Make Menopause an Easy Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Menopause) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Menopause is the normal change in a woman’s life when her period is absent for twelve consecutive months. The six- to ten-year period before menopause, perimenopause, is when a woman’s body starts decreasing its production of estrogen and progesterone, generally leading to inconvenient and often uncomfortable symptoms. Perimenopause normally occurs between the ages of 38 and 48, during which a woman’s period becomes irregular and more and more infrequent. Menopause doesn’t officially occur until the period is gone for twelve months, and the average age for menopause is 51. Though menopause can be debilitating, it does not have to be. With the proper preparation and knowledge, women can make the transition into perimenopause and menopause easy.

Every woman will experience it
Currently, 50 million women in the United States are living in menopause, and 6000 women enter it daily. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, eventually causing the complete cessation of the menstrual period. However, hormonal changes and subsequent symptoms in a woman’s body start several years earlier, during the period of time called perimenopause. Generally, women hit this change between 38 and 48. During perimenopause, periods become unpredictable. They can be shorter or longer than usual, and lighter or heavier than usual. Symptoms are directly related to hormone changes in the body, and of over 34 possibilities, some of the most common are hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, memory loss, vaginal dryness, unexplainable irritability, mood swings, a crashing libido and weight gain.

Make it an easy transition
Because every woman’s body is different, experiences in perimenopause and menopause vary. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and what works for close friends and family may not work for you. Depending on a woman’s menopause symptoms, doctors will recommend different methods. The most important thing to remember when entering this stage in your life is that you know your body best and you have the final say.

Start by tracking your symptoms on a Menopause Symptoms Chart (found in Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness) so you can easily detect patterns in your body. Then take this chart to your perimenopause and menopause specialist—a doctor that actually specializes in the topic (this may not be the doctor that delivered your babies). There is a long list of blood tests you should ask your doctor about so you can more easily highlight your path to hormone happiness. Generally, doctors suggest educating yourself about perimenopause and menopause to help you understand your journey, exercise, ample sleep, and a healthy diet.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a very popular measure that women take for relief from common menopause symptoms. Bioidentical hormones have the same makeup as the body’s natural hormones. There has been a lot of discussion on HRT in recent years, and a woman should research all the options with her specialist before making a decision.

Some women would rather adhere to natural remedies, such as soy products. Soy products contain isoflavones that may be beneficial for symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. Their effectiveness is not 100% proven, but some women do attest to their soothing qualities.
The intensity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person. For some women, these symptoms go away over time without treatment, and other women need to take a more active approach. There are several remedy options available to women and with the help of a specialist, you can find the right one.

"E" is the pen name of Ellen Sarver Dolgen, author of Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness—a cut-to-the-chase book on perimenopause, menopause and menopause symptoms filled with crucial information and hilarious and heartfelt stories. It condenses a confusing, daunting medical topic into an easy-to-understand, purse-sized guide which can be used as a reference throughout your PM&M experience. Reading Shmirshky is like getting a big, comforting hug from a dear friend, who happens to know a lot about menopause!

What is menopause?

noreply@blogger.com (Menopause) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:32:00 +0000

A woman enters menopause when her period is absent for twelve consecutive months. The six- to ten-year time before this is perimenopause, when symptoms generally begin. Perimenopause generally begins between the ages of 38 and 48, and marks the beginning of the reduction of estrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries.

Though menopause has a taboo looming overhead, it is not a disease or a body malfunction. Rather, it is a natural process that all women face at some point in their lives—the natural path the body takes as life goes on. Because the menopause journey is different for every woman, experiences vary. Some women have it very easy, others have complications, and others still have an average, symptom-laden adventure. All women should find a doctor that specializes in perimenopause and menopause and track her symptoms so she can more easily find her way to hormone happiness.

Some women encounter menopause at a younger-than-average age. This is called primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). For more on POI, listen to this radio broadcast on Sirius XM Radio (Ch. 107) with Dr. Lawrence Nelson of the National Institutes of Health. Though POI can be debilitating, these women, too, can find hormonal peace.
The more women learn about menopause before they start experiencing the symptoms, the easier the transition will be into perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. If women understand that they can expect to possibly experience hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and unexplainable mood swings or irritation, they will be able to better deal with these hormone changes, and their loved ones will have a better grasp on what their mother/sister/wife/friend is going through, too.

As the symptoms and their intensities vary for everyone, women look for remedies in several places. Some women prefer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or HRT (here is a great list of questions to ask your doctor if that’s the route you want to take), and some look to all-natural alternatives such as soy products, yoga, or simply better hydration. Soy products are difficult to prove perfectly effective, but many women will attest to their helpful aspects. For more on soy, read this Q&A with Dr. Gordon Saxe, MD, of the UC San Diego Center for Integrative Health.
A common misconception people have is that menopause is only a woman’s issue. On the contrary, men experience a form of male menopause, or andropause, too. Men experience a gradual decrease in the production of testosterone, causing symptoms like muscle loss, weight gain, fatigue, a decreased libido, depression, memory loss, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, urinary problems, and irritability. Many of these symptoms overlap between men and women. Men, too, can take measures to find hormonal balance. More men have been turning to bioidentical HRT to treat their symptoms as well as rejuvenate their health and confidence.

Whatever your symptoms, remember that with the right approach, you can take control, conquer your menopause, and live a happy and healthy life functioning at 100%.

Shmirshky is the first book on menopause of its kind — it’s easy, funny, and full of love! Rest assured, this is not your mother’s menopause resource book. Shmirshky the pursuit of hormone happiness comes with a Daily menopause SymptomsChart, which will help you communicate your symptoms to your doctor. Remember, reaching out is IN. Suffering in silence is OUT!

Menopause, Menopause Symptoms

Make Menopause an Easy Transition

What is menopause?