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:
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Hormone imbalance causes Menopause Symptoms

Menopause

The transition period in a woman's life when the ovaries stop producing eggs, menstrual activity decreases and eventually ceases, and the body decreases the production of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, is known as menopause. Known as the "change of life," menopause is the last stage of a gradual biological process. It begins about 3 to 5 years before the final menstrual period, and is also known as climacteric, or perimenopause. It is considered complete when a woman has been without periods for 1 year. On average, this occurs at about age 50, but like the beginning of menstruation in adolescence, timing varies from person to person. Surgical menopause occurs if the ovaries are removed or damaged - as in a radical hysterectomy or chemotherapy. In this case, menopause begins immediately, with no perimenopause. Temporary "stress menopause" occurs when women in their late 30s or older have no periods for long stretches of time. It can be caused by stress, chemotherapy, grief, illness, bulimia, anemia, or excessive exercise. With an average life span of 80 years, most women must live with the effects of menopause for a third of their lives.

Symptoms

Low estrogen levels are linked to some uncomfortable symptoms in many women with about 75% of women complaining of these symptoms during menopause. However, the severity and frequency of symptoms varies from woman to woman. Following is a list of symptoms experienced during menopause:

• Achy joints?
• Difficulty in concentrating?
• Headaches?
• Hot flashes?
• Insomnia?
• Early wakening?
• Mood changes
• Night sweats
• Conditions commonly associated with PMS?
• Changes in sexual desire?
• Extreme sweating?
• Frequent urination?
• Vaginal dryness

(Hot flashes, mood swing, and vaginal dryness are the most noticeable symptoms).

Hot flashes

Hot flashes are sudden explosions or mild waves of upper body heat that last from 30 seconds to five minutes. Hot flashes appear to be a direct result of decreasing estrogen levels. In response to falling estrogen levels, your glands release higher amounts of other hormones that affect the brain's thermostat, causing body temperatures to fluctuate. They often start with a tingling sensation in the fingers. The tingling is followed by fast rises in skin temperature from the chest to the face and rapid heart palpitations. Profuse sweating and then cold shivering often follow this, as body temperature readjusts.

Women who have hot flashes generally weigh less than women who do not have hot flashes. Women who have had a hysterectomy are more likely to have hot flashes.?

Seventy-five percent of women have hot flashes during perimenopause. Fifty percent of women have one each day. Twenty percent have more than one a day. Ten percent have them up to five years after menopause. They are very uncommon after that.
Following events can sometimes trigger a hot flash:

• Confining spaces
• Hot, humid weather
• Caffeine?
• Alcohol?
• Hot drinks?
• Spicy foods?
• Stressful or frightening events?

Author By Rosa parks

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.

Menopause And Headache

Menopause And Headache

This midlife phenomenon is known as menopause. This type of headache saps the energy out of you. At the end of the headache, you feel that you have been down with some sort of sickness for days together. You feel tired and exhausted. At the peak level of the headache, you feel a throbbing sensation, shooting pain within the head, some corners of the head almost bursting out. The slightest noise, switching on the light or for that matter, even if you open your eyes, you feel terribly uncomfortable. This is the style of menopause headache.

It is the type of headache, not experienced by women, till this stage of their life. It is one of the important turning points in their life. During menopause, estrogen is not produced at normal rates and therefore a woman's hormone system goes out of control. At the end of the menstrual life cycle the progesterone level becomes much less in most of the women, and the types of headaches they never experienced before, fall to their lot.

What is the main cause of this type of unbearable headache? Blood vessels in the brain contract and widen at a fast pace, and the pain nerves are unable to cope up with type of activity, and they stimulate pain.

Watch out for certain other unwanted developments during this period. There could be a sudden change in your eyesight. You may experience a double vision, and in extreme cases, partial blindness is not ruled out. Your hands and limbs may experience a peculiar type of weakness. Inactivity shall be your activity. Your lips will become numb and cold.

Take care of your diet. Remember, you can never be the same person, you were a few months ago. It is an important biological change, and each of such change brings forth its quota of suffering or enjoyment in the life of an individual.

