All about menopause

Menopause and Climacteric

Definition. Menopause refers to final cessation of menstruation while climacteric means the period at which the woman gradually changes from the reproductive life into one of senescence. Meno­pause is also referred by the laity as 'the change of life'. However both the terms are often synonymously used, menopause being the popular term used. These are physiological processes due to cessa­tion of ovarian follicular function.

Aetiology. Menopause occurs as result of exhaustion of eggs from ovarian follicles and Consequent oestrogen deprivation.

Clinical Features of Menopause and climacteric

Menstrual Symptoms. This occurs in forms of (a) progressive scanty menstrual loss followed by cessation of menses, (b) menses at prolonged intervals finally ceasing, (c) sudden cessation of menses. Prior to menopause menstrual cycles become anovulatory. Any excessive menstrual loss or irregular haemorrhage is not menopausal as in commonly believed by lay public but is due to some pelvic pathology.

Other symptoms. Most women remain asymptomatic. They adapt nicely the physiological changes of menopause. Some may have mild symptoms of putting on weight, joint pains, increase of sex desire followed by its gradual decrease.

Signs. The following signs appear gradually in a normal woman in the menopausal period and thereafter.

1. General signs. Increase in weight, deposition of fat on the hip, buttocks, around breasts. Breasts are examined.

2. Genital signs.

Vulva.Progressive atrophy with scanty hair with narrowing of the vaginal introitus.

Vagina. This becomes narrow with 'tenting' of vaginal vault,, thinning of mucous membrane and 18ss of rugae.

Cervix. Portio vaginalis atrophies and gets flushed with vaginal vault.

Uterus. Body is felt small and hard.

Adnexae.Ovaries become impalpable.

Diagnosis. This can be made from clinical features aided by atrophic vaginal smear and elevated serum FSH level of 50 mIU/ml and above. Elevated plasma LH level is less helpful. Urinary or serum oestrogen level shows value similar to follicular phase and thus less reliable for diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis.Stoppage of menses due to menopause may be simulated by that due to pseudocyesis or pregnancy.

Treatment. Psychotherapy. Explanations for the condition and reassurances are to be given to the woman passing through climacteric when seeking advice for cessation of menses. Improvement of health by dietetic adjustment, adequate rest and exercise and regular evacuation of bowel are to be ensured. For sleep disturbance, diazepam (Valium) 5 mg. or Lorazepam 1 or 2 mg. is taken orally at bed time.

Menopausal or Climacteric Syndrome

Menopausal Syndrome refers to group of symptoms that are experienced by some women during climacteric. Hot flushes (vasomotor instability symptom) that last for one year in 80% are characteristic of menopausal syndrome. It diminishes of its own by 3‑4 years. The cause of hot flush is unclear ‑ but follows oestrogen withdrawal in women with poor vascular control. Rise of hypothalamic endorphin is implicated. It is experienced by, 25% women with psychological background, particularly following oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation at younger age.

Flush depends on rate of oestrogen loss and extragonadal oestrone formation. The body gradually adjusts itself to natural decline of oestrogen and flushes gradually pass off.

Symptoms.These appear as follows: vasomotor and other symptoms usually follow but even precede cessation of menses.

1. Menstrual. Menses stop as already described under menopause. A proportion of premenopausal women come with emotional symptoms, loss of libido and dry vagina during intercourse, Hot flushes and sweats are complained with scanty and delayed menses by some women.

2. Vasomotor. 'Hot flushes' (feeling of warmth) due to cutaneous vasodilatation are commonly experienced by these, women on the face and neck spreading all over the body; this feeling of heat may be followed by sweating. They may come once a day but sometimes every hour; they come particularly at night. These are characteristic manifestations of menopausal syndrome.

3. Emotional. This is manifested by headache, irritability, sleeplessness, giddiness, fatigue, depression, palpitation. There may be sensations of 'pins and needles' in the sole and palm. Disturbed sleep can be due to hot flushes and sweats.

