Changes in sexual desire (lowered libido)
? Sleep disturbances
? Frequent urination
? Extreme sweating
? Difficulty concentrating
? Other symptoms similar to those you may experience with premenstrual syndrome

If you?re experiencing any of these symptoms, it?s a good idea to talk with your health care provider to rule out any other medical conditions. Once you?re sure that perimenopause is indeed the culprit behind the symptoms you?re now noticing, it?s time to ?step it up? and take the steps necessary to reduce ? and in many cases eliminate ? the discomforts that can be associated with perimenopause.

Your physician will likely encourage you to make some lifestyle changes that have been proven to effectively benefit many women during perimenopause. These include:

? Altering your diet to include soy and flax

? Exercising regularly, incorporating weight training into your routine at least three days per week

? Taking supplements of vitamin E

? Avoiding triggers that can cause hot flashes, such as caffeine; also, it?s suggested that you avoid being in extremely warm temperatures or rooms

? Herbal treatments, such as ginkgo biloba, black cohash or Evening Primrose Oil

Depending on your age, health and medical history and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may also use various other treatments to remedy your perimenopausal symptoms, such as:

? A low dose of birth control to stabilize your hormone levels

? Antidepressants to level out your mood swings

? Progesterone to alleviate symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome

This transitional period can be a bit frightening for many women, but it?s important to remind yourself that you can indeed breeze through perimenopause and menopause if you simply take care of yourself. You can be as healthy, energetic, happy and beautiful as you?ve always been. As an added bonus, your age has brought you to a maturity level you didn?t have twenty years ago, giving you confidence to be certain that you can be and do everything you set your mind to. You will no doubt enjoy and savor your life if you remain positive and determined.

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

Herbal Remedies For Menopause

People becoming educated about the efficacy of herbal remedies for many medical conditions ranging from migraines to skin conditions. Many women have found more success using herbal remedies to combat their menopause symptoms than they did with prescription drugs suggested by their physicians. There are many different options available to women seeking herbal menopause remedies. It is important to learn which ones are most effective and provide the most relief for your particular symptoms.

Menopause symptoms are resultant from decreased estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries. These hormone fluctuations can wreak physiological havoc on a woman. Among the symptoms a woman may experience are hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, unexplained weight gain, exhaustion , and insomnia. Contain these symptoms is often very difficult and stressful. Prescription drugs can alleviate some of these symptoms; however, the prescription medications have drawbacks. Some have side effects so serious that they can be worse than the symptoms themselves. For example, some of the prescriptions made to treat hot flashes cause itchy rashes that cover the body. Other prescription medications have long term side effects, including diseases such as cancer. Often treating your symptoms with a safe, natural, herbal remedy is the optimal method for coping with menopause.

When you begin searching for an appropriate menopause symptom remedy, it might surprise and overwhelm you to see the vast quantity of available products. It can be difficult to Choose the right product. There are several people you might want to consult as you begin searching. Begin with a visit to your gynecologist. They will be able to advise you as to which herbal remedies are safe and appropriate for you. Moreover, they can also share information with you as to which methods have been effective for their other patients and which have not. In addition to your doctor, you might speak to a consultant in your local herbal store. More than likely, they have talked to other women who coping with the same symptoms. Based on this knowledge, they may be able to point you down the right path.

Black Cohos is one of the most popular herbs used to alleviate symptoms of menopause. This herb is effective for a number of different menopause symptoms including anxiety, hot flashes, and night sweats. The extensive studies on this herb suggest that is very effective. Pasque Flower has also shown itself to be a beneficial herbal remedy for coping with menopause symptoms. It offers a mild sedative-like effect. An herbal combination called MellowPause might also be helpful for some symptoms. It has a soy base, and mixes the power of Black Cohosh and Pasque flower to help you fight hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and insomnia. Menocore is yet another herbal combination that deals with the same symptoms. It contains a mixture of different natural herbal products.

One final product that might be successful on your symptoms is Triatone. The ingredients include Isoflavones, Black Cohos, Dong Quai, Chasleberry, and Licorice Root. This product not only alleviates many symptoms, but it may also leave you with an overall sense of well-being. You might also desire to contact your local natural food or herb store and to find out what natural supplements they carry. In addition to their side-effect free effectiveness, they tend to cost far less than the available prescription options.

