Menopause - What Is Menopause? Plus Helpful Links - Cyber Recovery Social Network Forums

*admin* · 11-08-2006, 12:37 PM

Menopause - What Is Menopause? Plus Helpful Links

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Menopause - A New Beginning
From Tracee Cornforth,

What Is Menopause?
Menopause needn't signal an end to your life. In some cultures menopause is seen as a time when older women can help support the younger women as they raise their children. The older women are revered for their wisdom and knowledge. Menopause is a time of freedom and renewal- if you have any children, they should be grown and you are free of the monthly hassle of menstruation.

Menopause, the word, is a combination of two Greek words which mean month and terminate. Translated literally menopause means "the end of the monthlies." The average woman reaches menopause about the age of fifty- one, although it can vary from your thirties to your fifties. Certain factors such as the age your mother began menopause and environmental influences may play a key role in determining when you begin to experience the signs and symptoms of perimenopause.

Perimenopause occurs for several years before actual menopause and sometimes precedes menopause by as many as fifteen years.

Some changes that signal perimenopause include:

* changes in your menstrual flow which may become heavier than normal or lighter than normal or irregular periods
* Hot flashes and/or night sweats are common signs of perimenopause.
* girl thingyl dryness.
* Sleep problems.
* Increased fat around the waist.

* Up to 75 percent of women report being more fatigued and emotional changes of nervousness, depression, and mood swings may also be present.

The Symptoms of Menopause
Most women will go through several years of perimenopausal symptoms before their periods end. The most commonly known symptoms include hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes usually occur for at least one year and up to five years before cessation of menstruation; they can be a major annoyance, disrupting your sleep and daily life, or you may be lucky, and for you they might simply be a minor inconvenience.

When you have a hot flash you may feel an increasing warmness, usually beginning in your chest and rising to your head; your skin may become warm and red causing you to sweat, sometimes, profusely. Hot flashes most commonly occur at night and can last from a few seconds up to an hour. They may occur up to ten times in one day and often begin before you notice any changes in your menstrual cycle.

You may also begin to notice girl thingyl dryness which may be relieved using a girl thingyl lubricant or if it's a serious problem, your doctor can prescribe an estrogen cream. Never use petroleum jelly such as Vaseline as a girl thingyl lubricant. Petroleum jelly may causes damage to condoms and diaphragms, and increases your risk of girl thingyl infection.

Other symptoms you may begin to notice are headaches and trouble sleeping. Trouble sleeping and fatigue during the day may be caused by night sweats which sometimes require your getting up and changing soaked sheets. You may also experience urinary incontinence, dry eyes, and difficulty concentrating, among other various symptoms.
What Can I Do to Relieve My Menopausal Symptoms?
Several options for reducing symptoms of menopause may be tried. Hormone Replacement Therapy is often started using estrogen and/or progestins. Natural remedies are often used including the use of natural progesterone derived from soy beans, Black Cohosh, or soy isoflavones. Other herbal remedies often used include ginseng and phytoestrogens.

There are some risks associated with the use of HRT, including increased risk of cancer. Your risk of developing osteoporosis may be lowered by increasing your daily intake of calcium to 1500 mg per day. If you smoke cigarettes, quit and your risk of both osteoporosis and heart disease are significantly lowered. Eating a diet low in fat and cholesterol also greatly lowers your risk of post menopausal disease. Talk to your health care provider determine the best treatment for you.

Exercise is known to help reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms and has the added benefit of significantly lowering your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer. Exercise also relieves stress, and often improves depression and anxiety symptoms. Routine exercise improves bone mass, as well.

Exercise at least thirty minutes on at least three days of the week and you'll feel and be much healthier, and you'll have more energy than you thought possible.

You should be aware of the changes before they happen so you'll know what's happening when you begin to experience the symptoms of menopause. As in everything, knowledge is half the battle. Good luck and remember... it's not the end of your life... it's just the beginning!