In the case in point, the change may add to your suffering for some time. You may become physically and mentally tired. With no initiative left, you may be a confused individual. Your speech may falter. You may suffer migraine headache attacks.

These types of headaches are common in women. The duration of the headache may be for some hours or for days together. In such conditions you are extremely sensitive to noise and light. You may continue to have a vomiting sensation.

Over the counter medications is not the solution for this type of headache. Certain breathing exercises, yoga asanas and light food will go a long way in providing you the necessary relief.

Many Headache articles are available at Headache & http://www.headacheupdates.com/migraine/

Many Headache articles are available at http://www.headacheupdates.com/migraine/ for Headache.

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.

Menopause - You Deserve To Get Relief from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Get Relief for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats related to Menopause

It seems like the late 30's or early 40's should be when women can have the time of her lives. The kids are probably gone, or at least a little grown up, and the career choices have been made.

Unfortunately, your hormones will soon begin changing and you may soon start gong into menopause. While menopause should be a reason to celebrate (no more monthly cycles), many women experience irritating side effects when there is less of the hormone estrogen in the system. The most common side effect is hot flashes (or hot flushes, as some call them when they cause flushing or redness of the skin).

Only 15% of women do not suffer from hot flashes, for the rest of us, the flashes can last from five to fifteen minutes at a time. Medical professionals have not determined how to tell how long (in months) they will continue. Because the body is trying to compensate to the lower estrogen levels, as soon as it figures out the proper adjustment, the hot flashes will stop.

One way medical science has decided to compensate is with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which calls for a prescription of Estrogen pills, or a skin patch, to help estrogen levels go back to where they once were. Unfortunately, once you stop taking the pills, your body has to try to compensate again, and the hot flashes will reoccur. However, it is sometimes possible to decrease the dose of estrogen gradually, allowing the body to adjust more slowly.

But there are there natural alternatives for chemical HRT. And it's sad that less than two percent of doctors even mention alternative therapies (maybe because the pharmaceuticals make more money on the Estrogen Replacement Therapy). Thousands of women have tested natural therapies and agree that they work! There are a few natural things you should consider if you're not ready to put another chemical into your body.

Natural Care for Hot Flashes or Night Sweats

When hot flashes occur at night, you will experience night sweats (or worse yet, cold sweats). In the worst cases, sweating can get excessive and soak bedding and nightgowns. Here are a few things that you can do stay as comfortable as possible.

During the day, dress in layers so you can remove items, and put them back on when the hot flash is finished.

At night, wear cotton underwear and gowns that will absorb perspiration. These keep you cooler than synthetic garments.

Most importantly, start keeping a record of your daily routine and try to determine when you are most likely to get a hot flash. Certain foods or drinks can cause an increase in the amount and severity of the hot flash. Watch out for alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine, sugar, fatty dairy products, salt, spicy foods, saturated oils and monosodium glutamate (added to prepared foods to enhance flavor).

Last but not least, there are some herbs that contain healthy compounds that have proven to be affective. One of the main herbs is Black Cohosh, which is a thoroughly researched herb containing phytoestrogens and is approved by the German 'Kommission E" - a body similar to the FDA. You can find Black Cohosh in the appropriate portions in MellowPause.

In the case of severe menopausal symptoms, it is recommend that MellowPause be taken together with Dong Quai, which has been used for many centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.

In time this too shall pass. Menopause usually ends by the age of 51; but hot flashes may, if you're lucky, end much sooner than that.

Evelyn Grazini is a Health and Wellness Researcher, and the Editor at ?911 Menopause,? the site for Free reports on Natural relief methods for menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. http://www.911menopause.com.

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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.

The Truth About The Symptoms Of Menopause

There have been debates in many places about some women who insist that they don't experience any form of symptoms prior to menopause.

I know it?s difficult to believe that these women are stating this, especially when you are aware that you do experience painful symptoms of menopause. Don?t be quick to dismiss such claims, because it really happens around the globe!

While most women will experience some symptoms of menopause, it is critical for you to understand that not all women will experience the same symptoms. The fact remains that every woman's body is different from another woman. Nothing works the exact same way in every woman.

Every woman has a different life style, eat different products, exercises or not. Everything they do influence their body.

