MENOPAUSE

1. What is menopause?
2. What is perimenopause?
3. What is postmenopause?
4. What are the symptoms of menopause?
5. What is hormone therapy (HT) for menopause?
6. Treatments other than postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) to ease the symptoms of menopause.
7. Practical things you can do to help deal with the symptoms of menopause.
8. How The Natural Human Can Help you.

What is menopause?

Menopause, a normal and natural event, is the end of menstruation. It is usually confirmed when you have not had a period for 12 months in a row (with other causes for this change ruled out). Menopause starts when your body's level of the hormone estrogen falls permanently to very low levels and your menstrual periods stop for good. Menopause is also known as "the change of life."

This change in your body usually doesn't happen all at once. There is a transition period before menopause called perimenopause, when your body starts making less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. During this time, you can have symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, and you may or may not have a period. These changes usually begin between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average at about age 51. A few women reach natural menopause as early as their 30s (which is called premature menopause) and as late as their 60s. Women who smoke or who used to smoke can reach menopause one to two years earlier than nonsmokers.

Many women wonder and worry about what will happen when they reach menopause, but in fact, it can be a positive experience! Even though some women have frustrating symptoms and health problems throughout perimenopause and after menopause, it is a chance for all women to focus more on themselves and make changes that will improve their health. The first step is to learn all you can about the physical and emotional changes that may be ahead of you.

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What is perimenopause?

It is the time leading up to menopause (when you have not had your period for twelve months). During perimenopause, your body starts making less of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and you begin to lose the ability to become pregnant.

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What is postmenopause?

The term postmenopause refers to all the years beyond menopause. It is the period past the time at which you have not had a period for 12 months in a row - whether your menopause was natural or induced.

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What are the symptoms of menopause?

Some women may have frustrating symptoms that start during perimenopause and continue once they have reached menopause. Hot flashes have become the hallmark symptom of menopause. Hot flashes are a feeling of sudden flush or warmth, often followed by sweating. They can cause serious discomfort and sleepless nights for some women.

Other symptoms that can start in perimenopause, but also might continue once you reach menopause include:

• night sweats (hot flashes that happen while you sleep)
• sleep problems
• mood changes (mood swings, depression, irritability)
• vaginal problems, including vaginal dryness and irritation that can cause pain during sex and pelvic exams, and frequent vaginal infections
• urinary problems, including burning or pain when urinating, or leaking when sneezing, coughing, or laughing
• problems with concentration or memory
• less interest in sex and changes in sexual response
• weight gain
• hair thinning or loss
• "spotting" and abnormal bleeding (although this is common in perimenopause, once you've reached menopause you should report any uterine bleeding to your HCP to rule out serious causes, such as cancer)

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What is hormone therapy (HT) for menopause?

Hormone therapy (HT) for menopause, formerly referred to as HRT, refers to the use of prescription drugs to "replace" the hormones that the ovaries stop making around the time of menopause. For many years, to relieve menopausal symptoms, health care providers prescribed what was called estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Because taking a medicine that just has estrogen raises the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer in the lining of the uterus), only women who do not have a uterus can take estrogen (ERT) alone safely. ERT usually is taken by pill or skin patch. Most of these hormones are chemicalized hormones.

Chemicalized hormones substitutes commonly prescribed to women have received nothing but negative press in the news over the past several years. This is because these chemicalized substitutes are different in chemical structure from the hormones that a female body produces. The difference aggravates imbalances existing with your own hormones.

The most popular chemicalized hormonal substitutes, which are drugs, are Premarin or some similar compound based on the estrogen found in the urine of a pregnant horse. Likewise, the widely prescribed "progestins" that are the subject of the medical reports and studies you hear about may have names sounding similar to your own progesterone. But progestins are drugs like Provera and they are not the same as your own progesterone.

Permarin, the widely used estrogen prescription, contains estrogens extracted from the urine of pregnant horses. It may come from a natural source but it is far from the same hormone you have in your body. It has different chemistry, and that difference is what makes it unnatural to humans. It contains a dozen estrogen compounds, only one of which is a replica of what we have in the human body while the others are foreign estrogens. Premarin is not an ideal solution for humans, though it might be fine for estrogen-deficient mares.

Everywhere there are media reports of the dangers of synthetic HRT (hormone replacement therapy), yet many postmenopausal women are not aware of natural hormone therapy or more accurately, 'bio-identical therapy' which is now offered as a safer choice. Because of the many dangers, many women's health experts are advising women who are on the synthetic HRT to switch to natural hormones.

'Bio-identical' indicates that this hormone is identical chemically and structurally to the hormone produced by the human body, and although they are associated with some potential risks and side effects, the risk is minimized. To clarify further: A molecule is extracted from either soy or yam, and through a series of chemical processes it is converted to the specific human hormone molecule. There is no trace of the plant in the final product, just pure bio-identical human hormone. Balancing the estrogens.

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Treatments other than postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) to ease the symptoms of menopause.