More Info - http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/men...obeginning.htm

*admin* · 11-08-2006, 12:41 PM

Some more helpful links on menopause

http://www.niapublications.org/engag.../menopause.asp
http://www.project-aware.org/Managin...enstrual.shtml
http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/symptoms.shtml
http://www.wisewomanhood.com/womensh...usalhealth.htm
http://www.susanemead.com/premenopau...y-bleeding.htm
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/a.../t-175364.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/menopause/article.htm
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/a....php/f-85.html
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/f...splay.php?f=85

Is the Heat On? Maybe you're having a Hot Flash!
http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/...ead.php?t=6150
http://www.mymeditations.com/ar-menopause.html

*admin* · 11-08-2006, 12:41 PM

Top 5 Menopause Books:
Menopause can be terrifying when you don't understand the changes occuring in your body. Discover what you need to know about menopause to make a smooth transition from monthly menstruation to freedom from monthly periods, and it's side effects. Learn how to separate the facts from the fiction about menopause and the perimenopausal period in these information-packed books about menopause.

1) What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...bn=0446673803/
There is something useful for every woman experiencing the symptoms of hormonal imbalance that precede menopause in this outstanding book. Learn how you can help yourself through menopause without the annoying symptoms by using natural methods including natural hormones, diet, exercise, and other simple things you can do to ease your transition into menopause.

2) Could It Be... Perimenopause?
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...sbn=0316319457
Clear answers to your questions about changes that happen long before actual menopause. The author's humorous style makes a delightful reading experience. Includes information about how to avoid a hysterectomy, how to use birth control pills to ease perimenopausal symptoms, and a wealth of other valuable facts about the years before menopause.

3) Hormone of of Desire
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...sbn=0609803867
A common complaint from women experiencing the symptoms of menopause is loss of sexual desire. Discover the facts about the "male" hormone testosterone and how it may help to increase sexual desire in women. The author provides extensive medical information about testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone in lay terms and an easy-to-follow format.

4) Menopause Diet - Loose Weight, Boost Engergy
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...sbn=0967131707
An outstanding book that provides answers to why women gain weight during menopause and how to lose weight permanently, while maintaining hormonal balance with proper nutrition and suggested dietary supplements. Includes recipes, specific nutritional details, facts about sleep and stress, and a plethora of other relevant material.

5) The Estrogen Alternative: Natural Hormone Therapy
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...sbn=089281893X
Natural progesterone, unlike synthetic pharmaceutical hormones, is chemically equal to the progesterone produced by our bodies. Can this natural hormone effectively replace the pharmaceutical treatments prescribed by your doctor? Discover the facts about NHRT and how it provides the same benefits we expect from pharmaceutical hormone replacements while causing no known side effects or risks.

More Info and Links:
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/men.../menopause.htm

*admin* · 11-08-2006, 12:42 PM

Menopause Message Board
http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/

Hot and Cold Flashes
http://www.power-surge.com/php/forum...showtopic=3429

Great reading about Hot Flashes:
http://www.power-surge.com/headlines/hotflash.htm

*bluidkiti* · 03-05-2009, 05:47 AM

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/menopause/page3_em.htm

Menopause Symptoms

Hot flashes: Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. According to some studies, hot flashes occur in as many as 75% of perimenopausal women. Hot flash symptoms vary among women. Commonly, the hot flash may begin with a feeling of nausea or a headache, followed by a wave of heat, flushed skin, and palpitations (feeling a strong heartbeat). Hot flashes often increase skin temperature and pulse, and they often cause insomnia, or sleeplessness.

Urinary incontinence and burning on urination

Vag!nal changes: Because estrogen affects the vag!nal lining, perimenopausal women may also have pain during intercourse and may note a change in vag!inal discharge.

Breast changes: Menopause may cause changes in the shape of the breasts.

