More and more physicians and researchers have stopped looking for ways of improving on the way that the human body works and instead are searching for methods of supporting the body to perform the functions that it can all on its own.

Until the year 2002 HT was routinely used to treat the symptoms of menopause and potentially protect the long term health of woman. At that time a large clinical trial published some of the health risks that were associated with using these drugs and physicians no longer used it as a mainstay of treatment.

The theory behind HT is that is helps to replace the hormone levels that the woman is slowly losing over time. This replacement was originally intended to decrease the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause and decrease the risk of osteoporosis, breast cancer, stroke and heart attack.

At this point, in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) unearthed the information that HT actually posed more of a risk to women’s health in the long term than benefits. As time went on researchers discovered more and more health hazards that were attributed to the hormone therapy.

When women are facing menopause and are considering hormone therapy learn more about the benefits and risks before beginning. In early hormone therapy doctors prescribed only estrogen and then as more research was uncovered they began prescribing a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen remains the most effective treatment for relieving menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. It also relieves vaginal dryness and maintains the vaginal wall strength preventing dropped bladders.

Researchers have found that there are long-term benefits to hormone therapy which include the prevention of bone loss leading to osteoporosis, decrease the risk to colorectal cancer, and there is some data to suggest that there is also a decrease risk of heart disease.

When considering the benefits women must also consider the risks that were uncovered in the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002. They found that women who were taking the combination estrogen-progestin had an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and blood clots.

Based on actual numbers the increased risk is small but the overall risk to women who are menopausal is a substantial health concern. Researchers also found that women taking the combination pill also had an increased risk of abnormal mammogram.

This study also found that women taking the single pill with estrogen, but no progestin, had no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. But they did find that these women did experience more strokes and blood clots than those who didn’t take any hormone therapy.

Despite the risks estrogen remains the industry standard for treating the symptoms that women experience when they are perimenopausal or menopausal. Women who have had breast cancer, heart disease or a history of blood clots or stroke should not take HT to relieve menopause symptoms.

If you do decide to take menopause hormone replacement therapy there are a few things that can be done to reduce the added risks. Women should minimize the amount of medication that they are taking, find the best delivery method that is best for you and time the medication therapy so you are taking the hormones less than 60 years of age.

It is during those times when trying to get pregnant or prevent a pregnancy that taking charge of your fertility is important. The first step to taking charge of your fertility is to understand your menstrual cycle. Each menstrual cycle a woman’s body gets ready to conceive a baby. There is a point in each month that you are more fertile than at other times.

The most fertile time of the month is the middle of the menstrual cycle. Taking charge of your fertility means being able to predict these dates using several techniques. This way you can either avoid or have intercourse, depending upon your goals.

One of the most difficult times in a woman’s life is fighting infertility issues. The desire for a child and the inability to do what other women seem to easily achieve is heart breaking. It seems that around every corner is a pregnant woman. Around every corner is a stroller, baby and happy mom. You know the pictures in your head and they seem to be everywhere you look. Trying to get pregnant? You are sure to be invited to several baby showers to celebrate the happy event for one of your friends.

You can take charge of your fertility and decrease your stress levels using several techniques.

The first is to become well educated on the way your body works. What are the criteria for being infertile? What are the treatment options? Who is evaluated first – the guy or the girl? Knowledge will decrease your stress and increase your ability to act on your knowledge.

Knowledge doesn’t take away the emotional pain but it will decrease your feelings of being out of control. Get to know your body and the signs of fertility so you will be able to time intercourse to best assure a pregnancy.

Another aspect of taking charge of your fertility is ‘planning’ intercourse. This is difficult. It takes the spontaneity out of the act when you are fighting with your spouse but your temperature says you’re ready to get pregnant!

Chart your course of your fertility journey so that if you are going to have to see a specialist you’ll be fully prepared with data. Bring with you the history of your attempts – times of the month, any temperature charts you’ve kept, history of your cycle for several months.

If you feel that you may have a problem with infertility you should know that an appointment with an infertility specialist can sometimes take months for a new patient. Make the appointment early, find out the information they want you to bring and begin collecting data. If you become pregnant in the meantime you can always cancel the appointment. If you aren’t pregnant you’ll go into the first appointment with plenty of information for the doctor to first start his evaluation.

Taking charge of your fertility is more than understanding your body. It also involves getting involved in the process – doing your own research, and having an understanding partner who is willing to go through the process with you. This is a minor process compared with raising a child. If your partner isn’t willing to participate now be prepared that he may very well not be prepared to participate after the blessed event.

