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What is menopause and what are the menopause symptoms that a woman will notice when this female phenomenon occurs? Most importantly, what are the remedies and products that a woman can look into to alleviate some of the symptoms?
Menopause is a natural development in women as they age that occurs at the end of their reproductive cycle. It’s not a disease or a problem that has to be solved. It’s Nature’s way to allow our bodies to continue in the aging process which would also end the child-bearing phase of a woman’s life.
Some women have a very easy time of menopause and, other than their periods ceasing, have almost no other obvious symptoms that have become apparent in this phase of their female reproductive cycle. However, most women are not so fortunate.
Just as some teenage girls have light and virtually pain-free periods, many young girls have to lose some days from school due to severe cramps or heavy bleeding during their periods. I don’t know if there is a correlation between difficult periods when they’re young and then later on having a tough time during menopause. That’s a study for another time.
Personally, both were difficult for me and other females in my family. The periods were hard, and I did lose school days. But, later in my 20’s and 30’s, the periods were less uncomfortable and were merely a monthly female activity that was accepted as part of my reproductive cycle.
Then in my early 40’s, I knew my body was changing and was experiencing a different phase of femininity. The symptoms that I could attribute to perimenopause were an irregularity in my periods, less severe periods, and some changes in my body barometer which I didn’t understand at the time. This was the most distressing symptom of all – hot flashes and night sweats!
I had full-blown menopause symptoms at approximately 44 years old and lasted until approximately 60 years old. During that time, in retrospect, I may not have always been the sweet, loving person that I am! LOL! Oh, I feel sorry for some of the people who were closest to me in those days. Does an apology now count?
The worst symptom that stands out in my memory is the hot flashes day and night. During the day, I could feel my whole body flush, and my face and exposed upper body would become beet red. Others near me said they could feel the heat emanating from my body. It was embarrassing and very distressing.
At night, sleeping was so uncomfortable. It was hard to get comfortable and to relax my mind, and when the hot flashes occurred at night, it was awful. Covers on covers off – wake up sweaty and have to change clothes sometimes.
I felt at the time of menopause that it was never going to end! The good news is that it does – finally! – but none too soon!
A woman experiences three main phases of their reproductive life:
Perimenopause symptoms are similar symptoms as a woman experiences during menopause but she is not yet in menopause. She is still having her periods, although they may begin to be irregular periods, while she is noticing menopausal symptoms. These may include mild depression or mood swings, hot flashes, headaches, unexplained weight gain, hair loss, and skin dryness.
Perimenopause can occur as early as 8 to 10 years prior to actual menopause and is due to the ovaries producing less estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in the body. She is still able to become pregnant.
This phase usually lasts for four years but could last for as long as ten years before menopause.
Menopause usually occurs in women in their 40’s or 50’s and occurs when the ovaries have stopped producing any estrogen at all. The ovaries no longer produce an egg to travel down the Fallopian tubes, and thus menopause has begun.
Younger women who have had surgical procedures done such as removal of ovaries or have had damage to the ovaries from Chemotherapy, for instance, can experience immediate symptoms for full-blown menopause. When a woman has not had a period for 12 months, she is diagnosed as officially being in menopause.
Here is some helpful information according to a post by the Cleveland Clinic:
You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:
Women who are still in the menopause transition (perimenopause) may also experience:
Some women might also experience:
These symptoms can be a sign that the ovaries are producing less estrogen. Not all women get all of these symptoms. However, women affected with new symptoms of racing heart, urinary changes, headaches, or other new medical problems should see a doctor to make sure there is no other cause for these symptoms.
My go-to person online for health questions is most usually Dr. Axe. I like how he explains medical issues in layman’s terms, and I think you will benefit most by quoting him for this complicated subject. There is an awful lot going on in a woman’s body at this time of her life, and I might leave out something that is pertinent to you by extrapolating his valuable information.
So, the following is taken from DrAxe.com:
1. Eat Foods that Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
When trying to balance hormones and reduce menopause symptoms, your diet should include plenty of essential minerals and healthy fats. Filling up on the following foods which are “hormone-balancing,” nutrient-dense and unprocessed can help you eliminate your intake of empty calories and manage weight gain.
Keep in mind that you might need to consume fewer calories overall in order to maintain your weight as you get older. Due to a decrease in muscle mass and the slowing of your metabolism, it’s more important than ever to limit processed foods and focus on eating a clean diet.