Thinning of the skin

Bone loss: Rapid bone loss is common during the perimenopausal years. Most women reach their peak bone density when aged 25-30 years. After that, bone loss averages 0.13% per year. During perimenopause, bone loss accelerates to about a 3% loss per year. Later, it drops off to about a 2% loss per year. No pain is usually associated with bone loss. However, bone loss can cause osteoporosis, a condition that increases the risk of bone fractures. These fractures can be intensely painful and can interfere with daily life. They also can increase the risk of death.

Cholesterol: Cholesterol profiles also change significantly at the time of menopause. Total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol increase. Increased LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Heart disease risk increases after menopause, although it is unclear exactly how much is due to aging and how much is caused by the hormonal changes that occur at the time of menopause. Women who undergo premature menopause or have their ovaries removed surgically at an early age are at an increased risk of heart disease.
Weight gain: A 3-year study of healthy women nearing menopause found an average gain of 5 pounds during the 3 years. Hormonal changes and aging are both possible factors in this weight gain.

*annalittlebit* · 03-05-2009, 06:19 AM

been there---done that

Good info--thanks!!!!!!!

*flick* · 03-16-2009, 05:45 PM

being there, doing that; agreed; great info, thank's!!

*annalittlebit* · 03-17-2009, 06:52 AM

this too shall pass flick----sometimes quickly--sometimes slowly

*flick* · 03-17-2009, 07:00 PM

Yes, true enough, knowing my luck it will be slowly!!! LOL, I always thought I'd be in for a tough time with pre-menopause, and so will anyone around me LOL....I've always been such a cow with pmt/pms, my doc recently put me on some new (to me) mood stabilisers and things have been much better all round, hoping it continues to be that way.....I don't deal with the hot flashes and night sweats so well, I also have suffered a great deal of fatigue....only for 2-3 days at a time but boy it wipes me out some. Anyway the past cple of weeks have been really good, so we'll wait n see. Am still feeding my little one so hormone replacement or assistance is not an option at this point in time.

Thank's for your support

*annalittlebit* · 03-18-2009, 08:13 AM

wow---i do recall only to well the night sweats and i actually went through that whole process 3 times---can you imagine----the 1st time was naturally and i was finally put on meds that relieved all of that---then, when i was diagnosed with BC they abruptly stopped my meds and all the fun began again---my oncologist actually told me re: the night sweats to imagine a warm ocean wave washing over me---and, as i'm sure you know---that's not at all the way they feel---the 3rd time was due to cancer meds and lasted almost a year---i am oh so grateful that those days are behind me---sooooo flick just hang in there my dear and know that i'll be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers---and hoping that you find relief soon!!!!!!!!!