Mary Davis contributes to several web sites, including http://dukof.com and http://femik.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 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

Know Menopause?..Is this it?

As women move toward their forties and begin to experience many changes in their bodies they begin to question why. Menopause or perimenopause is often one of the last thoughts. The myriad of symptoms associated with perimenopause can be confusing and overwhelming. To add to the confusion and overwhelm each woman?s transition through perimenopause and menopause is different. The symptoms experienced and their severity vary drastically. The information available often varies widely from viewing menopause as a disease to the view of ?it?s all in your head?. It?s no small wonder women are confused.

Clinically speaking menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation for 1 year or more. Perimenopause, also referred to as climacteric, is the period of time prior to cessation of menstruation when the bulk of symptoms occur. This transition commonly begins between the ages of forty and fifty five and last for two to seven years. It is not unheard of too begin later or earlier. Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural transition process for women similar to adolescence, only this time moving out of the child bearing years. There is a wide variety of symptoms associated with menopause. Here are the most common twenty.

1. Change in Menstrual Cycle ? frequency, duration, flow
2. Hot Flashes/Night Sweats
3. Insomnia
4. Weight Gain
5. Headaches
6. Mood Swings
7. Irritability
8. Depression
9. Infertility
10. Change in Body Odor
11. Decreased Sex Drive
12. Fatigue
13. Forgetfulness/Brain Fog
14. Hair Loss/Thinning Hair
15. Frequent Urination/Stress Incontinence(leaks)
16. Dizziness/Light Headed
17. Increased Anxiety
18. Increased Facial Hair
19. Vaginal Dryness
20. Increased Bloating and/or Gas

It is important to note that these symptoms may be from other causes so it?s always advisable to check with your health care provider.

What exactly is responsible for all these symptoms? A woman?s body is undergoing hormonal changes. Usually the first change is a gradual decline in progesterone. During this time estrogen levels generally remain stable. Estrogen and progesterone play a check and balance act in a women?s body, so when they are out of balance symptoms occur. As perimenopause progresses progesterone continues to decline and estrogen levels begin to fluctuate greatly, again triggering symptoms. At the same time the hormones associated with ovulation and follicle growth, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), are increasing resulting in changes in ovulation. The medical tests for menopause traditionally measure FSH and LH levels and increased level is considered a positive result. The problem with this method is that it doesn?t measure estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone levels which can not only confirm menopause but assist in a treatment plan. There are two other testing methods that are thought to be reliable. Salivary hormone testing measure free hormones in the saliva and can easily be done at the same time for several days to determine a women?s personal baseline. The other is a blood test for free (unbound) hormones in the blood. These are options to discuss with your healthcare provider especially if you are considering hormone replacement therapy. Ultimately developing an individual holistic approach is the best way to manage the menopause transition.

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

Suffering From Menopause? Your Treatment Options

Menopause is defined as a natural life occurrence. This is because it is something that most women will undergo. Although most women experience menopause once they reach fifty years of age, there are women who can start to develop symptoms before or even after that time. Unfortunately, many of those symptoms can be difficult to manage. If you feel that you are suffering from menopause, you are advised to seek treatment. This treatment, whether it is provided by a healthcare professional or not, should relieve or completely eliminate the many symptoms of menopause.

Before familiarizing yourself with menopause treatment options, it is advised that you first be diagnosed with it. This may require a visit to your local physician. Although most women will automatically know that they are experiencing menopause, due to their age, not all will. Common menopause symptoms that you should be on the lookout for include, but should not be limited to, changes in menstrual cycles, hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness, headaches, sexual disinterest, weight gain, and concentration problems. If you notice a number of these symptoms, you are advised to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.

Once you have been diagnosed with menopause, you and your healthcare provider can work to develop a treatment plan. That treatment plan may include hormone replacement therapy. Since menopause is often caused by a decrease in estrogen, you may find that your physician wishes to replace those hormones. Popular hormone replacement therapy procedures include estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Depending on your menopause symptoms, your physician will choose the hormone replacement therapy that best fits your needs.

Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most popular menopause treatment options. This is mostly due to the fact that hormone replacement is implemented by a professional. However, there are a large number of menopause treatment options that can be considered alternatives. These alternatives are ideal because they often require little or no supervision from a physician. These alternatives include herbs, exercise, and other forms of alternative medicine.

