Menopausal Symptoms

At some point in their lives, women go through menopause or “the change of life”. Although every woman goes through this in their lives, some do not recognize it for what it is. Recognizing the problems and symptoms will help you to take advantage of treatments that are available. The actions you take can help save your bones, preserve your sex life, protect your heart, improve your memory and allow you to live a longer, happier life.

Let’s look at some common problems and symptoms of menopause.

• Hot Flashes – These are one of the earliest signs that you are going through menopause. Hot flashes usually last between three to six minutes and can occur several times a day. They can be physically draining and disabling. They are associated with profuse sweating and can cause insomnia. Other symptoms include headaches or pressure, nausea and difficulty in concentrating.
• Sexual Problems – Your sexual drive can be affected by decreases of estrogen and androgen during and after menopause, resulting in a decline of your sex drive and sexual desire. These symptoms are preventable and treatable with over-the-counter hormone supplement dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) if their testosterone levels are low-normal.
• Infections – During menopause there are also several vaginal symptoms including dryness, shrinking and thinning which increases the risks of vaginal and bladder infections. Estrogen replacement may be your best option, these are available as a cream. Another effective treatment is unsweetened cranberry juice or capsules and goldenseal.
• Mood Swings – One of the most common symptoms with menopause is mood swings. Women complain of emotional problems inlcuding mood swings, irritabilty and crying spells. These symptoms are similar to those experienced during your menstrual cycle and are probably related to a drop in estrogen levels. Another symptom is depression, which many women suffer from during menopause. This sometimes requires a treatment other than hormone replacement.
• Irregular Bleeding – Menopause also causes changes in your menstrual flow, the most common a decrease in flow, skipping periods and finally no period at all. It is not unsual to experience an increase in flow and longer and more frequent periods also. Most often these can be treated with hormones. In the past, a hysterectomy was preformed to treat it. Now this is used only as a last resort.

Menopausal Treatments

As a natural part of life, menopause does not require treatment. However, symptoms and health risks associated with low estrogen can be treated. Symptoms include hot flashes, irritability and increased risk of bone loss and heart disease. Some treatments may include:

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Healthful diet
• Phytoestrogens
• Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake
• Quit smoking
• Regular exercise
• Managing your stress

There are many treatments available. There are also non-hormonal treatments and at home remedies to relieve these symptoms. Your best option is to dicuss your symptoms with your doctor and figure out what would be best for you.