11-08-2006, 12:37 PM	#1
admin Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 28,249	Menopause - What Is Menopause? Plus Helpful Links Menopause - What Is Menopause? Plus Helpful Links -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Menopause - A New Beginning From Tracee Cornforth, What Is Menopause? Menopause needn't signal an end to your life. In some cultures menopause is seen as a time when older women can help support the younger women as they raise their children. The older women are revered for their wisdom and knowledge. Menopause is a time of freedom and renewal- if you have any children, they should be grown and you are free of the monthly hassle of menstruation. Menopause, the word, is a combination of two Greek words which mean month and terminate. Translated literally menopause means "the end of the monthlies." The average woman reaches menopause about the age of fifty- one, although it can vary from your thirties to your fifties. Certain factors such as the age your mother began menopause and environmental influences may play a key role in determining when you begin to experience the signs and symptoms of perimenopause. Perimenopause occurs for several years before actual menopause and sometimes precedes menopause by as many as fifteen years. Some changes that signal perimenopause include: * changes in your menstrual flow which may become heavier than normal or lighter than normal or irregular periods * Hot flashes and/or night sweats are common signs of perimenopause. * girl thingyl dryness. * Sleep problems. * Increased fat around the waist. * Up to 75 percent of women report being more fatigued and emotional changes of nervousness, depression, and mood swings may also be present. The Symptoms of Menopause Most women will go through several years of perimenopausal symptoms before their periods end. The most commonly known symptoms include hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes usually occur for at least one year and up to five years before cessation of menstruation; they can be a major annoyance, disrupting your sleep and daily life, or you may be lucky, and for you they might simply be a minor inconvenience. When you have a hot flash you may feel an increasing warmness, usually beginning in your chest and rising to your head; your skin may become warm and red causing you to sweat, sometimes, profusely. Hot flashes most commonly occur at night and can last from a few seconds up to an hour. They may occur up to ten times in one day and often begin before you notice any changes in your menstrual cycle. You may also begin to notice girl thingyl dryness which may be relieved using a girl thingyl lubricant or if it's a serious problem, your doctor can prescribe an estrogen cream. Never use petroleum jelly such as Vaseline as a girl thingyl lubricant. Petroleum jelly may causes damage to condoms and diaphragms, and increases your risk of girl thingyl infection. Other symptoms you may begin to notice are headaches and trouble sleeping. Trouble sleeping and fatigue during the day may be caused by night sweats which sometimes require your getting up and changing soaked sheets. You may also experience urinary incontinence, dry eyes, and difficulty concentrating, among other various symptoms. What Can I Do to Relieve My Menopausal Symptoms? Several options for reducing symptoms of menopause may be tried. Hormone Replacement Therapy is often started using estrogen and/or progestins. Natural remedies are often used including the use of natural progesterone derived from soy beans, Black Cohosh, or soy isoflavones. Other herbal remedies often used include ginseng and phytoestrogens. There are some risks associated with the use of HRT, including increased risk of cancer. Your risk of developing osteoporosis may be lowered by increasing your daily intake of calcium to 1500 mg per day. If you smoke cigarettes, quit and your risk of both osteoporosis and heart disease are significantly lowered. Eating a diet low in fat and cholesterol also greatly lowers your risk of post menopausal disease. Talk to your health care provider determine the best treatment for you. Exercise is known to help reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms and has the added benefit of significantly lowering your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer. Exercise also relieves stress, and often improves depression and anxiety symptoms. Routine exercise improves bone mass, as well. Exercise at least thirty minutes on at least three days of the week and you'll feel and be much healthier, and you'll have more energy than you thought possible. You should be aware of the changes before they happen so you'll know what's happening when you begin to experience the symptoms of menopause. As in everything, knowledge is half the battle. Good luck and remember... it's not the end of your life... it's just the beginning! More Info - http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/men...obeginning.htm

03-05-2009, 05:47 AM	#5
bluidkiti Friend Of Jesus Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 220	http://www.emedicinehealth.com/menopause/page3_em.htm Menopause Symptoms Hot flashes: Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. According to some studies, hot flashes occur in as many as 75% of perimenopausal women. Hot flash symptoms vary among women. Commonly, the hot flash may begin with a feeling of nausea or a headache, followed by a wave of heat, flushed skin, and palpitations (feeling a strong heartbeat). Hot flashes often increase skin temperature and pulse, and they often cause insomnia, or sleeplessness. Urinary incontinence and burning on urination Vag!nal changes: Because estrogen affects the vag!nal lining, perimenopausal women may also have pain during intercourse and may note a change in vag!inal discharge. Breast changes: Menopause may cause changes in the shape of the breasts. Thinning of the skin Bone loss: Rapid bone loss is common during the perimenopausal years. Most women reach their peak bone density when aged 25-30 years. After that, bone loss averages 0.13% per year. During perimenopause, bone loss accelerates to about a 3% loss per year. Later, it drops off to about a 2% loss per year. No pain is usually associated with bone loss. However, bone loss can cause osteoporosis, a condition that increases the risk of bone fractures. These fractures can be intensely painful and can interfere with daily life. They also can increase the risk of death. Cholesterol: Cholesterol profiles also change significantly at the time of menopause. Total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol increase. Increased LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Heart disease risk increases after menopause, although it is unclear exactly how much is due to aging and how much is caused by the hormonal changes that occur at the time of menopause. Women who undergo premature menopause or have their ovaries removed surgically at an early age are at an increased risk of heart disease. Weight gain: A 3-year study of healthy women nearing menopause found an average gain of 5 pounds during the 3 years. Hormonal changes and aging are both possible factors in this weight gain. __________________ "No matter what you have done up to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day." --Brian Tracy AA gives us an opportunity to recreate ourselves, with God's help, one day at a time. --Rufus K. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. --Franklin D. Roosevelt We stay sober and clean together - one day at a time! God says that each of us is worth loving. Recovery Support