That?s why it is perfectly normal when such women who don't experience symptoms of menopause just gradually slip into it with ease.

Whatever some people have learned menopause does not occur suddenly!

What happens is this; as all women mature and pass through their reproductive years (usually from as early as 15 years to 45 years - depending on the women in question), an egg is released each and every month with the aim of getting fertilized to form a child.

When this fertilization does not take place, this results in menstruation. As this occurs every month, the supplies of eggs gradually decrease because there are a maximum number of ovarian follicles in every woman that develop into eggs.

When the number of eggs has been exhausted, this finally brings about menopause and at this stage, a woman is no longer able to have children.

For women who say they don't experience any symptoms, this is true. They simply get into the stage when they stop menstruating before they notice that they have reached menopause.

Want to Discover 4 Menopause Secrets? Menopause Symtoms Menopause Symptons Menopause Menopause Symptom

Menopause Tips: Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Getting exercise is an important part of daily life; it helps keep us fit and well and makes us feel better. Growing older should be no excuse for stopping an exercise regime, and in fact it is more important than ever to exercise as we age.

While taking hormone replacement therapy, getting exercise is particularly valuable; taking extra hormones such as HRT can sometimes have adverse effects. For example they may feel irritable with associated mood swings or they may feel they are gaining weight, all because of the relentless fluctuation in hormone levels. Although there is no definite research to prove taking HRT makes a woman put on weight, getting exercise can often make certain she feels better about herself.

Our metabolism usually slows down quite significantly as we get older, which means that even if we have always been slim naturally when younger, we often find it more of a struggle as we get older. Women who have never had this problem may find adjusting their calorie intake to suit their body difficult.

Exercising when you are taking HRT doesn't need to be strenuous. You don't have to join a gym, have the mindset of a triathlete, or get obsessive about it. All you need to do is get in a positive state of mind and tell yourself you are going to take a small amount of exercise every week or, even better, every day.

Walking can be one of the best forms of exercise, and establishing some walking in your everyday routine lets you get a surprising level of exercise.

Walking to work, if possible, is a good way to integrate exercise into your daily life. It's most effective if it takes at least twenty minutes, but any amount is great. If walking to work is not a good option, and you own a dog, walking the dog is not only good for you but also your dog.

Swimming is also a high-quality exercise to do when taking hormone replacement therapy. Swimming exercises almost all of the body. You'll find your body and energy tones up quickly, if you can make do with fitting in a swimming session three times a week,

Taking even a small amount of exercise will also help smooth out mood swings or feelings of depression you may be experiencing, since exercise releases natural feel good chemicals, endorphins, into the blood stream, that make us feel much better. Working out also lowers your risk for osteoporosis and high blood pressure, so why wait? Start this week and reap the benefits.

Visit Medopedia.com, and read more about hormone replacement therapy and menopause weight gain.

Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause - Top 12 Menopause Symptoms

Are there signs and symptoms of menopause? Absolutely! It is a logical question to ask with millions of women experiencing one or more of the signs and symptoms of menopause at this very moment! The so-called 'change' will happen, but experiencing many of the symptoms of menopause as early as ages 30's or 40's is not normal.

Some of the signs listed below are subtle and may appear to have little relationship to being menopause symptoms. Here is a list of common signs and symptoms of menopause:

1 - Allergy symptoms
2 - Chronic fatigue and morning sluggishness
3 - Craving sweets, caffeine and carbohydrates with unstable blood sugar levels
4 - Depression, anxiety and mood swings
5 - Endometriosis
6 - Facial hair growth
7 - Hair loss, thinning hair
8 - Low metabolism
9 - Symptoms of low thyroid with normal T3 and T4 levels
10 - Urinary tract and yeast infections
11 - Uterine fibroids
12 - Water retention, unexplained weight gain especially in hips, waist and stomach

Menopause is not a disease, rather, menopause is a normal natural process for a woman whereby there will be a slowing and eventually a shutdown of the reproductive system. However, the problem is that many of the signs and symptoms of menopause indicate hormonal imbalance exists and there can have been damage to the body from eating poorly, stress and obesity. With the average age of menopause being about 51 in the USA, many women in the USA and industrialized countries experience one or more of these signs and symptoms of menopause many years earlier.