If you are interested in seeking menopause treatment, but without having to pay a large amount of money, you are advised to examine the benefits of exercise. It has been noted that exercise helps to eliminate hot flashes. This is done by raising the endorphin levels in the body. These levels are important because when hot flashes occur, the levels typically drop. Exercise is an ideal way to reduce a number of menopause symptoms because, in many cases, it is free. Whether you make the decision to use your exercise equipment at home or just go for a walk, you should be able to increase your endorphin levels; thus resulting in the reduction or temporarily elimination of hot flashes.

Alternative medicine, including practices such as massages and acupuncture, are rapidly increasing in popularity. The goal of most alternative forms of medicine is to relax the body. This body relaxation is not only likely to improve your blood circulation, but it also likely to reduce many of your menopause symptoms. These symptoms most commonly include fatigue, weakness, and hot flashes. While alternative medicine is used by many, its cost may pose a problem. Many alternative medicine procedures are not covered under most health insurance plans. This means that if you decide to seek the assistance of alternative medicine, for menopause treatment, you may need to pay for that assistance out-of-pocket.

The above mentioned menopause treatment options are just a few of the many that you may find beneficial to you and your health. In the event that you are unable to seek relief from exercise, hormone replacement therapy, or alternative medicine, your physician may be able to provide you with information on additional treatment options

Receiving Menopause Treatment does not have to be a frightening experience. Visit our site to find out what your treatment options are. Visit www.healthline.com.

Menopause Symptom And Alternative Treatments

In the past menopausal women had no real choices when it came to menopausal treastments available. But today there is great news for menopausal women. Traditionally, Doctors only offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the logical and accepted treatment for women with symptoms that are associated with menopause.

However,today we have other treatments available to us. These alternative treatments have been making headlines in regards to menopause and post menopause. We're talking about treatments that are a little more natural and are often very effective. Women have been using alternative treatments for menopause since the beginning of time. You may not be familiar with them so read on!

Here are some of the alternative treatments that are available to you. Take a look and see if any of these alternative treatments for menopause and post menopausal symptoms would possibly work for you.

-Your Diet When you eat a lot of junk food do you ever feel really horrible? Physically? You guessed it, YES, your diet plays a huge part in why some people feel good and why others don't. It's best to stick with as many vegetables, fruits, and grains as you possibly can during this difficult time. Try to stay away from fats and red meat if at all possible. Your body needs proper nutrition during menopause. For women who would like to stay as natural as possible, alternative treatments can be wonderful. However, you need to remember that there will be some women that will still need hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It's always recommended that you make this decision with the help of your doctor. Between the two of you, you can come up with a treatment plan.

-Extra Vitamin Supplements

During different stages of our lives, our bodies will naturally lack different vitamins at different times. Vitamins used in higher doses than usual can help ease the symptoms of menopause. Women using alternative medicine to help with menopause will tell you that this is helpful. While you may be getting the nutrients you need from the foods you eat, you should talk to your doctor about taking extra supplements to help you through menopause.

-What About Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a form of medicine that uses homeopathy, herbs, and other treatments such as acupuncture for illness and/or troublesome symptoms. More and more women experiencing symptoms of menopause are using this method as well. Be aware: Health care experts have warned women who are at high risk for developing heart disease or other serious illnesses correlated with menopause should consider traditional treatments for menopausal symptoms like hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women in the low risk category however can choose to go with a completely natural method such as the ones described here. By combining some of the natural treatments available, you'll find the best solution for you, this is what alternative treatment is all about!

-Herbs For Menopause Symptoms

Herbs have been used for centuries by different groups of people, they are still widely used in the non-Western world. Herbs are quickly becoming more and more common in the West as well. Numerous studies have shown there to be many herbs that are very effective in controlling the symptoms of menopause. One herb to note is Black cohosh. Black cohosh has been widely used for symptoms of hot flashes while the herb St. John's Wart has been a very popular herb for symptoms of moodiness or anxiety.

-Benefits Of Soy

Soy has been shown to help lower blood pressure. It also helps to stimulate our bodies disease preventing antibodies. Women who suffer with hot flashes may want to use soy to help prevent these symptoms that occur while going through menopause. Studies have shown Soy to be very effective in preventing hot flashes. Soy truly has many benefits for the body. If you don't get enough soy, you can always supplement by taking soy tablets, soy milk or even try soy butter and other soy products readily available in our grocery stores.

