We have heard about it, we knew it was coming, now what?
Here is a medical look at what happens to the body and what affects body.....
What is Menopause?
Female Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the Ovaries cease to produce an egg cell every four weeks and therefore Menstruation ceases and the woman is no longer able to become pregnant.
The loss of Oocytes (from the Ovaries) in women is an important trigger for the onset of Female Menopause.
Female Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
In Western nations, the average age of Female Menopause onset is 51.
Some substances many alleviate the side effects of Menopause Hormones
Supplemental Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) alleviates the symptoms of Female Menopause. Female Menopause causes a decline in female production of Estrogens (and it is for this reason that post-menopausal women are often administered exogenous Synthetic Estrogens (this practice known as Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)): - Synthetic Estrogens differ in their chemical structure to hat of the body’s natural Estrogens and can produce toxic side effects that exceed those of natural, endogenous Estrogens. For this reason post-menopausal women are advised to consider the use of natural Estrogens in ERT (natural Estrogens are more difficult to procure than Synthetic Estrogens).- The ideal proportions of Estrogens (preferably natural Estrogens) for post-menopausal women in Estrogen Replacement Therapy is: - 80% Estriol research- 10% Estradiol- 10% Estrone
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Conjugated Estrogens help to minimize the symptoms of female Menopause (including the hot flashes, vaginal thinning, Memory loss and Incontinence associated with Menopause): - Caution: natural Estrogens are safer for the treatment of female menopause than Conjugated Estrogens.
Proteins Soy Protein (60 grams per day) reduces the number of hot flashes experienced by women during Female Menopause.
Smart Drugs
Bromocriptine can reset the biological clock involved in the regulation of sexual cycling in post-menopausal females and has reinstated Menstruation in some post-menopausal women. The side effects of female Menopause respond well to Vinpocetine.
Vitamins
Vitamin C (at least 1,200 mg per day taken in divided doses) alleviates the hot flashes associated with the female Menopause.
Vitamin E supplementation (at least 800 IU per day for at least three months) alleviates the hot flashes and vaginal complaints that occur as a result of the female Menopause.
These Foods/Herbs Alleviate the Side Effects of Female Menopause
Herbs
Aniseed (tea) reputedly alleviates some of the unpleasant side effects associated with female Menopause (due to the Photoanethole content of Aniseed which may mimic the function of Estrogens) (according to traditional Chinese herbalists).
Black Cohosh alleviates many of the side effects of female Menopause (due to the 27-Deoxyacteine content of Black Cohosh mimicking the actions of the hormone Estriol): - Black Cohosh alleviates the hot flashes, Depression and Vaginal Atrophy commonly experienced by females during Menopause.
Chaste Berry (Vitex) is reported to alleviate the hot flushes (hot flashes) associated with female Menopause.
Dong Quai facilitates the transition through female Menopause and alleviates many of the symptoms of female Menopause.
False Unicorn is useful for the treatment of the symptoms (such as hot flushes, reduced vaginal Mucous and poor pelvic tone) of female Menopause.
Kava Kava (300 mg of Kava Kava standardized to contain 30% Kava Lactones per day) alleviates the Anxiety and Depression associated with female Menopause and improves Mood in menopausal women.
Maca alleviates the symptoms of female Menopause (according to anecdotal reports).
Mexican Wild Yam may counteract the reduction in endogenous Progesterone that occurs in association with the female Menopause (although it should be noted that Mexican Wild Yam is NOT a herbal precursor for endogenous Progesterone production).
Passion Flower is commonly prescribed by herbalists (in Europe) to alleviate the Pain that often accompanies the female Menopause.
Red Clover helps to prevent the increased rigidity (decreased elasticity) of womens’ Blood Vessels (including Arteries) that occurs as a result of declining estrogens production during and after female Menopause (due to the Isoflavonoids content of Red Clover).
Sarsaparilla may alleviate the symptoms of female Menopause. Suma rectifies some of the hormonal deficits that occur during the female Menopause.
Tribulus terrestris alleviates many of the symptoms (including Hot Flashes, Insomnia, Anxiety, Excessive Perspiration, Insomnia, Irritability, Depression, reduced Sexual Desire and Apathy) of the female Menopause.
Fungi
Caterpillar Fungus is prescribed (in China) by herbalists for the treatment of many of the symptoms associated with the female Menopause.
Legumes
Soybeans alleviate many of the side effects (including hot flashes) associated with female Menopause.
Tofu alleviates many of the side effects (including hot flashes) associated with female Menopause.