Taking charge of your fertility is the right of every woman. In previous generations women were expected to take the advice of her doctor and her spouse and live with it. Today there are options and education. Become educated so that your decisions are based on knowledge and not strictly the advise of another.

With menopause come some drastic changes in a woman’s body with decreasing hormones and the potential for osteoporosis due to bone loss. It is important that a woman, while dealing with this change in her body, maintain adequate nutrition. Menopause is a normal occurrence in every woman and a difficult time in her life. For some it can be an easy experience, but for most it is not and will last between 1 to 3 years.

With menopause come many symptoms, one of these being weight gain. Typically, a woman gains approximately 5 pounds during menopause. In part, this weight gain can be attributed to increasing age and fluctuating hormones within the body.

Some of the steps that you can take to avoid weight gain or lose the added poundage are making sure that you avoid overindulgence. Do not deny yourself your favorite foods, but instead limit yourself to only twice a week. Concentrate on eating healthy making sure you are eating a well-balanced diet that includes calcium, as this is a very important measure to take to avoid bone loss. Other measures to take while attempting to maintain or lose weight during this time are adequate exercise. Participate in exercise for approximately 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week to help keep the weight down or an additional twice a week to lose the weight.

Walking is a fantastic form of exercise as it can be done anywhere, without special equipment or cost, and is a good overall health enhancer. Lastly, remember that there are medications to help ease the symptoms that come with menopause. Your doctor can either prescribe you medication to ease this discomfort or you can go the natural route and use herbal remedies. Whatever route you decide to partake in, make sure that your doctor is aware of any changing medications, even herbal formulas, and that he or she approves. If you are increasing your exercise activity, make sure that your doctor has given you his okay on this time as to avoid any further health issues.

Avoiding weight gain during menopause or losing the extra weight is highly possible, but it does take work. By following a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, decreasing your fat intake, cutting out extra sweets, eating in moderation, and increasing your exercise you can conquer the weight monster. It is not going to be an overnight quick fix, but rather a possible change in lifestyle and promoting good eating habits.

Both men and women can carry the bacteria. It is excreted from the end of the penis in an infected male. But it is the woman who suffers the most from the damaging secondary effects of the infection.

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the US. In 2006 there were over one million cases reported to the CDC. Consider also that there is significant under reporting in these numbers because not all people with the infection are aware of the condition and seek testing. And testing isn’t always done when patients are treated for their symptoms.

The bacteria that causes Chlamydia is transmitted during vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during a vaginal birth.

Any person who is sexually active can be infected with the bacteria. Interestingly researchers have found that the greater the number of sexual partners the greater the risk of infection. Because the cervix of teens and young women isn’t fully mature they are at particularly high risk for infection.

There are very few symptoms of the condition. Chlamydia is known as the silent disease because about ¾ of infected women and ½ of the men have no symptoms at all. If symptoms do appear it will be within 1 to 3 weeks after the initial exposure.

Women who have symptoms may have an abnormal vaginal discharge or burning sensation when urinating. As the infection spreads up the reproductive canal and into the fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) some women may experience lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever or pain during intercourse.

Men who experience the Chlamydia infection may have a discharge from the end of their penis or a burning sensation while urinating. They can also experience burning and itching around the opening of the penis or swelling and pain in the testicles.

Men and women can also acquire the infection in the rectum following rectal intercourse. This can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding.

Chlamydia is diagnosed using laboratory tests if the woman seeks medical care for the symptoms described above. Some of these tests are performed on the urine while others require a specimen that is collected from the penis or cervix.

Chlamydia is treated easily and effectively with antibiotics. However, with repeated exposure the infection can reoccur. So if the woman is treated and the male partner remains untreated then the infection will most likely spread to the woman once again. A single dose of azithromycin or a week of doxycycline are the most commonly used treatments.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is easily treated and diagnosed. Unfortunately, because most men and women don’t exhibit any signs or symptoms of the condition they don’t often seek medical advice.

There are two distinct causes of menopause. One is physiological. This means that the woman’s body is approaching and going through the process of menopause for normal and natural reasons. The other is pathological. This means that a woman is experiencing menopause because there is a medical condition that has caused her ovarian function to decline.

Pathological reasons for a woman to experience menopause early, or even in a normal time frame, are reproductive tract tumors, extreme emotional stress, malnutrition, debilitation, radiation and surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or other procedures that negatively impact the blood supply to the ovaries.

The reason that woman are forced into menopause is because the ovarian function begins to decline and the hormonal support is withdrawn from the body. It is the hormones that control the development and release of the egg, keep the elastin and collagen present in the skin, cause the uterus to build up a supply of blood to support a pregnancy and the myriad of other physical and physiology processes that happen each month.