4. Sexual. These are decreased libido and dyspareunia due to atrophic vaginitis and lack of vaginal lubrication during intercourse.

5. Musculoskeletal. These appear as backache, pain in joints due to laxity of ligaments and muscles.

Signs. These are same as described under menopause.

Diagnosis. This has been already described under menopause.

Differential Diagnosis. Pseudocyesis of spurious pregnancy may be mistaken by the patient for menopausal syndrome. In the former, amenorrhoea, enlargement of breasts and abdomen due to deposition of fat like that in pregnancy occur; there is also the false feeling of foetal movements due to flatulent dyspepsia. The patient should be assured that her symptoms are menopausal. In all these cases, pregnancy may also occur and should be carefully excluded by thorough examination, immunological urinary pregnancy test and pelvic ultrasound.

Premature Menopause

Definition. Menopause coming on a patient below 35 years is called premature menopause. Cause. Poor stock of ovarian follicles gets exhausted. Clinical Features, Symptoms, Secondary amenorrhoea for more than 6 months. In some hot flushes, mood instability, disturbed sleep, loss of libido, (menopausal syndrome). draying of hair. Signs. Atrophic vaginal epithelism, normal or small sized uterus. Investigations. Raised serum FSH above 50 mIU/ml.; ovarian biopsy showing no ovarian follicles is not done. Treatment Assurance, diazepam for poor sleep. Oestrogen therapy for menopausal syndrome are given. Menstruation can not be brought on hormone therapy.

Male Climacteric. About 10 per cent men experience climacteric symptoms at a later age than women due to androgen deprivation. The rest 90 per cent gradually adapt themselves without symptoms.

After menopause there are chronic conditions that tend to appear in women. Declining estrogen levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. To combat this potential, women should stop smoking, reduce their blood pressure, exercise regularly, and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains but low in saturated fats.

Menopause manifests at different times and in different ways for individual women. Some are lucky enough to get through the experience with no significant problems but for others, menopause disrupts both their lives and their interpersonal relationships.

As part of the aging process the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone. This decrease signals the beginning of the end of a women's reproductive years. Eventually the menstrual periods stop and it is no longer possible for a woman to become pregnant. Normally this transition progresses in two stages.

In this stage women begin to experience the symptoms of menopause even though they are still experiencing ovulation and having menstrual periods. In this phase hot flashes and irregular periods begin to occur but it may be four to five years before full menopause sets in.

When twelve months have passed with no menstrual periods occurring, a woman has reached full menopause. The ovaries produce significantly less estrogen and progesterone and no longer release eggs; consequently pregnancy is no longer possible.

Menopause symptoms are part of a natural biological process experienced by all women as their child-bearing years come to an end. The transition can begin as early as the 30s and last even into the 60s.

The symptoms of menopause are not an illness, just a natural consequence of aging. All women experience "the change" in different ways. Some will have no symptoms or only mild issues while others will battle a range of annoying alterations in their body like hot flashes or mood swings than can negatively affect their daily lives.

Best Guide For Preventing Menstrual Problems

Most women suffer some type of menstrual problem, whether it is cramps, heavy bleeding or irregular bleeding. However prolonged menstruation problems or severe menstruation problems can signify a menstrual disorder.

Early menstruation problems may just be the body getting into the rhythm of the menstruation cycle, but it is always worth while consulting a doctor about them as they may be a sign of some significant problem.

Types of Menstrual Disorders

There is a number of different menstrual disorders, from the short minor menstrual problems to the more prolonged menstruation problems to serious illnesses. This list of menstrual disorders will help you identify different menstrual cycle disorders of varying degrees.

Dysmenorrhea is the name for painful menstrual cramps. There are two types of dysmenorrheal, primary dysmenorrheal and secondary dysmenorrheal. Primary dysmenorrheal is period pain that is not due to secondary dysmenorrhea. Secondary dysmenorrheal is pain that occurs as a result of excess prostaglandins, excessive uterine contractions or any other disease.