In the normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. If ovulation occurs, the female body then produces progesterone which continues for the next 12 days or so. If there is no pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen levels both drop at around day 28 and menstruation begins. However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone will not be produced that month. This event is called an annovulatory cycle and is a typical occurrence today for women in their 30's and 40's. The result is that the woman then has an excess of estrogen and a deficiency of the vital hormone progesterone.

Many women in their 30's and 40's are actually having fewer ovulations, creating hormone imbalance and the signs and symptoms of menopause. And when ovulation ceases at menopause, progesterone levels fall to nearly zero. At the same time, estrogen is still being produced at perhaps 50% of the premenopause levels, again leading to hormone imbalance and the resulting signs and symptoms of menopause. If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the woman no longer ovulates and produces progesterone.

Besides the signs and symptoms of menopause caused by missed ovulations or hysterectomy, excess estrogen is obtained every day from other sources. Examples are birth control pills, household chemicals and pesticides, foods that have been sprayed and construction materials.

How can a woman tell if the signs and symptoms of menopause are hormone imbalance related? One way is to take an online test for hormone health and related symptoms. The health test is used daily in a leading women's health clinic, it takes just a few minutes online and it's free.

Learn as much as you can about natural progesterone and estrogen supplementation and physician-recommended natural treatments for dealing with hormone imbalance and the symptoms of menopause.

Besides symptoms listed above, read more about additional menopause symptoms at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/menopausesymptoms.html and take the online womens hormone health test. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles for women.

Menopause Problems? Do Something About It!

There's a lot of talk about hormone replacement therapy and their alternatives, but here's something you can do about menopausal problems such as hot flashes that doesn't involve popping pills of any kind and could be just as effective at easing symptoms.

Rest and Relaxation
Rest and relaxation play a vital role in reducing stress and maintaining proper body functioning. One of the most luxurious ways to relax is with a massage. And while you are being massaged, you can relax even more in the knowledge that you are reaping many other benefits like improved circulation, better muscle tone and more efficient elimination of body toxins and wastes ? it?s a buzz that?s really good for you on many levels.

Meditation
Meditation can help relax and calm the mind to help you find inner peace and contentment ? a vital link to appreciating the changes in life. There are many forms of meditation available through, meditation centres, yoga centres and counsellors. Something to suit everyone.

Exercise
There are few things that you can do to get the wide reaching effects of exercise! Apart from weight control, exercise stimulates your internal organs to function better, improves muscle tone, keeps your heart healthy, helps build strong bones, improves the immune system and metabolism, reduces stress, helps you sleep and relax and keeps you supple. How you choose to do it is up to you, here are some suggestions:

- Yoga: Not enough can be said about yoga. It?s benefits are not only physical but emotional and spiritual. Join a class and find out how to do it properly.

- Tai Chi: Gentle and effective. Good for people who are not normally active.

- Walking: Easiest thing to do. Join a walking group or find a friend and explore the neighbourhood. Make sure to balance you walk on concrete to build bones and softer surfaces like grass to avoid injury to knees and improve muscle tone.

- Swimming: Non-impacting and works the whole body. Provides aerobic benefits which help your heart.

- Personal Trainer: Invest in your future by getting a personally tailored program that works for you.

- Gymnasium: If you want the benefits of state of the art equipment and guidance by professionals, a gymnasium may be for you. Find a gym that suits your needs & budget.

The Natural Health Directory provides health solutions and alternative medicine resources for your mind, body and spirit. Visit our menopause resource pages for more information at http://www.thenaturalhealthdirectory.com/menopause.htm

Menopause Help For Menopause Signs Symptoms

Menopause help is possible for menopause signs symptoms when you understand the main underlying causes for symptoms of menopause. Menopause help IS available online since millions of women experience menopause signs symptoms each year.

