Signs of Menopause
Filed under: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Symptoms of Menopause, menopause
The first signs of menopause can come for a woman as early as when she is in her 30’s. Because of the increased hormones in our foods and environment, women are going into the first stage of menopause, known as perimenopause, at a younger age than ever before.
Some of the most common signs of menopause are: irregular periods, weight gain, low libido, hair loss or unwanted hair, night sweats and insomnia. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms and some women may not even realize they are entering into menopause.
Menopause is not a disease, though it can certainly leave you feeling as if you are ill. It is a natural process of change for a womans body. But the early signs of menopause are indicators of hormonal imbalance that should be corrected in order for you to feel good again.
If you feel like you are the only woman in the world going through the discomfort of menopause, don’t worry. Millions of women around the world are experiencing symptoms just like yours.
Women frequently put huge demands on their bodies, causing stress on it that it was not designed to have to handle. Many women have demanding jobs. Then they come home for “second shift” to take care of their families….children who need to be fed and have homework they need help with, household chores that are neverending such as laundry and cleaning, tending to aging parents who can no longer handle all of their own affairs, and husbands with whom your relationship may be suffering. All these responsibilities add up and take quite a toll on a woman’s body when she does not give it the support that it needs.
Your body will not continue to function as it should if you ignore the signs of menopause and fail to take care of yourself. A balanced diet, exercise, plenty of water ( I constantly preach that you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water for optimum hydration), time for yourself to destress and avoiding excess caffeine and alcohol can help.
Creating a balance of the demands made of you and the support you give yourself is crucial and not doing so can contribute to signs of menopause.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to evaluate your signs of menopause and what you should do to help yourself:
1. What symptoms do you have?
2. Are they severe or mild?
3. Are you frequently under stress?
4. Do you get enough sleep?
5. Do you take prescription medicine or drink alcohol?
6. Do you eat right, drink an adequate amount of water and exercise?
A 30 minute walk everyday is a great way to get some enjoyable exercise and time to yourself to destress.
When your symptoms advance to the point that you are unable to manage them yourself, see a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for evaluation and treatment.
Comments
2 Comments on Signs of Menopause
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davidd on
Sun, 14th Feb 2010 9:23 pm
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Dr. Kathryn Retzler on
Mon, 21st Jun 2010 11:04 am
Great product to ask your HCP about. Be sure to ask how the improved delivery system is a true advantage over other competitors with the same number of estrogens available. Yes, it is plant derived.
Women of any age can experience hormone imbalance symptoms. With aging, however, many women experience symptoms due to declining estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone production. Perimenopause refers to the time of fluctuating hormone levels before periods stop, and can last anywhere from one to ten or more years before menopause. Menopause technically starts one year after a woman stops having periods.
The first step in balancing hormones is to treat the cause when possible. Besides aging, unmanaged stress, poor diet and lifestyle habits, and environmental toxicity can contribute to hormone imbalance symptoms.
Not all women choose to replace hormones after menopause. Often times, however, a woman suffers from such significant symptoms that bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) may be necessary. After symptoms resolve, some women choose to discontinue one or more hormones they take. Some women do decide to use BHRT long-term, to maintain energy and vitality of youth, as well as promote optimal aging.
It is your choice whether or not to replace deficient hormones, and supports you in becoming informed about risks, benefits, and treatment options. Yearly lab tests and office visits will enable you to review your current health, BHRT prescription, and new research that may impact your treatment.
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