When the ovarian function declines or ceases then a woman’s body no longer performs these functions and she is thrown into menopause. As the ovaries begin to slow in function she experiences peri-menopausal symptoms.

The same things will happen in physiological menopause. During menopause that happens within a normal time frame for women the ovaries begin to decline in function related to age. The hormonal levels begin to decline and a woman will find that her menstrual cycles are no longer predictable, they may be lighter or heavier and they can last longer or be shorter. Nothing seems to be the same any more for her.

During this time women find comfort in the care of a physician and the support of other women who are suffering from the same symptoms. Much of the psychological depression and distress can be alleviated with the support of others who are suffering the same symptoms and who can offer advice about helping those symptoms.

Natural menopause is permanent, gradual and happens over three stages. In the first stage (perimenopause) symptoms begin several years before menopause and will last until the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one or two years the decrease in estrogen accelerates.

In the next stage, menopause, a woman has her last menstrual period. The ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Once she has gone for 12 consecutive months without a period a woman is diagnosed with menopause.

The final stage is called postmenopause. These are the years after a woman has had her final period. Most of the menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, ease during this period but the health risks associated with the loss of estrogen increases.

The causes of menopause are commonly normal, however, women who experience the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause prior to age 39 should be fully evaluated by their physician to rule out any potential medical conditions that cause early menopause.

Did you know that menopause isn’t really menopause until you haven’t had a period for at least 12 months? What most women refer to as ‘the change of life’ or menopause is actually perimenopause or early menopause.

The early symptoms of menopause are related to the hormonal levels and changes in the body that happens naturally as women age. Because there is such a negative stigma to menopause many women aren’t all that interested in learning that their bodies are approaching this change.

The negative stigma includes the idea that women who have gone through menopause age faster and gain weight easier. Women are also bothered by the changes to their skin that happens as the protective factors of estrogen are removed and the skin loses collagen and elastin much more quickly. The decline in estrogen is also related to the increased risk factors for heart disease and stroke in women.

But menopause and perimenopause are really normal and natural aging factors in the life cycle of a woman. Women who are able to embrace these changes and learn different ways of accommodating to their bodies are much more likely to progress through the cycle with grace and contentment and without depression and fear.

Some of the early symptoms of menopause are related to the decline in hormonal activity, specifically follicle stimulating hormone and estrogen. This decline results in symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, vaginal dryness, chronic fatigue (not to be confused with chronic fatigue syndrome), cramps, hair loss, water retention, night sweats, cold flashes, changes in sleep patterns, yeast infections, depression and changes in monthly periods u duration, amount of flow and time between periods.

With recent improvements in technology and the measurement of hormonal activity manufacturers have been able to produce products that measure changes indicating early pregnancy and early menopause. The products that help women to know if their hormones are dropping, and thus are entering menopause, can be helpful for women to plan and anticipate changes that are coming shortly.

With the start of the early symptoms of menopause women are assured that although they may not enjoy the changes that are coming, their bodies are functioning normally. With support from friends, family and their physicians women are able to sail through menopause with the least amount of distress and discomfort.

Diagnosis of menopause

The diagnosis of menopause happens when a woman’s menstrual cycle has stopped for at least 12 months. There are, of course, other hormonal indications and perimenopausal symptoms that many women experience but, the biggest thing that happens to a woman during menopause is the cessation of her menstrual cycle.

There have been other terms used for this time in a woman’s life. Some have called it the ‘change of life’ for decades. This refers to the change that a woman experiences when she goes from childbearing years to no longer being able to bear a child.

Other changes include the symptoms of both menopause and peri-menopause that have plagued women. These changes have driven women to seek medical care and relief from physicians. These symptoms and changes include vaginal dryness, headaches, hot or cold flashes, sweating, mood swings and weight gain.

Women may begin to experience the symptoms of peri-menopause from the age of 39 through the age of 50. The cessation of menstruation can happen in that same age range. The variation in start and stop of this process is large but normal.

The start of menstruation begins when the function of the ovarian system begins to decline. While this normally happens after age 40 there are about 5% of women who will experience premature menopause before the age of 40 idiopathically. This means that there is no medical reason that physicians can find for the woman to have entered menopause.

There are other medical conditions that may cause a woman to enter menopause early. This is called pathological menopause and can be caused by reproductive tract tumors, malnutrition, debilitation, extreme emotional stress, excess radiation exposure and surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or other procedures that may impair ovarian blood supply.