First, here are the most common symptoms of menopause:

? Anxiety and depression
? Endometriosis
? Fibroid tumors
? Foggy, fuzzy thinking and memory lapses
? Hot flashes and night sweats
? Inability to handle stress
? Irregular menstrual cycles
? Light or heavy menstrual flow
? Lumpy or tender breasts
? Mood swings
? PMS
? Sleep problems
? Vaginal dryness
? Water retention and bloating
? Weight gain

To obtain menopause help for menopause signs symptoms, understand female hormones, the menstrual cycle and how hormone imbalance happens. In a healthy menstruating woman, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. Ovulation then signals the female body to produce progesterone, which occurs for the next 12 or so days. Progesterone and estrogen levels will drop at around day 28 if there's no pregnancy, and menstruation begins.

However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone cannot be produced that month. This is called an 'annovulatory cycle' and is a typical occurance today for women in their 30's and 40's. Without ovulation and progesterone production, the woman then has an excess of estrogen, a deficiency of progesterone and definitely needs menopause help.

And once ovulation no longer happens at menopause and after, progesterone levels fall to virtually zero. At the same time, estrogen is still being produced, leading to hormone imbalance, menopause signs symptoms and the need for menopause help. If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the woman no longer produces progesterone. Besides the problems created by missed ovulations or hysterectomy, excess estrogen is also obtained from other sources such as birth control pills, household chemicals and pesticides, foods that have been sprayed and construction materials used in homes.

Physicians refer to the hormone imbalance condition of excess estrogen in the body as "estrogen dominance". Symptoms of estrogen dominance include low sex drive, bloating and weight gain, headaches, mood swings, irregular periods and excessive menstrual bleeding. If unopposed estrogen in the female adult increases beyond what is desirable and healthy, you will definitely experience menopause signs symptoms. On the other hand, when your hormones are balanced, you will no longer need menopause help since you feel alert, energetic and ready to take on the challenges of everyday life.

How can a woman tell if the menopause signs symptoms being experienced are because of hormone imbalance? An easy way is to take the online test provided by a leading womens health clinic for menopause signs symptoms. It takes just a few minutes and is free. Learn more about your health, premenopause and menopause symptoms, what the symptoms are telling you and what to do about it based on your answers to important questions. Read more about menopause help, hormone imbalance and physician-recommended natural treatments for eliminating menopause signs symptoms.

Read more about menopause help and take the hormone health test at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/womens-health-clinic.html - Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of health articles for women.

Herbal Menopause Treatments

Herbal Menopause Remedy
Menopause is a transition that marks the stop of menstruation. Although this is a life change which should be embraced as another stop in life's natural stages, some women's experience with menopause has more to do with pain and discomfort. Since the 1960's physicians have prescribed estrogen supplements to reduce hot flashes and other menopausal problems. However, as with most drugs, hormonal therapy is not without risk. There is, in fact, an increased incidence of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, stroke, heart attack, and uterine fibroids. According to scientific research and observation, many women get as much relief from vitamins and herbal remedy as they do from hormonal drugs.

Herbal Menopause Remedy
Menopause is a transition that marks the stop of menstruation. Although this is a life change which should be embraced as another stop in life's natural stages, some women's experience with menopause has more to do with pain and discomfort. Since the 1960's physicians have prescribed estrogen supplements to reduce hot flashes and other menopausal problems. However, as with most drugs, hormonal therapy is not without risk. There is, in fact, an increased incidence of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, stroke, heart attack, and uterine fibroids. According to scientific research and observation, many women get as much relief from vitamins and herbal remedy as they do from hormonal drugs.

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Herbal Menopause Remedy Products we recommend include:

Menocore - Menocore is a botanical alternative medicine formulation which contains a blend of all natural herbal extracts developed to ease the transition and provide effective Menopause Symptoms Relief from the onset and duration of typical menopausal symptoms. Menocore has been developed as a natural alternative support product, formulated with the best-known combination of high-potency phytoestrogen botanicals which have a long empirical history of relieving menopausal symptoms, and supporting the body's hormonal balance.

Triatone - The ingredients of Triatone: Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, Licorice Root, Chasleberry, and Isoflavones - Have all been proven to help reduce hot flashes associated with menopause. Soy ingredients such as these, help produce isoflavones which have similar properties to human estrogen. Isoflavones can bind to the body's estrogen receptors and help offset the drop in estrogen that occurs during menopause.

MellowPause - While soy has been shown to have positive effect on hormone balancing, MellowPause's combination of ingredients make it effective for not only hormone balancing, but helps with other menopausal symptoms such as irritability, mood swings and insomnia.

