What is Menopause?
Natural menopause is defined as the cessation of menses as a
result of the normal decline in ovarian function. With declining hormone levels,
women may experience a wide range of symptoms in varying degrees of severity, or
they may experience no symptoms at all. Some of the signs of menopause include,
but are not limited to: hot flashes, sweating, fatigue, nervousness,
irritability, dizziness, numbness, palpitations, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal
dryness and/or pain, nausea, gas, urinary incontinence, pain with urination,
constipation, diarrhea, joint pain and muscle pain. Although there are
similarities in what happens hormonally, each woman's experience can be very
different. Genetics may play a role in the timing, but lifestyle can certainly
influence a woman's experience of menopause. Many women find that the right
combination of herbs, exercise, nutritional support and natural alternatives
helps them to manage most of their symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms of
menopause, you are not alone.
What is estrogen's role in menopause?
Estrogen production from the ovary begins to decrease as a
woman enters perimenopause. It is estimated that estrogen levels drop to 40-60% of
pre-menopausal levels. Other tissues in the body, most notably the adrenals and
fat tissue, have the ability to produce estrogens. This accounts for some of the
variation in estrogen production post-menopausally. The decrease in estrogen has
been associated with a number of menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. These
include a change in cervical mucus causing vaginal dryness, thinning of the
vaginal walls and changes in the endometrial lining which plays a role in
irregular bleeding cycles. Although a decrease in estrogen has been associated
with hot flashes, the mechanism is not completely understood, as evidenced by
many women who supplement with estrogen but still suffer from hot flashes.
I have been going through menopause for 2 years, when will it
end?
The transition through menopause may last
anywhere from 6 months to 10 years, and is different for each individual,
although the average length of time is two years. Anything you can do to
optimize your health and keep stresses to a minimum can help you through this
transition. Many women find that the right combination of herbs, nutrients,
lifestyle changes and natural hormones can help them
manage most of the symptoms associated with menopause. Others find they may need
some medical intervention and pharmaceutical agents.
Is there a relationship between hair loss and
menopause?
The most common cause of hair loss is
low thyroid function, which is common among menopausal women. Other causes
include, but are not limited to the following: changes in hormone levels (a
significant decrease or increase), increased testosterone and other androgenic
hormones, a change in the balance between estrogen and androgenic hormones,
increased stress (physical or emotional), and heredity. Any time sudden hair
loss is experienced, one must consider events which took place up to three
months prior to the hair loss, as factors affecting hair loss can take up to
three months to have an effect. Subsequently, any treatments for hair loss
should be given at least three months to have noticeable effects.
How do I know if I might be at risk for getting
osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, like many
conditions, is associated with certain risk factors, which means that if your
health and circumstances match some of the criteria below, you would be
considered to have a higher risk for developing the disease relative to someone
who did not fit any of the criteria. This information was based on the
comparisons of groups of individuals who had osteoporosis with groups of
individuals who did not have osteoporosis. Having one or more of the risk
factors does not dictate that you would get osteoporosis, just as fitting none
of the criteria would not ensure that you did not get the disease. Risk factors
that have been established for osteoporosis include, but are not limited to, the
following:
Known risk factors:
- Being female
- Having a family history of osteoporosis (there exists a link between mother and daughter)
- Being Caucasian or Asian (individuals of these ethnic groups tend
to show lower bone density than African or Hispanic women)
- Having a small body frame
- Being post-menopausal
- Having a hysterectomy (total ' both ovaries and uterus)
- Having a history of absent or infrequent menses (amenorrhea)
- Having inadequate calcium intake
- Having inadequate exercise
- Being a smoker
- Having excessive alcohol consumption
- Having a history of long-term glucocorticoid therapy
- Having a history of long-term use of anticonvulsants, antacids, and diuretics
- Having a history of hyperthyroidism, thryotoxicosis, Cushing's disease, or type 1 diabetes
Possible Risk Factors
- Having excess protein in the diet (leading to a low systemic pH
level)
- Having a high caffeine intake (3 + cups or 150 - 300 mg/day leads
to an increase in urinary calcium, magnesium, and
sodium loss)
- Having a high phosphorous diet (notably soda pop and red meat)
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