Foods that can help manage menopause symptoms include:
2. Avoid Foods that Make Menopause Worse
3. Take These Supplements for Menopause Relief
Although less commonly used at home on your own, other botanicals/herbs can also help manage symptoms including evening primrose oil, licorice root, wild yams, red raspberry leaves, chaste tree, and sarsaparilla. Each one has a specific symptom (or sometimes symptoms) that they are able to help treat, so it can be very helpful to talk with a trained naturopath doctor to help guide you into using proper dosages and combinations.
4. Reduce & Manage Stress
Many women experience increased anxiety, moodiness and even episodes of depression during the menopause years. Managing stress in your life is one important way to reduce behaviors or symptoms like emotional eating and weight gain, fatigue, getting poor sleep and low libido.
Different stress-reducing complimentary and alternative medicines work for different people. Some effective ways to relieve stress include exercise, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, spending time in nature, fostering close relationships, volunteering and dedicating time to spiritual practices.
5. Use These Essential Oils for Managing Menopause Symptoms
Clary sage oil is the most effective essential oils for balancing hormones.It can help offer relief from menopause symptoms including increased anxiety and hot flashes. In addition, roman chamomile oil reduces stress, peppermint oil can help cool the body from hot flashes, and thyme oil can help naturally balance hormones.
To use these essential oils at home, purchase a therapeutic grade/pure oil in stores or online, then rub 3 drops of the chosen oil on the tops of the feet and back of the neck 1–3 times daily. You can combine any essential oil with a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil to dilute its strength and decrease skin sensitivity.
6. Get Regular Exercise
Exercise is important for managing several risk factors associated with menopause complications, including becoming overweight or obese, having high levels of inflammation, getting poor sleep, experiencing bone loss or muscle wasting, and dealing with chronic stress. Certain studies have found that even if you haven’t been very active in the past, starting an exercise routine consisting of aerobic and strength-training exercise training at least three times per week for 12 weeks can result in improvements in sleep quality, insomnia, and depression.
I recommend engaging in 10–30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week, including in the form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) such as burst training, This will strengthen your bones, help prevent weight gain and preserve lean muscle mass, which can lower the risk for osteoporosis and obesity.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Studies show that both excessive stress and poor sleep are linked with higher levels of morning cortisol, decreased immunity, trouble with work performance, and a higher susceptibility to anxiety, weight gain, and depression. To allow your body to recover from stress, control your appetite and improve energy, aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
8. Turn to Social Support & Relationships
Comprehensive clinical trials have shown that lifestyle habits including regular exercise, sleep management, optimal nutrition, healthy relationships, social support, and relaxation can be effective as a “whole system approach” to treating menopause symptoms and other effects of aging.”
There is so much more that could be written here about menopause, symptoms, and remedies, etc. If a particular facet of this subject is lacking, and you would like more specific information, please let me know. I will be happy to research for you.
As someone who has been post-menopausal for quite some time, I understand your discomfort you are probably experiencing if you are menopausal now. My words of wisdom and encouragement to you are that “this, too, shall pass”. It seemed like forever to me but is now just a memory, thank goodness!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Page for more info.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my…
November 11, 2018This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Page for more info.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my…
November 11, 2018
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Denise | 12th Nov 18
Great article Christine, thank you so much! I am in the full-blown phase of menopause and honestly I am really sick of dealing with it! It seems my entire body chemistry has changed completely and nothing is “normal.” I never thought I would wish for having my period back, but I would take it back in an instant if I were given the choice.
The information you presented from Dr. Axe is great – there were a few things I had not read before. One thing that never fails to amaze me is how our bodies change and react to things so quickly. So, when I am having a particularly lousy day, I have to remind myself that tomorrow will be better, especially if I pay attention to doing things (like exercise and more sleep) and taking supplements. I am also now on a low dose of estrodial topical gel called Divigel (.25mg) and progesterone (100mg pill) which was prescribed by my doctor. This has helped tremendously although I’m hoping I don’t need it for a prolonged period of time.
Christine | 1st Dec 18
Hi, Denise. I’m happy to hear that your doctor prescribed things that are actually helping you! Many times, with menopause, even the doctors have to go through a trial and error process because each body’s chemistry is so delicate, and meds may work for one but not for another. Our bodies are in a constant state of change, and mine in my older years continues to show me changes that I really don’t like to see, but we just have to roll with most of the changes. Many things we do still have in our control, such as what foods we put in our mouths and how much exercise and movement we put our bodies through each day. These are good things and are absolutely necessary if we want our bodies to carry us through as long and healthy life span as possible in the highest quality of life as possible. Remember, this, too, shall pass! Keep smiling!