Menopause is the point at which a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, indicating the end of fertility. Menopause is as natural a progression in life as puberty. For most women, natural hormone production begins to slow down when they reach their thirties, and continues to diminish as they age. Many women experience few if any symptoms during this time but others may suffer from some or all of the following; anxiety, dry skin, fatigue, feelings of bloating, headaches, heart palpitations, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability decreases interest in sex, loss of concentration, mood swings, night sweats, reduces stamina, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness and itching and weight gain.

Learn more about hebal menopause remedies at Herbal Menopause.

J. Ratliff is an avid health writer for Askwellness.com.

Natural Approaches to Menopause

This past July,a report raised serious new concerns for the six million women taking combination hormone replacement therapy.
In the lastest and statistically most valid study of this subject ever done,it was found that the combination of ESTROGEN AND PROGESTIN taken for MANY YEARS, not only FAIL TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF VASCULAR DISEASE,BUT ALSO INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS,STROKES,BREAST CANCER,AND CLOTTING DISORDERS.
In addition,other recent research has found a possible link between ESTROGEN replacement and OVARIAN CANCER.Although theses risks are not considered to be high,they are REAL-REAL ENOUGH FOR THE INVESTIGATORS TO HAVE STOPPED THE STUDIES IN MID-COURSE.
The DOWNSIDE of HRT OUTWEIGHTED THE BENEFITS.
So what's a Menopausal Woman to do? Read on to learn about HEALTHY and NATURAL ways to approach Menopause.
The ancient Greeks referred to Menopause as the "Climateric" or "Change of Life",and regarded it as a step in the ladder of life.It was considered to be an important step in the maturation of a woman.
In Traditional Cultures,even those of today,there is little or no evidence of the negative symptoms "Modern" people associate with menopause.
In large measure, because the "Traditional"(or what some people would call Primative) human diet is low in fat and animal proteins.
In a healthy person,the body adjusts for the ovarian reduction in estrogen by signaling other glands, (especially the Adrenal glands),to produce more estrogen,preventing the complete loss of the female hormone.However,if the ADRENAL GLANDS ARE WEAKENED BY A LIFETIME OF POOR DIET AND BAD HEALTH HABITS,THEY PROBABLY CANNOT AND WILL NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BODY WHEN MENOPAUSE BEGANS.

Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55,when the ovaries stop producing eggs.The woman also undergoes a number of hormonal changes,including a reduction in estrogen production,an increase in pituitary hormone,and higher levels of male hormones.
With the reduction in estrogen production,also comes an increase in bone loss,a lowering of HDL,(the Good cholesterol),and an increase in cholesterol.This can result in Atherosclerosis,Coronary Heart Disease,and Stroke.
Other changes can occur as well,such as: poor memory,poor concentration,moodiness,anxiety,loss of sex drive,hot flashes,night sweats,and/or vaginal dryness.These changes also increase the likelihood of bladder and vaginal infections.

Traditionalist believe that one of the best approaches to menopause is in the diet.Eating foods rich in Phytoestrogens,which are Plant-Produced ,promote bone health and prevent Cancer.A low-fat,high fiber diet will help the body to adjust more easily to changing hormonal levels.

Such foods are: Whole Grains,Fresh Vegetables,Beans,Seaweed,Miso,Tofu,Seeds and Nuts,(especially Sunflower Seeds).

According to Chinese Medicine,the symptoms of menopause imply a deficiency of YIN fluids,particularly those fluids that calm and relax the liver.A helpful dietary approach then,is to add foods that build the YIN.
These foods are: Wheat Germ, Mung Beans and Sprouts,Tofu,String Beans,Black Beans,Kidney Beans, Barley,Black Sesame Seeds,and Royal Jelly(from bees).

Foods that contain Phytoestrogens help prevent hot flashes and night sweats,as well as some of the psychological changes,(anxiety,moodiness,etc.).
Some of these are: Tofu and other Soy products,Yams,Carrots,Apples,and Potatoes.

Foods rich in Calcium,help prevent Osteoporosis.
Some of these foods are:Sesame Seeds,Almonds,Low-fat Yogurt,Dark Leafy Greens,(such as Kale,Collards,Broccoli),and Sardines.