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual periods. There are two types of amenorrhea, primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is the condition where a woman has never had a period. Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual periods for at least six months. Secondary amenorrhea is often due to pregnancy.

Menorrhagia is excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Menorrhagia is also known as hypermenorrhea. Menorrhagia does not refer to normal heavy menstrual bleeding. It only refers to very heavy bleeding or bleeding that lasts longer than seven days. Menorrhagia can also be accompanied by menstrual bleeding that includes large blood clots. It is most frequently caused by a hormonal imbalance or uterine fibroids.

Endometrial cancer is cancer of the lining of the uterus. Usually, endometrial cancer is accompanied by unusual bleeding from the vagina. It is a serious illness, but can usually be treated successfully if it is caught early enough. It is most common is women over 50 years old or in women who have had high levels of estrogen.

Fibroids are growths in the muscular wall of the uterus. They come in varying sizes and can be tiny or large. Some women do not have any symptoms with fibroids. Other women can experience heavy bleeding and longer periods than usual. Fibroids can also cause pain in the lower pelvic area, pain during sexual intercourse, a constant need to urinate, pressure in the bowel and constipation. Women who are aged over 35 or who have had multiple pregnancies are at a greater risk of fibroids.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (or PID) is an infection that occurs in some part of the female reproductive organs. One of the symptoms of PID is a foul-smelling discharge from the vagina. It may also be accompanied by irregular menstrual periods or pain during sex. The most common cause for PID is by coming into contact with a sexually transmitted disease. PID is a serious illness that may damage the fallopian tubes and prevent future pregnancies.

Premenstrual syndrome is the name of the symptoms that may occur from seven to fourteen days before the period, sometimes continuing for some time after the period begins. Many women feel like degree of premenstrual syndrome. However, some women can have very severe pain or emotional problems during this stage of the menstruation cycle.

For the most part women are simply adequately attuned to their bodies to know when signs of menopause begin to appear. If irregular periods or hot flashes get out of hand, talk to your doctor to calm your concerns and to investigate some of the therapies available to alleviate the extremes of your symptoms.

For centuries women have turned to herbs for menopause-related symptoms. The menopause herbs available today are often based on tried and true therapies dating back to ancient natural treatment philosophies. For instance in the system of Chinese herbs, menopause has long been addressed with the use of Dong Quai whereas Black Cohosh is a Native American remedy.

Do Herbs help in Alleviating the Symptoms of Menopause?

A number of natural remedies such as Black Cohosh, Chaste Tree Berry, and Evening Primrose Oil are prescribed for menopausal symptoms by physicians in Europe more often than prescription hormone replacement therapies. While American scientists complain that the efficacy of these treatments is unproven, thousands of women are ready to offer anecdotal testimony of their usefulness.

While all herbs will not work for all women, it is certainly worth a woman's time to try the various remedies before turning to medically conventional hormone replacement medications that are increasingly linked to a range of side effects and to cancer. In addition, while not free, menopause herbs are significantly less expensive than prescription therapies.

What are the Top Menopause Herbs?

With increasing concerns over the danger of cancer raised by prescription hormone replacement therapies, more women are turning to natural remedies to alleviate the symptoms of "the change" and to ride out menopause without resorting to dangerous chemical preparations. In surveying the range of available herbs, menopause symptoms respond best to those listed below.

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh, a perennial member of the buttercup family native to North America is considered to be one of the top herbs for menopause. It will relieve hot flashes, night sweats, and mild mood changes. Although its mechanism of action is not completely understood, it does not cause increased menstrual bleeding and does not illustrate estrogen binding or estrogen-like activities as once believed. Although dosage varies according to formulation a common strength would be 20 mg taken twice daily. Some women experience gastric discomfort, but in general side effects with Black Cohosh are rare. If you have high blood pressure, consult your physician before beginning to use this herb.

