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Peri Menopause Symptoms and Relief

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Patsy Hamilton

Peri menopause may be a new term for you. It simply means the time “around” menopause. Peri menopause symptoms are caused by changing hormonal levels during the years that lead up to menopause. They may last as little as a few months or as long as ten years. Every woman is different. These differences may be related to nutrition, diet, exercise regimens, prescription medications or genetic factors. It may be that the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen or estrogen levels may change suddenly from month to month. Much is unknown.

As early as their thirties, some women begin to experience changes in their menstrual periods. They may become heavier or irregular. Some women begin to experience premenstrual syndrome for the first time in their lives. Some doctors recognize these changes and refer to them as peri menopause symptoms, helping to educate women about what they can do to reduce symptoms. Other doctors leave it up to the women to educate themselves. And others suggest a variety of prescription drugs, which may or may not help.

To help regulate menstrual periods, thus relieving those types of peri menopause symptoms, some doctors recommend birth control pills. Women who take birth control pills may have less symptoms of shorter duration, but this is not always the case. Some women cannot and should not take birth control pills, because of the risks associated with them. Many women prefer not to take them, if they are not needed for contraceptive purposes. Birth control pills have known benefits and known risks. To learn more about them, a good website to visit is http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/the pill.htm.

Worsening PMS symptoms may also be peri menopause symptoms. PMS symptoms vary greatly among women, from non-existent to severe. It may be helpful to keep a journal for a while, noting when symptoms like mood swings and breast tenderness appear. There are at least 100 different symptoms associated with PMS; thankfully most women do not experience them all. Women who take birth control pills do not experience PMS, because they do not ovulate, but may have similar symptoms related to varying hormone levels. Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed to relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, but may have side effects, including headache, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction. Regular exercise is one of the best PMS relievers, but without proper nutrition, you may not have the energy for it. A good daily multi-vitamin in addition to a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine will help increase energy levels and reduce PMS symptoms.

Hot flashes and night sweats may be the most frustrating peri menopause symptoms. Antidepressants may increase night sweats in some women. These symptoms are directly related to changing estrogen levels. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was at one time considered a safe treatment for all of the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause, but research has shown that those women using HRT had an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s.

All peri menopause symptoms, including the ones mentioned here and others are believed to be related to decreased levels of estrogen. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies contain synthetic estrogens, thus relieving symptoms, but increasing risks associated with synthetic hormones. Certain plant components have estrogen like effects. These components are referred to as phytoestrogens. Found in plant foods like soy and herbs like black cohosh, phytoestrogens can help relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, naturally without side effects.

Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are sometimes experienced in women during peri menopause. Night sweats are sometimes a major sleep disruption, but many women find that a full night’s sleep is just not possible. If you have a doctor that readily writes prescriptions and you tell him about all of your different symptoms, you may end up taking sleep aids, antidepressants and a variety of other drugs. I have known many women who were taking six or seven different prescription medications during peri menopause and still had problems.

Serotonin is one of the compounds circulating in the blood stream believed to regulate sleep and mood. It is regularly sold as a natural sleep aid, but precursors (those substances that the body uses to create serotonin) are more effective and safer for long term use. Tryptophan was heavily marketed at one time, but also had safety issues. 5-HTP is the newest alternative.

Derived from an African plant, 5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that in studies has been shown to act like a prescription antidepressant, without the side effects. It is recommended for use by women with PMS and peri menopause symptoms for many reasons. It promotes healthy natural sleep, without causing grogginess. It improves mood, without the side effects associated with prescription drugs or other herbal remedies. Studies have shown its effectiveness for migraine treatment. Women, who experienced migraines during puberty, often see them reappear during peri menopause. To learn more about 5-HTP and other natural remedies for menopause, peri menopause and PMS, please visit http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

About the Author

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and more than 40 years experience as a woman. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

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Early menopause symptoms : everything a woman should know

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Jean Simmer

Early menopause symptoms are sometimes not recognized as women in their 20s, 30s or 40s are not suspecting that menopause could be happening to them so early in their life. Menopause on average happens to women around the age of fifty within an age range of more or less five years.

Early menopause symptoms are the same as menopause symptoms but occurring at an age when normally women are not due for the cessation of their menses and their ovarian function. Early menopause symptoms are basically the same symptoms as the ones happening in menopause but they occur at an earlier age. Women experiencing early menopause symptom s can experience hot flashes, mood swings, menstrual irregularities or cessation, fatigue and insomnia among others.

Every woman suspecting that she is experiencing early menopause symptoms should consult her qualified physician for proper diagnosis and discuss treatment options. Many causes of early menopause have been identified such as: early surgical removal of ovaries for medical reasons, side effects of some potent medication, hormonal failure, etcOften what causes the occurrence of early menopause symptoms is unknown and unexplained. Many cases of early menopauses have been seen in related family members.

Experiencing early menopause symptoms can have a strong effect on a woman who is not prepared to see her reproductive life end so early. A woman experiencing early menopause should seek help and support for the grief she is experiencing. For example, a woman planning to start her family at the age of thirty five can be devastated to learn that what she has been experiencing were early menopause symptoms and can no longer give life on her own.