Foods and Other Things that would be WISE to AVOID:

Animal Foods,Fatty Foods and Fried Foods,
Sugar and Refined Foods(these contribute to mood swings),
Caffeine (can cause hot flashes),
Alcohol (can cause hot flashes),
and use of Tobacco,(we all know by now the dangers of Tobacco).

HERBS TO TREAT MENEPAUSE:

"Chaste Berry":stimulates the production of progesterone and helps balance hormones
(And/or)"Black Cohosh"which has simular properties,and acts in much the same manner as Chaste Berry.Please go to my "Herb of the Month" page to learn more about "Black Cohosh".

"Don Quai":(also known as "Angelica"):stimulates estrogen production and helps balance hormonal levels in young as well as older women.It also boosts energy levels and increases all-over well-being.

"Motherwort":(a member of the Mint family):relieves heart palpitations,reduces pain,but in some people can cause drowsiness,combined with "Sage",will help relieve hot flashes

"Siberian Ginseng":helps strengthen Adrenal Glands,as well as strengthens over-all immune system,and boosts energy levels.BUT IF YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM OF ANY KIND,YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE GINSENG.

"Borage":helps strengthen Adrenal glands

"Licorice":strengthens Adrenal glands(IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,OR A HEART CONDITION,DO NOT USE LICORICE)

"Primrose Oil" or Caps:Helps your skin stay supple and soft,helps ease hotflashes and night-sweats,strenghtens heart,
"Vit.E" and "Flax Seed Oil" does much the same as "Primrose".

HERBS TO TREAT TENSION, MOODINESS, AND ANXIETY

"Wild Oats"or"Oatstraw" (good over-all immune booster,increases energy levels,fights anxiety,eases depression)

"Skullcap"(this can cause drowsiness)

"Valerian"(this is fairly strong,and can cause drowsiness,should mainly be used at night for sleeplessness)

"Kava-Kava"(this can cause drowsiness in some people, is also used to manage moodiness,anxiety,& pain)

"Chamomile"(this is very mild,and will not cause drowsiness,can be used safely during day,helps with anxiety,and crankiness)

"Passion Flower"(this can cause drowsiness,it reduces anxiety,and helps with insomnia)

"St.Johns Wort":(reduces depression)

"Hops" (good over-all immune booster)

With any of these herbs,you need to use caution until you know how it will affect you.And unless you are very knowledgeable in the use of herbs,I recommend that you contact a qualified Herbalist or Naturopathic Dr. or Practioner for instructions on use and how much to take.

Traditionally Trained(Native American)Herbalist,Natural Health Care Consultant,Cert.Mental Health Care Consultant,Trained Masseuse on hand for all your health care needs and concerns.Are not the "Natural"forces more Orthodox than the Artificial resources of the Conventional/Allopathic resources of the Druggist or Dr.?!

Menopause and Incontinence

Menopause can bring uncomfortable symptoms such as incontinence in several different forms. Even younger women experience occasional bouts of urinary leakage during pregnancy, after childbirth, and sometimes even during sex. But menses seems to bring out more occasions of uncontrollable incontinence.

This inability to control your bladder can happen when you put pressure on yourself by wrenching your gut due to laughing or yelling, sneezing and coughing. The condition worsens if your bladder is full. Incontinence can also feel like a strong, uncontrollable urge to pass urine resulting in continuous leakage. Sometimes the sound of running water can trigger this urge.

There is also overflow incontinence. No matter how many times you frequent the restroom and urinate, there are always some urine leaked. This is a result of function of the nerve supply to the bladder being impaired and the consequence is a distended bladder that leak when over filled. Women with this condition do not feel the urge top ass urine. Delaying the need to pass urine can cause this type of incontinence.