Soy

On studies conducted with Asian women whose diets contain 40 to 80mg of soy isoflavones per day as compared to only 3 for American women, the Asian women were found to exhibit fewer symptoms of menopause. Introducing more soy into the diet over a period of four to twelve weeks should improve instances of hot flashes. There is no set dosage and use is guided by gastric tolerance. Allow sufficient time to pass before evaluating the efficacy of soy in alleviating your symptoms.

Dong Quai

The Chinese herb Dong Quai has been used for thousands of years to lessen menstrual cramps and to treat the symptoms of menopause. It is particularly good to regularize menstrual flow, which becomes erratic with the onset of perimenopausal symptoms. Typically Dong Quai is taken in doses of 300 to 500mg two to three times a day. In cases of hypersensitivity to Dong Quai menstrual bleeding can increase and a fever may be present. Discontinue use of the herb if these symptoms appear. If you are taking a blood thinner, do not begin using Dong Quai without first consulting your physician.

Wild Yam

Wild Yam is an herb used topically as a natural form of progesterone. Not only does the use reportedly ease the hormonal fluctuations which plague menopausal women, wild yam also eases the pain of endometriosis and can shrink the fibroid cysts that often appear in women at this stage of their lives. There are no known drug interactions or side effects and the cream is usually rubbed on the abdomen or thighs. Make sure the product you are using contains 400mg of USP-grade natural progesterone per ounce. Most manufacturers package the cream with some method for measuring dosage, for instance a metered pump to dispense the correct amount.

As women begin to enter menopause, weight loss becomes increasingly difficult to achieve. Menopause weight gain is but one of the many symptoms that plague women during this transitional phase of their lives as their child bearing years draw to a close with the cessation of their menstrual cycles.

Still, it is a small comfort to women fighting the "battle of the bulge" to say that weight gain in menopause is a normal part of the aging process.

When a woman's body begins to produce less and less estrogen and the reproductive system starts to shut down, the body experiences a period of transition during which changing levels of hormones create a host of symptoms. These may manifest as hot flashes, heart palpitations, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, poor concentration, vaginal dryness, urinary urgency, erratic periods, and weight gain.

How Can I Stop the Added Pounds of Menopause?

After entering menopause, weight loss should not be attempted through crash dieting. If you deprive yourself of too many calories your body goes into starvation mode. Choose a varied diet low in fat and high in fiber from fruits and vegetables. Given the fact that your metabolism has slowed down as a consequence of the natural aging process, you need to cut anywhere from 200 to 400 calories a day out of your daily intake of food.

Can natural remedies help get you through “the change of life”? Some women are lucky and seem to go through the menopause relatively easy with very little interference to their daily lives. However many are unfortunate and find this time of their life particularly hard to deal with and many problems can occur during the transition, changing their life drastically.

While doctors can terminate a lot to help women who suffer greatly during the menopause, there is an alternative, using natural remedies. Looking around you will find a whole host of products which claim to help during the ” change of life “, however how well they stress isn’t altogether know as herbal remedies are not regulated as are traditional drugs. Also, herbal remedies ofttimes only struggle after a long period of time. However, they are traditionally much more market price effective treatments than prescription medication and are much gentler on your system.

Herbal remedies are authentic popular among women going through the change and many claim that they do see a big difference. The most popular forms of remedies are Soy and Soy products; this is due to the high concentrations of phytoestrogens that they contain. It is and believed that there work in a very similar way to HRT.

Learned is no one particular remedy that’s works for all women as everyone has different emotions and symptoms when going through the menopause. There are all in one combinations specifically aimed at treating the menopause or you can take several herbal remedies for the symptoms which bother you the most. The most popular remedies for menopause The American college of obstetricians recently gave these guidelines for some of the most popular alternative remedies for helping with the menopause.

St. Johns wort has widely been used for the treatment of depression; it can be useful over the short term to help with mild to moderate depression, but should exclusive be taken for a period of not longer than two years. However, if you are taking anti - depressants prescribed by your doctor then St. Johns wort may not be suitable to be taking at the same time. Soy and Isoflavones Over the short - term period, not longer than two years, this remedy may be helpful in reducing the amount of hot flashes than some women suffer.