Other factors to consider when experiencing early menopause symptoms are that the protective effects on the heart and vessels by the female hormones are lessened. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy have been highly questioned by a serious recent study and is no more recommended as a routine replacement treatment. This said, a woman experiencing early menopause symptoms needs to discuss this option with her doctor as her heart, lungs, vessels and bones will be exposed for a longer period to this increased vulnerability.

A woman going through early menopause symptoms should follow the same healthy living advices that are given to women going through menopause. Hence, she should reconsider her diet to include healthy foods rich in calcium and low in fat and processed sugar. A dietary supplement containing calcium can be a good adjunct to her diet.

In order to prevent osteoporosis from happening, a woman going through early menopause symptom s should make it a weekly habit of exercising regularly. Such activities as walking and tennis for example are great to keep the bones strong and healthy in women in their early menopause.

A woman going through early menopause symptoms might feel isolated and vulnerable. Sometimes, her spouse might feel overwhelmed by the situation and may not be the best person to discuss the situation with.

Joining a group of women who are also experiencing early menopause symptoms can be very comforting to a woman. Hence, by being able to exchange with women who have gone through menopause or early menopause positively, a woman might regain her sense of self and pride. There are many support groups for women living menopause or early menopause symptoms that one can join. Another valuable option is to join a discussion forum on the internet specifically created to help women experiencing menopause or early menopause symptoms.

About the Author

For more information now go to: http://www.happymenopause.com/early-menopause-symptom.htmlhttp://www.myalpha-power.com. or http://www.aperfectharmony.com

Hot flashes and vaginal dryness are just the start of the symptoms you may experience as you enter menopause! What else can you expect?Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www.healthguru.com
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Too Young For Early Menopause Symptoms?

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by John Russell

Because doctors are finally beginning to recognize early menopause symptoms in younger women, more and more women are being diagnosed with early or premature menopause. As a result, women who are experiencing infertility or are dealing with menopause symptoms at a young age no longer have to wonder why. Generally, we are unable to determine a cause for early menopause symptoms in younger women. This is frustrating for women as it makes it difficult to accept and deal with this new stage of life. Sometimes though, there are very obvious causes of premature or early menopause.

Early menopause symptoms are essentially the same as those of signs of menopause naturally. Women commonly suffer from night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, headaches, and joint or muscle pain. Body shape changes are also common, causing you to put on weight around the abdomen. Additionally, water retention and menopause commonly go together.

Early menopause symptoms that women can experience are emotional ups and downs, including anxiety, depression, cravings, and forgetfulness. The reason for night sweats symptoms are triggered by the fluctuation of hormones in the body during menopause. In particular, estrogen levels reduce dramatically during the onset of menopause, causing a variety of changes in the body’s functions.

Early menopause symptoms tend to be associated with more severe menopause symptoms than menopause occurring after the age of 45. Because early menopause is often due to illness, surgery, or genetic issues, there is a rapid decline in the amount of estrogen (known as “estrogen crash”) in your body. This causes you to enter menopause more quickly than other women. Estrogen crash can cause extreme hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, and depression in some women. In a survey of early menopause symptoms, 100% of women who experienced surgical menopause experienced a number of menopause symptoms in quick succession. 90% of these women complained that their symptoms were severe and lasted more than 8 years.

Unfortunately, there are no early menopause symptom cures. Menopause information has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years, though. It is suggested that most women who have undergone early or premature menopause seek out hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or, alternatively, natural hormone replacement therapy. Menopause symptoms will be very sudden and severe, especially after surgery, and can be lessoned by taking appropriate doses of estrogen. If oral medication is too difficult to take directly after surgery, estrogen patches that release hormones through the skin can be used to help lessen symptoms.

Then there are very early menopause symptoms, however, not all that typical. Very early menopause symptoms can be caused by a lot of things; this includes the following:

1. Premature ovarian failure. Your ovaries failed, therefore, resulting in early menopause symptoms. The common reason for this is because the woman’s body is not responding to the signals to ovulate any longer.

2. Surgery or cancer treatments. A woman can get early menopause if she has subjected herself to certain treatments, usually of cancer.

3. Diminished Ovarian Reserve. This usually occurs to women before the age of 40. This stage is termed as the diminished ovarian reserve.

Very early menopause can be a problem, but only if you make it so; don’t let it make you feel any less of a woman than you are now. A woman is not determined by her monthly cycles, but her ability to face life and all that comes with it. Facing this challenge with a good attitude and menopause information makes you stronger than ever.

How are early menopause symptoms confirmed as menopause? The most important test used to diagnose premature menopause is a blood test that measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FHS causes your ovaries to produce estrogen. When your ovaries slow down their production of estrogen, your levels of FSH increase. When FSH levels rise above 30 or 40 mIU/mL, it usually indicates that you are in menopause.

Summary: When we hear the word menopause, we usually think of ourselves. However, menopause is not a stage necessarily relegated to elderly women. Early menopause symptoms are more common than most women realize – it affects about 1% of women between the ages of 15 and 45. Early menopause symptoms can occur for a variety of reasons, but in the end it leaves an imprint on the lives of all of the women it affects.

About the Author

John Russell of IH Distribution, LLC brings you health, anti-aging and skin care products from around the world. Find fabulous skin care tips and great articles on a wide range of topics for women at http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com Don’t forget to check out their newly re-launched newsletter – filled with information you won’t find anywhere else.

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