The diagnosis of menopause is often a milestone in a woman’s life. Not because it’s exciting but she is often saddened by her loss of being able to bear children, the changes to her body and the perception that aging is now accelerated.

Although aging happens at a set pace among all people there are things that can be done to speed the appearance of aging or decrease the appearance. For instance, smoking will decrease the amount of collagen in the skin which decreases the elasticity and youthfulness. The loss of hormonal support during menopause has the same effect of decreasing the collagen and elasticity of the skin. This increases the appearance of aging.

In a society that values the youthful appearance of a woman and admires the craggy aging face of a man the diagnosis of menopause can send a woman into a depressed state. Although we have no control over whether or not we enter menopause there are new technological advances in skin care to decrease the appearance of aging. There are also groups of women who work through the process of menopause together. This support is invaluable to a woman who is facing the challenges of symptoms, aging and changes in relationships as she enters the latter half of her life.

Infertility caused by obesity is usually defined by a woman who has 30% or greater of her weight made up of fat tissue. While the rates of US citizens who are overweight and obese are rising so also are the infertility rates. They do not always correlate completely but obesity and infertility appear to be linked.

Women who are obese often have the symptoms of a woman with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. These symptoms will resolve spontaneously after weight loss. Sometimes with as little as a 15-20 pound weight loss a woman will begin ovulating again. The US Women’s Health Study concluded that even a slightly elevated BMI (Body Mass Index – measurement of height compared to weight) at the age of 18 was a risk factor for anovulatory infertility. Women with an elevated BMI are also at risk for decreased positive outcoes from assisted fertilization.

The risk of infertility caused by obesity doesn’t end at conception. Women who suffer from obesity also had adverse affects to both the mother and baby after conception. Risks include a higher incidence of hypertension, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, sleep apnea and caesarean section births. Additionally the babies are also more likely to need hospitalization beyond the normal post-natal hospital stay of the mother.

In a obesity and infertility study from Athens Greece reported in 2001 researchers found that women who have upper body obesity have insulin resistance, increased risk of peripheral aromatization (hormones leach into the fat tissue and are not available for use by the body) and several other hormone related events that are thought to be an influence in the disrupted ovulatory process in obese women. In an infertility caused by obesity study published in 2005 from Poland researchers confirmed that factors that affect fertility are obesity and cigarette smoking.

Another infertility and obesity study performed in Kuwait and published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2004 researchers found that the most effective treatment for infertility in women who suffered from obesity was weight loss.This research was confirmed in 2006 by researchers from Italy and reported in Maturitas. Weight loss often leads to improved conception rates because ovulation tends to resume.

The need for intervention for infertility caused by obesity is before the woman is attempting to conceive. Weight loss should be a gradual lifestyle change and not a desperate attempt to lose those pounds so ovulation will begin. Once a woman has conceived obesity and infertility lead to obesity and higher risk to mother and baby. Weight loss during pregnancy is difficult and dangerous to both the mother and child.

There is varying beliefs about stabilized weight during pregnancy. Although weight loss is definitely a problem for the baby and mother a stable weight during pregnancy without weight gain is acceptable to some physicians especially in women who are severely overweight.

Obesity and infertility is a growing concern as the percentage of the population that becomes overweight increases. The risks to obesity and infertility will extend from conception to gestation and then to the birth process leaving children of obese parents at risk for health issues for the remainder of their lives.

Fertility evaluations should be individualized to each couple based on their history and physical examinations. However, there are some baseline evaluations that should be investigated. Infertility is a condition where by a couple has been having unprotected sex for six months without conception.

There are several generalized studies and protocols. Your physician may find that a different route is more efficient while evaluating your particular problem. Infertility endometrial lining’s are responsible for poor conception rates. Those rates increase as a woman’s age increases.

An infertility endometrial lining that leads to infertility can be caused by many factors. Endometritis is inflammation of the uterine lining, which can happen after a septic baby delivery, an abortion or even a miscarriage. Endometritis causes the uterine lining to inflame and become an unsupportive environment for a pregnancy.

Adenomyosis is an invasion of the uterine wall by endometrial tissue. This infertility endometrial lining issue will cause the uterus to lay down poor endometrial support for a pregnancy. Multiple fibroid tumors can invade the uterine wall and take up the area an egg may implant. Prenatal exposure to DES will permanently alter the uterine environment and cause an infertility endometrial lining.

Women who receive Clomid to increase their chance of conception are asked to take a break from the medication after three months because the medication causes changes to the endometrial lining which don’t allow a conception. The good news about these changes is that they are reversible.