03-05-2009, 06:19 AM	#6
annalittlebit Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scenery Hill, Pa Posts: 6,036	been there---done that Good info--thanks!!!!!!! __________________ Each and every morning I Thank God for my sobriety---I could never have done it without Him!!!

03-16-2009, 05:45 PM	#7
flick Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: "The Land Down Under" wheatbelt, West.Aust. Posts: 860	being there, doing that; agreed; great info, thank's!! __________________

03-17-2009, 06:52 AM	#8
annalittlebit Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scenery Hill, Pa Posts: 6,036	this too shall pass flick----sometimes quickly--sometimes slowly __________________ Each and every morning I Thank God for my sobriety---I could never have done it without Him!!!

11-08-2006, 12:41 PM	#2
admin Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 28,249	Some more helpful links on menopause http://www.niapublications.org/engag.../menopause.asp http://www.project-aware.org/Managin...enstrual.shtml http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/symptoms.shtml http://www.wisewomanhood.com/womensh...usalhealth.htm http://www.susanemead.com/premenopau...y-bleeding.htm http://www.healthboards.com/boards/a.../t-175364.html http://www.medicinenet.com/menopause/article.htm http://www.healthboards.com/boards/a....php/f-85.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/f...splay.php?f=85 Is the Heat On? Maybe you're having a Hot Flash! http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/...ead.php?t=6150 http://www.mymeditations.com/ar-menopause.html

11-08-2006, 12:42 PM	#4
admin Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 28,249	Menopause Message Board http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/ Hot and Cold Flashes http://www.power-surge.com/php/forum...showtopic=3429 Great reading about Hot Flashes: http://www.power-surge.com/headlines/hotflash.htm

03-17-2009, 07:00 PM	#9
flick Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: "The Land Down Under" wheatbelt, West.Aust. Posts: 860	Yes, true enough, knowing my luck it will be slowly!!! LOL, I always thought I'd be in for a tough time with pre-menopause, and so will anyone around me LOL....I've always been such a cow with pmt/pms, my doc recently put me on some new (to me) mood stabilisers and things have been much better all round, hoping it continues to be that way.....I don't deal with the hot flashes and night sweats so well, I also have suffered a great deal of fatigue....only for 2-3 days at a time but boy it wipes me out some. Anyway the past cple of weeks have been really good, so we'll wait n see. Am still feeding my little one so hormone replacement or assistance is not an option at this point in time. Thank's for your support __________________

03-18-2009, 08:13 AM	#10
annalittlebit Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scenery Hill, Pa Posts: 6,036	wow---i do recall only to well the night sweats and i actually went through that whole process 3 times---can you imagine----the 1st time was naturally and i was finally put on meds that relieved all of that---then, when i was diagnosed with BC they abruptly stopped my meds and all the fun began again---my oncologist actually told me re: the night sweats to imagine a warm ocean wave washing over me---and, as i'm sure you know---that's not at all the way they feel---the 3rd time was due to cancer meds and lasted almost a year---i am oh so grateful that those days are behind me---sooooo flick just hang in there my dear and know that i'll be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers---and hoping that you find relief soon!!!!!!!!! __________________ Each and every morning I Thank God for my sobriety---I could never have done it without Him!!!

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