Menopause used to be called the change of life, and it is still a change in life today. Menopause is not just the end of a woman’s childbearing years but, rather, a beginning of a whole new stage of life.
Most women who enter menopause, and who come out the other side, have not only experienced a change in the physical life of their body, but also in their life as a whole. Many have grown children who have left home to venture out on their own journey. Some women choose to return to school, be it to finish their grade 12 or to earn a degree. Several of the women that I know are either single or in the process of a divorce. Being single is certainly a change as well!
Menopause is experienced in the forties or fifties, and it is packed with physical and psychological changes that are caused by shifts in a woman’s hormonal makeup. These changes cause symptoms such as night sweats, vaginal dryness and hot flashes. The process can take as little as six months, or for others, as long as five years. Please God, let me be in the six month bracket!
Although menopause is a normal part of the life cycle, there are certain things that if they happen to you it is important for you to see your doctor. These symptoms include hot flashes that are so severe or frequent that they result in fatigue, depression, mood swings, or sleep interruption. Another important symptom to watch for is if you experience bleeding after your menstrual cycle has ceased for six months or longer, or if you are on hormone replacement therapy and your bleeding is not on the cycle the doctor told you to expect.
There are several alternative methods to help you cope with the symptoms of menopause. Aromatherapy, ayurvedic medicine, Bach flower remedies, diet and herbal therapy can all play an important part in easing your symptoms. Remember that since men have the male equivalent – andropause – they will benefit from some of these alternatives as well!
One option that is often overlooked is using vitamins and minerals to tame the severity of the menopausal symptoms. Magnesium, calcium, vitamin E and a good multivitamin can all help calm the storm of menopause and andropause. Evening primrose for the ladies is a very good idea, and men can also benefit from a good shot of borage oil.
Dosages for each of the minerals and vitamins should be listed on the bottle, but in the event they are not here is a guideline:
Magnesium – 300 – 500 milligrams
Calcium – 500 – 1000 milligrams in divided doses
Vitamin E – 400 i.u. twice a day
Multivitamin (good quality) with at least 25 milligrams of all the B vitamins including B5, or pantothenic acid
By watching your diet and your lifestyle, you can make menopause your change of life! A good informational website is important if you are surfing the web, as not all remedies work for all people. And, while you are surfing, check out a list of courses at your local college – it is never too late for change!