Interval safe to take in small amounts of around 50 grams per day, it should not be biased in larger amounts over any period of duration - particularly by women who have a history of estrogen dependant breast cancer.

Evening primrose is often taken to help relieve painful breasts and other symptoms of menopause; however in recent tests conducted there was no proof found that it just did help to relieve molecule of the symptoms associated with menopause.

Ginseng is often used to relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety and give the immune system a boost. While the product doesn’t seem to relieve many symptoms associated with the menopause it did, in recent tests, appear to help with a general overall sense of wellbeing.

Goldenseal, Latin name Hydrastis canadensis, is one of the most popular herbs used in herbal remedies today. Goldenseal has traditionally operated as a traditional healing herb of Native Americans, but it has entered the European herbal cabinet with of late.

Traditionally, the Cherokee used goldenseal as an herbal treatment for indigestion, local inflammations, and to improve appetite. The Iroquois used Goldenseal to treat heart problems, liver disorders, whooping cough and to treat fevers.

Goldenseal reached European shores by 1760. During the nineteenth century, Goldenseal had become a popular favorite with practitioners of the Eclectic and Thomsonian schools of medicine. In 1926, Goldenseal was included in the list of United States medicinal ingredients in the Pharmacopoeia.

The character of Goldenseal has alternately been described as bitter, dry, astringent, and cold. The plants constituents are described as resins, volatile oils, and alkaloids. Herbalists traditionally describe the actions of Goldenseal as astringent, a digestive and bile stimulant, a tonic, and a laxative. Goldenseal has also been used to reduce phlegm, to heal gastric mucous membranes, and to raise blood pressure.

The part of the Goldenseal plant that is most commonly used is the rhizome. The rhizome is traditionally harvested in the fall, and it is the main ingredient in many herbal remedies. Many traditional herbalists recommend the rhizome of the Goldenseal plant as an excellent drying and mucus-reducing remedy that works well for the gastric, upper respiratory tract. It is also used for the vaginal mucous membranes. The rhizome of the Goldenseal plant is also used to treat conditions involving the spastic colon (mucous colitis), nasal inflammations, and ear infections.

In essence, Goldenseal is very much an herbal remedy for ear, nose and throat problems. But it has many other applications as well. The Goldenseal plant is often used as an herbal remedy to treat gynecological problems. It can help reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms, and it has been known to ease the pain associated with premenstrual symptoms, especially symptoms linked to stagnation. The rhizome of the Goldenseal plant can often be found in commercial herbal remedies as a tonic.

Even though Goldenseal has proven itself to be a very effective healing herb, there are some cautions you use take when ingesting herbal remedies that feature Goldenseal as one of its main ingredients. For instance, Goldenseal is well known as a powerful uterine stimulant, so its use should be avoided women who are pregnant. Goldenseal is also well known as a hypertensive, so it should be avoided in known cases of high blood pressure.

Also, you should not use herbal remedies containing Goldenseal for an ear infection if you know that there is a risk that an eardrum is perforated. Another caveat: avoid ingesting fresh Goldenseal plant. Eating fresh Golden seal plant has been known to cause ulceration of the mucous membranes. It is a very potent plant. Also, if you suffer from digestive complaints, many herbalists recommend that you take barberry for these types of complaints because Goldenseal has recently become endangered in the wild.

Physiological Changes in Climacteric or Menopause and Post‑menopausal age.

Genital. Progressive atrophy of genital organs occurs with more and more deposition of fibrous tissue in them.

Ovary. They go small (5 gm. each), fibrotic with furrowed surface, Follicles get exhausted. Ovarian Vessels become sclerosed. Cortical stromal hyperplasia is a frequent finding due to high LH level in women aged 40­46 years. Ovarian stroma becomes a source of small amount of androgens.

Fallopian tubes shrink with diminished mortility.