An endometrial biopsy may be performed in order to reveal the response of the uterus to the hormonal signals that happen during the cycle. Pathologists evaluate the biopsy of a small piece of the uterine lining just before the end of the menstrual cycle to date the lining and to test for the uterine wall response to hormones. If the uterine lining (endometrial lining) is out of sync with the hormones then this causes a major problem with infertility if left undetected or untreated.

Research during IVF (invitro fertilization) shows that the pre-ovulatory endometrial thickness is predictive of whether there will be a successful pregnancy. In a small study reported in Human Reproduction April 2000 researchers found that use of a compounded Viagra vaginal suppositories used at specific intervals increased the endometrial development by increasing the blood flow.

In another small study in Fertility and Sterility, October 2002, researchers again found a high rate of pregnancy following IVF in women who used the Viagra vaginal suppositories to improve endometrial lining.

Infertility endometrial lining problems can cause emotional and psychological pain to the couple who are attempting to become pregnant. But, with a correct diagnosis and treatment many women go on to carry a full term pregnancy.

Due to the devastating effects, that leukemia has on the body it is highly important at this time that adequate nutrition be encouraged. A healthy diet for leukemia patients is necessary to help the afflicted patient keep strong.

Due to the various treatments that cancer patients have to endure weight loss is a grave possibility. Appetite can diminish rapidly. A cancer patient must remember to try to follow a well-balanced diet ensuring all of the food groups as designated on the food pyramid. Other means of ensuring adequate nutrition are to eat small, but frequent meals up to six a day. Snacks should be kept on hand at all times and readily available to the patient so that any nutrition can be met when and if there is a moment when they are physically up to eating. Additional caloric intake can be given in the form of high-calorie foods such as milk products including milk shakes.

Protein is also important to give the leukemia patient additional strength. Protein can be achieved by including lean meats, poultry, and fish. Water is always important in dealing with leukemia patients to avoid dehydration that is lost through radiation and chemotherapy. It will also help to combat constipation and/or lethargy. Attempt to give the leukemia sufferer foods with the family to distract their attention away from their eating. Make the food palatable and bite-sized so as not to overwhelm them. Some form of exercise is also encouraged to further stimulate their appetite.

For some leukemia victims weight gain is a common occurrence due to fluid retention. Weight loss regimes are not suitable for this patient as basic nutrition is extremely vital at this time although a diet lower in fat and lower in sodium may be helpful.

During this time the leukemia sufferer will have symptoms such as nausea and vomiting and food may not be appealing to them especially if undergoing treatment for their cancer and certain side effects may be responsible for robbing them of the ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods that they do eat.

Consulting with a dietician or a nutritionist can help you in seeking out a good nutritional plan for obtaining a healthy diet for leukemia patients and strongly advised. Always consult with the primary care physician in doing so and to obtain a referral for this.

Today researchers have a list of different medical conditions that may be at the root cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. While there isn’t a definitive answer there are some suggestions that have led to changes in the treatment protocols for the disease. Some of these causes include low blood glucose condition, anemia and environmental allergies. These causes produce the same symptoms as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but also have treatments that don’t erase the problems associated with CFS.

Other causes that have been suggested for CFS include case studies that associate CFS following a bout with infectious mononucleosis (mono). Others report that they had symptoms following periods of great stress in their life such as the loss of a loved one or following major surgery. All of these will cause the extreme tiredness that is common with CFS but they don’t always have the other symptoms that are indicative of the condition.

Some researchers believe that CFS is related to infections that affect the immune system of the body. Because the immune system is responsible for protecting the body from infection, once it is damaged other more opportunistic infections which normally wouldn’t be able to infect the body, cause problems.

There has been some evidence that bacteria Chlamydia pneumonia can be a cause of CFS in some cases. People who have CFS related to this bacteria will respond well to the administration of antibiotics. This association continues to be debated. If the fatigue associated with the infection is accompanied with short-term memory problems or issues with concentration then it is possible it is related to CFS.

Another of the infections that has been associated with CFS is the Epstein-Barr virus or EBV. This virus does cause mono or the kissing disease. For many years it was thought that this virus was associated with the symptoms of CFS but now it is known that it is associated with a long-term mononucleosis infection.

Researchers have found that multiple nutrient deficiencies, food intolerances and extreme mental or physical stress can trigger chronic fatigue syndrome. Some researchers have found that certain patients suffering from CFS also have low levels of neurotransmitters. Thyroid deficiencies are also contributing factors.

The important thing to remember is that at this time there is no definitive cause that has been identified for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Although scientists have theories and ideas they haven’t found a reason that crosses all patients with the condition. At this point the best treatment has been to treat the symptoms and give supportive care until the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome can be found.