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For info on Menopause visit Menopause Symptoms For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com

Menopause And Memory Loss: New Research Explains Why Menopausal Women Often Feel Forgetful

Along with the hot flashes, sleepless nights and mood swings, many women also report another symptom that comes along with menopause: forgetfulness.

"We see a lot of women who are afraid they are losing their minds," said Miriam Weber, Ph.D., a senior instructor of neurology from the University of Rochester Medical Center, who conducted a study on the topic with colleague Mark Mapstone, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology. "A lot of women complain that their thinking or their memory isn't what it used to be. Their big fear is that it's early Alzheimer's disease."

The researchers found no link between "forgetful" women going through menopause and Alzheimer's, but they did find something else: the forgetfulness doesn't stem from an impaired memory, it stems from stressed women with busy lives who have a harder time learning, or "encoding," new information.

Not a Memory Problem After All

"This is not what most people think of traditionally when they think of memory loss," said Mapstone. "It feels like a memory problem, but the cause is different. It feels like you can't remember, but that's because you never really learned the information in the first place."

The researchers tested several cognitive skills of 24 women who complained of memory problems. They found, as previous studies have, no evidence that the women, who were approaching menopause, had any more memory problems than the rest of the population.

What they did find, however, was that the women had a harder time learning new information, which could be mistakenly perceived as a memory problem. None of the women actually had an impaired ability to learn new information, the researchers pointed out.

Hectic Lives, Stress and Hormones May All Play a Part

The team compared the problem to a doctor's visit in which a patient is told something serious is wrong, then given a lot of detailed information. Chances are that when the patient gets home he or she won't remember a lot of it, simply because they were so worried and distracted at the time of the conversation. The information wasn't forgotten, it was never really heard in the first place.

Such is the case with many middle-aged women who juggle careers, kids, home responsibilities and aging parents on a daily basis.

"When people spread their attention thin, it's difficult to encode new information. When they're worried or anxious about being late for work, or the problems of an aging parent -- that sort of stress can rob your attentional resources and impact your ability to encode information properly," said Mapstone.

Ironically, not worrying about the forgetfulness could actually help to alleviate the problem, Weber said.

"What characterizes these women is that they're being pulled in a lot of different directions ... Then they're going through this dramatic hormonal change ... There really is something going on. And perhaps knowing that their perceived problems with memory do not suggest early dementia might alleviate their concerns and actually improve their functioning -- it's one less thing to worry about," he said.

Easing Menopausal Symptoms Naturally

If you're a woman in your mid-40s or early 50s and menopause-related symptoms have you feeling tired, sweaty, achy, bloated and moody, there are some simple tricks that can help.

1. Ease Stress

As the study above found, simply putting too much on your plate can lead to increased feelings of "forgetfulness" and will also certainly make you more tired and moody. Make stress-relief a priority in your life by:

Setting aside time to do something you like everyday.

Learning to say "no" if you feel overwhelmed.

Incorporating relaxation, such as taking a warm bath or doing yoga, into your daily routine.

Surrounding yourself with positive-minded friends and family.

2. Try a NATURAL progesterone cream

Producing the proper levels of progesterone in your body is key to keeping you hormonally balanced, and therefore more energized. But only truly natural versions (not the synthetic Diosgenin) are recommended. Renaissance Natural Progesterone Cream is one of the ONLY progesterone creams on the market containing 100 percent pure micronized USP progesterone powder in a topical cream. Only USP progesterone powder is bio-identical to the naturally occurring progesterone in your body.

3. Exercise

"Exercise compensates nicely for declining levels of estrogen," said Wolfgang Kemmler, PhD, who led a study on the topic. The German study of 78 early postmenopausal women found that women who exercised for one hour (with both aerobic and strength training) four days a week experienced fewer:

Migraines

Mood swings

Bouts of insomnia

... than women who did not exercise. They also had the added benefits of:

Maintaining bone mass

Losing 2 percent body fat and one inch from their waists

Reducing cholesterol by 5 percent

On the other hand, women who did not exercise lost 8 percent of their bone mass and had increases in body fat, waist measurements and cholesterol.

This article was provided by the world's #1 most popular and trusted holistic living e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at http://www.SixWise.com! The old way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic living" means prevention of the negative and adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas of life: relationships, finances, career, home environment, safety and health. With the http://SixWise.com e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy!) at http://www.SixWise.com.

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