Uterus becomes small and fibrotic due to atrophy of muscle. Endometrium becomes thin and atrophic (senile). In some women, endometrial. hyperplasia may occur after menopause as a result of constant oestrone stimulation. Cervix atrophies and flushes with the vaginal vault. Cervical secretion becomes scant, thick and later 4isappears. The vaginal epithelium atrophies with loss of rugosity. Vaginal smear shows atrophic changes. Vagina contracts with shallowness of the fornices. Vulva gradually atrophies with narrowing of the introitus : pelvic cellular tissue becomes gradually lax.

Secondary sex characteristics. Breasts show gradual atrophy of the glandular tissue resulting in flabbynes. These become pendulous due to deposition of fat around. Pubic and axillary hair becomes sparse.

Physical. Body weight decreases after 65 years. There is decrease in cell mass of organs. Skin wrinkles, becomes less elastic with hair appearing on face. Subcutaneous fat deposition. occurs on the hip and thighs. Height diminishes postraenopausally after 65 years. Kyphosis may develop due to spinal osteoporosis.

Metabolic. Osteoporosis occurs as a result of oestrogen deprivation. Reduction in trabecular bone (collagen matrix) (Osteoblasts) and Calcium leads to oestrogen deprived Osteoporosis. Premenopausally woman is protected against ischaernic heart disease due to high HDL and low LDL cholesterol. The latter rises postmenopause, thus incidence of ischaernic heart disease also rises. Premature menopause natural or by oophorectomy suffers from increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (cardiac and cerebral stroke) and osteoporosis.

Digestive. Hypochlorhydria develops. Motor activity of entire alimentary tract diminishes resulting in dyspepsia and constipation in postmenopausal women. Bladder and urethral epithelia atrophy.

Psychosexual. Emotional upsets are common. At menopause sex urge may increase. After 60 years, sex urge wanes as an aging process.

Endocrinal. There is gonadal failure at menopause. Plasma Oestradiol level falls, oestrone remains normal, ovarian stroma however, produces andostenedione. Extraglandular conversion of androstenedione to oestrone occurs in fatty tissue. Postmenopausally, adrenal cortex becomes the source of oestrone derived from androstenedione. Oestrone becomes the predominating oestrogen after menopause. Postmenopausal daily oestrone formation has been estimated as 15‑100 gg/day (Mac Donald et al, 1973) and serum level at 30‑70 pg/ml. Progesterone secretion ceases from the ovary due to failure of ovulation. Total urinary oestrogen level falls to about 6 Pg1 24 hours at the postmenopausal period. Androstenedione level mostly from adrenal cortex, little . from ovary comes to one half that seen prior to menopause. Testosterone level does not appreciably fall because postmenopause ovary secretes more testosterone.

Pituitary gonadotrophins. FHS and LH are secreted in increasing amount due to the absence of negative feed back control by the ovarian steroids. LH ovulatory surge disappears, the mean basal serum menopausal gonadotrophin levels are in the range of 50‑150 rn LU/ml FSH and 50‑100 m IU/ml LH. FSH level is 15 times higher than premenopausal level by 3‑5 years after menopause while LH level is increased 3 fold. Prolactin level falls.

Timing. The process of climacteric may gradually start 2‑3 years before menopause but may continue 2‑5 years after it. The age at which menopause occurs varies widely from 40 to 55 years with mean age of about 47 years. Genetic makeup, race and climate influence age of menopause. Women of tropics get earlier menopause than those in colder climate. Some believe that the early the menarche starts, the later would be the menopause while late coming of the menarche is associated with early menopause. Early or delayed menopause is considered when menopause happens before 35 years or after 55 years respectively. Early menopause may be due to ovarian failure, oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation.

Delayed menopause is usually due to some pelvic pathology like uterine fibroid or in association with disease e.g., diabetes mellitus.

Are vitamin for menopause treatments effective? Menopause is the transitional period in a women’s life where fertility functions begin to shut down and with it come a host of symptoms which in many cases, catch people off guard. So how important are vitamins in the treatment of menopausal symptoms?