Some women decide not to take hormone therapy (HT) or estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) to relieve the symptoms of menopause, and turn to herbal products or to certain estrogen-like chemicals in plants (called phytoestrogens) for help. There are many over-the-counter and herbal products that claim to help women with menopausal symptoms, but there is limited, and sometimes conflicting, research on the safety and success of them. Discuss herbal products with your HCP before taking them. You also should tell your provider if you are taking any other medicines, since some of the herbal products can have harmful interactions with other drugs.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued these guidelines on the most popular herbal products for menopause:

• Soy and isoflavones (plant estrogens found in beans, particularly soybeans). High isoflavone intake (about 50 grams of soy protein per day) may be helpful in the short-term (2 years or less) to relieve hot flashes and night sweats. However, results from one recent study released in July 2003 found that isoflavone supplements (pills) made from red clover did not help women with hot flashes or other menopause symptoms. Another study of breast cancer survivors found that taking soy products did not help their hot flashes. But, taken over a long time, soy and isoflavones may have good effects on cholesterol and bones. Results from other recent studies show that, while eating foods with soy can be safe, taking very large amounts of soy and isoflavone supplements may be harmful to women who have had a type of breast cancer called estrogen-dependent breast cancer, and may be harmful to other women as well. These results leave open the question of whether soy products may protect women against breast cancer or add to its cause.
• St. John's wort. May be helpful in the short-term (2 years or less) to treat mild to moderate depression in women (when given in doses of less than 1.2 milligrams a day). A recent study showed it does not help severe depression. It also can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and may interfere with prescription antidepressants.
• Black cohosh. May be helpful in the short-term (6 months or less) to treat hot flashes and night sweats. It seems to be safe, but studies have been small and brief, with none longer than six months.
• Chasteberry (also known as monk's pepper, Indian spice, sage tree hemp, and tree wild pepper). There are very few studies on the use of this in menopausal women. A study of women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) who used it found it helped them with symptoms such as anger, headache, and breast fullness, but not bloating and other symptoms.
• Evening primrose. Although some women take evening primrose for breast pain, bladder symptoms, and menopausal symptoms, there is little or no proof that it works. One study on hot flashes found that taking evening primrose was no better than taking placebo (a sugar pill).
• Dong quai. A study that looked at dong quai's effect on hot flashes found that it was no better than placebo (sugar pill) -although the 4.5-gram dose used in the study was lower than that typically given in Chinese medicine. This herb can be toxic (poison) because it contains compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding. It also can make the skin more sensitive to sun and increase your risk of skin cancer.
• Valerian root. This has traditionally been used as a sleeping aid. But the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which sets manufacturing standards for medicines, does not support its use. There also have been reports of heart problems and delirium (severe confusion) linked to suddenly stopping its use.
• Ginseng. Most of the labels on ginseng products (including Siberian, Korean, and American, white and red) say they relieve stress and boost immunity (the body's response to fight illness). A study of menopausal women by the leading maker of ginseng found the product did not relieve hot flashes, but did improve women's sense of well-being. But, there have been many reports of problems with ginseng products. For instance, some ginseng products had little or no ginseng in them. Others contained large amounts of caffeine. Some products even contained pesticides or lead.
• Wild and Mexican yam. There are no published reports that show wild and Mexican yam cream helps menopausal symptoms.

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Practical things you can do to help deal with the symptoms of menopause.

There are things you can do to help relieve some menopausal symptoms

• Hot Flashes. Specific things can bring on hot flashes: a hot environment; eating or drinking hot or spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine; and stress. You can try to decrease hot flashes by avoiding these triggers. Dress in layers and keep a fan in your home or workplace. Some women find that regular exercise brings relief from hot flashes and other symptoms.
• Vaginal Dryness. You can help vaginal dryness and irritation by using an over-the-counter vaginal lubricant. There are also prescription estrogen replacement creams that your HCP may recommend to help relieve vaginal dryness and painful sex. If you have spotting or bleeding while using estrogen creams, you should see your HCP.
• Difficulty Sleeping. One of the best ways to get a good night's sleep is to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. But, avoid vigorous exercise too close to bedtime. Also avoid alcohol, caffeine, large meals, and working right before bedtime. Many women find they sleep better after drinking something warm, such as herb tea or warm milk. Try to keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature. Also avoid napping during the day and try to go to bed and get up at the same times every day.

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How The Natural Human Can Help you.

The Natural Human recommends that all females maintain their annual GYN check ups. Women over the age of 40 should have mammograms and bone scans annually as well.

If you are currently taking chemicalized hormones prescribed by your physician, ask to be switched to a natural hormone program. We recommend "Natural Hormone Replacement for Women" by Uzzi Reiss to help educate you on menopause and how to approach your physician. If you have any question, TNH will be happy to help you in your quest. The Natural Human works with Physicians and specializes in filling natural hormone prescriptions for clients. For more information call toll free at 877-309-1122.

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