If you experience continuous incontinence, there is leakage of urine more or less all of the time without warning. Although this type is uncommon it is caused by abnormalities in the urinary tract which may be congenital or resulting from childbirth, or from surgery such as hysterectomy and medical treatments such as radiation.
Bouts of incontinence can also be due to menopause, specifically hormonal imbalances. Producing less can cause the lining of the bladder to weaken, causing irreparable control of bladder movement. The older we get, the harder it is for us to hold back our urine - bladders get weaker and reaction times become slower.
Depending on the type of incontinence you are experiencing, your doctor may recommend from several types of treatment. Antibiotics are sometimes required to treat infection. Drugs can be taken that control abnormal bladder contractions or to create contraction in an over distended bladder.
Balancing your hormones with either HRT or natural, bioidentical replacement therapy can significantly relieve stress incontinence. And, of course there are the traditional pelvic floor exercises and kegels to strengthen the muscles surrounding the urethra and vagina. In more severe cases, surgery may be required or electrical stimulation of the muscles around the bladder. This is definitely one your need to work out with your doctor.

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

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

Menopause and Women's Health

Couples going through menopause often have unique struggles when coping with the new changes and challenges it brings to them both as individuals, and as partners. It is an inner battle mentally and physically for not just women, but men as well. For women, it may be hard to get a male partner to understand and be able to empathise with her challenges. But both sexes go through a form of menopause, and this transition is disruptive and even scary, and a certain level of understanding and communication is required for any one to have a quality relationship at this stage of life.

Nancy Cetel talks about many of the changes couples experience in her book Double Menopause, and what often happens is that emotions, including past hurts, hopes, dreams, etc., that may have been buried or unexpressed in the past, can no longer hidden. It cant be helped the truth will not be held back any longer. For some women, that shows up in pent up aggression that is taken out on a male partner by pushing him away and/or making him unable to relate to you on a physical level. Men need to know that the loss of desire for sex may be caused from the hormonal changes, but there might also be an emotional element that needs to be dealt with.

It is advisable that men in menopause couples acquaint themselves with the effects of menopause, in themselves and their partners, in order to better understand the changes their relationship is going through. Men soon realize that hormonal imbalances are causing unwanted emotional symptoms in women that could lead to verbal spats every now and then. Men need to be aware that emotional changes are likely to occur and that they are not to blame for them but that their partner may require extra attention, love and outward expressions of caring more now than ever before.

Men need to understand that their sexual drives could also have changed as they experience a slower loss of testosterone. To keep sexual interest, partners may need to put more time and attention into the quality of their sex lives and update themselves on what things turn them on at this stag of the game.

Men need to know that a decrease in estrogen in their lovers bodies can significantly alter how she thinks and feels about sex. In addition, vaginal discomfort and thinning of the lining of the vagina can make sex painful so it will not be enjoyable for either of them until they find a solution for this.

More than ever this is a critical time for couples to communicate more about the changes they are both experiencing. Christian Northrup talks about reversing roles as couples go through this transition in her book the Wisdom of Menopause. Men often lose a lot of the aggression that once fueled their younger years and they are happier to stay home and engage in more nuturing activities, that they never paid attention to before, such as cooking. Women, on the other hand, may want to venture out into the world and pursue a long-thought about career. They become more aggressive and passionate about accomplishing things. In this way, the couple almost switch roles in the relationship.

Talking a lot, expressing ideas, and bonding with one another again becomes critical during this transition. Men need to know what is happening to their women on a day-to-day basis, and visa versa. Women want men to cheer them on as they undergo significant changes including dealing with physical discomfort, hormonal imbalances, and possibly venturing out into the career world for the first time!

Men need to know that sex isnt going away totally. Explore sexual alternatives and realize that having less sex is not the end of the world! Experiment with vibrators, and oral sex, if you havent already as these are fine alternatives and to maintain a healthy sex life. Women love toys as much as guys do. Menopause might mean taking more time for foreplay for some women. Get into a habit of communicating your needs to each other and learn to enjoy the changes instead of fighting against them.

The most important thing is that husbands provide a social network for their menopausal wives to rely on. Realize that menopause is only a phase, albeit the end of the old and the beginning of a new one, and its possible to adjust to the changes by remaining aware. By staying informed of each others thoughts and feelings and becoming tolerant and understanding to the emotional pains women can go through, menopause couples can overcome most difficulties. And, who knows, you might like the new person you wake up to better! Think of it as another adventure.

About The Author

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting www.menopauseinfo.org or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com