The most common treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). One of the biggest anomalies with this is that women will normally be offered HRT if they are exhibiting symptoms however, in many cases, these symptoms may not be menopause related at all but attributed to other health conditions. In other words, they are aging related.

Vitamins For A Healthy Body

Being prepared for the onset of menopause doesn’t mean you need to stand behind a barricade and keep a lookout for it. Keeping your body healthy and ready to manage this natural occurring process is important. Good vitamin intake in association with a balanced diet means you are giving yourself every chance to adjust to menopause when it “arrives.” So a vitamin for menopause treatment should be a strongly considered option.

One of the biggest benefits of vitamin supplements is their role in maintaing a healthy bone structure. Recent studies conclude that bone formation can be impaired without adequate levels of vitamin K. Estrogen levels drop during early menopause and findings suggest that vitamin K function is diminished even before bone loss occurs. So in actual fact, the suggestion is that the accepted level of this vitamin is not adequate enough during the initial phase of menopause. Vitamin K has been the subject of a host of studies in relation to menopause and may not yet be completely understood.

Benefits Of Vitamins For Menopause

What is understood though is the function of vitamins such as B, C and E. Vitamin B has long been known as an active combatant against symptoms of stress and reduced energy levels. A good B complex can aid in the recovery from energy depletion and other related symptoms.

Vitamin E has “scored many bouquets” for having an effect on the incidence of hot flushes. It has also been found useful in aiding vaginal dryness, a common complaint of menopause. Vitamin E has a further multiplication benefit when taken in conjuction with some mineral nutrients.

The benefits of vitamin C have long been known, particularly in the area of treatment for illnesses such as colds and flus however, it has also been effective in reducing incidence of hot flushes in menopausal women as well as having the ability to promote elasticity in the skin. This has a added benefits in both preventing and also treating vaginal dryness.

Maintaining a healthy disposition long before menopause is even a factor can only be helpful in transitioning this natural stage of life. A vitamin for menopause treatment should be a strong option and one you should discuss with your health physician. There are many vitamin products on the market today and they are not all created equal. You may have to probe deeper than just settling for those you see on the supermarket shelves and perhaps consider products not available in the mainstream shopping arena.

Vaginal Dryness Can Happen During Menopause - 6 Secrets to Relieve it

Many women feel vaginal dryness during menopause due to the thinning of the mucus membranes and the loss of elasticity in the walls of the vagina. The reduction in the production of estrogen in the ovaries may cause the thinning of the vaginal lining. This, in itself, does not cause any problems, unless the lining of the vagina becomes inflamed and dry; then it is painful.

• · Start with drinking 2 liters of water and herbal tea every day.
• · Consumption of soybean stimulates estrogen production, leading to elimination of vaginal dryness in many women.
• · Adding canola, olive, sunflower, or soybean oil to your diet will add lubrication to your body.
• · Doctors suggest applying intra-vaginally, natural progesterone cream once a day.
• · In doses of 200 IU at a time, take 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin E daily. Vitamin E is contra-indicated for hypertension, diabetes or a rheumatic heart. You will need to consult your doctor.

One effective way of easing vaginal dryness is to insert a Vitamin E capsule intra-vaginally.

Yoga for Menopause and Beyond -- Restorative Poses for Men and Women at Midlife and Older

Following are the key poses for balancing your hormones, relieving hot flashes, supporting pelvic health and replenishing your energy reserves during the years known as perimenopause. These same poses are essential for coping with the physical and emotional challenges of the postmenopausal years. Restorative poses are vital for healthy aging, for both men and women.

The Power of Aromatherapy on Menopause

Aromatherapy is typically associated with complementary and alternative medicine. It uses essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.

• · Finding the right diet, eliminating sugar and caffeine
• · Getting the right kind of sleep
• · Performing stress relief practices such as meditation
• · Drinking plenty of water (at least 64 oz per day)
• · Taking high-grade nutritional supplements
• · Possibly supplementing bioidentical hormones
• · Regular exercise, and
• · Adopting some complementary therapies such as yoga, tai chi, spa therapy or holistic aromatherapy