Other
Factors that Minimize the Side Effects of Menopause
Exercise
Regular Exercise reduces the symptoms associated with Female Menopause: - Regular Aerobic Exercise reduces the symptoms associated with Female Menopause.
Orthodox Medical Treatment of Menopause
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Clonidine is sometimes prescribed to prevent the hot flashes associated with female Menopause: - Caution: Clonidine has some toxic side-effects.
Female Menopause Inhibits these Substances
Hormones Production of Melatonin declines rapidly after the female Menopause. The female body’s endogenous production of Estrogens declines during and after the female Menopause. Production of Progesterone declines after the onset of female Menopause.
The female body’s endogenous production of Testosterone declines during and after the female Menopause.
Minerals
Post-menopausal women absorb dietary Calcium less efficiently - this accounts for the greater risk of Osteoporosis in post-menopausal females.
Side Effects Occurring during Female Menopause
25% of women experience no side-effects during Menopause.
The remaining 75% experience some or all of the following symptoms: Hot Flashes (also known as Hot Flushes) are the principal symptom of female Menopause: - Hot Flashes are the most comon symptom of female Menopause. They occur in up to 75% of menopausal women.- The manifestations of Hot Flashes vary among women. Commonly, the Hot Flash begins with a sensation of Nausea or a Headache, followed by a wave of heat, flushed Skin, and Tachycardia (increased heartbeat rate). There is usually an increase in Skin temperature and pulse rate. Hot Flashes can also cause Insomnia, which contributes to Fatigue.
Cardiovascular System
The elasticity of women’s Arteries (and other Blood Vessels) declines during and after Menopause (this is believed to be due to declining endogenous Estrogens production). Women are more susceptible to Varicose Veins during and after Menopause.
Excretory System
Excessive Perspiration (Hyperhidrosis) can occur during Menopause. Incontinence is a common side effect of Menopause.
Hair
Women are more susceptible to Female Hair Loss following Menopause (possibly due to the decline in Estrogens production that occurs after Menopause).
Metabolism
Female Menopause causes total serum Cholesterol levels to increase: - Female Menopause causes LDL Cholesterol levels to increase. 50% of women suffer from Lethargy during Menopause.
Musculoskeletal System
Women are more susceptible to Bone Loss after Menopause (due to declining Estrogens production). Women are more susceptible to Osteoporosis after Menopause (due to declining Estrogens production).
Nervous System
50% of women suffer from Anxiety during Menopause. Many women experience Apathy during Menopause. Some women suffer from poor Concentration during Menopause. 50% of women suffer from Depression during Menopause. Headache is one of the manifestations of Hot Flashes in Female Menopause. 45% of women suffer from Insomnia during Menopause. 50% of women suffer from Irritability during Menopause. Nausea is one of the manifestations of Hot Flashes in Female
Menopause. Neurotransmitters Women’s production of Nitric Oxide declines with the onset of Menopause.
Sexual System
45% of women suffer from reduced Sexual Desire during Menopause. Women are more susceptible to Vaginitis after Menopause (due to declining Estrogens production). Small (but biologically significant) quantities of Testosterone are manufactured by the Ovaries up until Menopause - this Ovary-manufactured Testosterone contributes to female Sexual Desire - after Menopause approximately 35% of females have reduced Sexual Desire due to the cessation of Testosterone production by the Ovaries (the other 65% manufacture enough testosterone in their Adrenal Glands to sustain their Sexual Desire).
Skin
Erythema (flushing of the Skin) is one of the manifestations of Hot Flashes in Female Menopause. Female Menopause can cause Thin Skin. Diagnosing Female Menopause Blood Tests Physicians often measure Blood levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as a diagnostic tool for Female Menopause. Elevated
FSH levels generally reflect declining Estrogens levels, although FSH levels can fluctuate during perimenopause giving misleading results. FSH levels remain consistently high during Female Menopause. The standard reference range for FSH as a measure of the onset of Female Menopause is 25 IU per liter.
Forms of Menopause
Late Menopause occurs when Menopause occurs after the age of 55.
Perimenopause. The hormonal changes associated with Menopause actually commence prior to a woman’s last Menstrual Period, during a five to ten year period named the Perimenopause.
Some menopausal symptoms may occur during this period, even though the woman is still menstruating. Premature Menopause occurs when Menopause occurs before the age of 40. Approximately 5% of women experience Premature Menopause.
In-Tele-Health © 2002 (from Hyperhealth Pro CD-ROM)
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