Your Guide to Menopause
For many women, the natural end to their childbearing years is accompanied by great emotional and physical
suffering. Long-thought to be simply inevitable side effects of natural aging, the symptoms of menopause are actually treatable. Quality of life can be restored, as well as a sense of well being, for maturing women.
These twilight years in a woman’s life are typically reserved for the steady decrease of sexual activity and sexual enjoyment. Thought of as a young woman’s game, sex and sexual relationships were often ignored or allowed to diminish by older women because that was what was expected. We are changing the mindset of pre-menopausal and menopausal women, convincing them that the best years of their sexual lives are not behind them, but rather just beginning!
Symptoms
Menopause is the cessation of a woman's menstrual cycle, signaling the end of fertility. It is a natural biological process. Though it is not a medical illness, the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause can disrupt sleep, reduce energy and trigger feelings of sadness and loss.
Most menopausal women get to know the ‘Seven Dwarves of Menopause’: Itchy, Bitchy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful, and All Dried Up. There are also other possible Dwarves, AKA menopause symptoms, too.
High Occurrences | Med Occurrences | Low Occurrences |
Hot flashes Night sweats Loss of sexual desire Irregular periods Sleep disturbance Tiredness & chronic fatigue Vaginal dryness Mood swings
| Lack of focus Irritability Angry-Without-A-Reason Weight gain Osteoporosis or fragile bones Headaches Panic disorder Bloating Changes in body or vaginal odor Frequent depression Breast discomfort or pain
| Some hair loss Memory lapses Joint pain or discomfort Spontaneous dizziness Burning tongue Bladder incontinence Tingling extremities Muscle tension Gum problems Allergy Fragile or brittle nails Irregular heartbeat Electric shock sensation Itchy skin Anxiety attacks Digestive problems
|
With new scientific knowledge of herbs, these symptoms can be easily overcome. The real turmoil comes with NOT accepting age as it is traditionally thought of, but to create a new understanding of what it means to be a menopausal woman, a woman who is still very sexual and in need of attention. Don’t let your partner believe the tired hype and old opinions that a woman’s sexuality should be non-existent as her age increases.
Society tries to tell us that sex, or good sex, is only for the beautiful people. Well, in this day in age we are all the beautiful people. We all have a right to enjoyable intercourse regardless of age or sex. You have a right to treat yourself as good as possible, and take nothing for granted. If your man still enjoys sex, then you should, too.
Causes
Menopause begins naturally when the ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation. Over the course of potentially many years, periods will vary greatly; they may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and infrequent. Eventually, the ovaries shut down and menstruation ceases altogether.
Many women are initially upset by the loss of their period, as if it signals a ‘shriveling up’ phase in their lives. It is a time when a woman becomes old, and feels she has to start behaving a certain way. There are no more periods and no more worries of unwanted pregnancy. Of course, you still need protection from STD’s, but if you’re in a committed relationship or marriage and don’t have to worry about new partners, then menopause can bring about a whole new era of sexuality within the relationship. What better way to explore untapped sexual energy, then to do so almost carelessly? With a fresh perspective, the situation might not be so gloomy after all.
Sexual desire | Arousal | Orgasmic Response |
Birth Control Pills SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants Antipsychotics Digoxin Barbiturates Spironlactone Beta Blockers
| Birth Control Pills SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants Antihistamines Antihypertensives
| Birth Control Pills SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants Antipsychotics Narcotics Trazodone
|
Menopause is commonly divided into two stages
Perimenopause is the time you begin experiencing menopausal signs and symptoms, a period of four years or longer. Your hormone levels rise and fall unevenly, causing you to experience any number of symptoms, including irregular periods, decreased fertility, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, increased abdominal fat, thinning hair, and loss of breast fullness.
Once twelve months have passed since your last period, you've officially reached menopause. The years that follow are called postmenopause. During this time, your ovaries produce much less estrogen, no progesterone, and they stop releasing eggs.
The average age of onset is 40.
Menopause itself requires no medical treatment. Instead, treatments focus on relieving symptoms and preventing or lessening chronic conditions that may occur with aging. Isoflavones relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, hot flashes and night sweats. Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years as one of the best health tonics and restorative agents in treating general debility, exhaustion, stress-induced fatigue and insomnia and for rejuvenating muscles and marrow.
The average age of onset is 51
Natural Solutions
Haritaki is known in Ayurveda as an adaptogen and anti-aging agent and is a safe and effective purgative, expectorant and tonic. Licorice helps support the genitourinary tract and is a versatile medicine that soothes and tones the mucous membranes and relieves muscle spasms. Cinnamon supports uterine muscular fiber, making it useful for menopausal women. Arjuna has been used since ancient times as a tonic for both the heart and liver, promoting an increase in the HDL-to-total cholesterol ratio and an overall improvement in the cardiovascular profile.
Additionally, one should be careful to maintain a regular exercise regimen, avoid caffeine, optimize sleep, and eat a diet rich in whole foods while minimizing processed foods. Of course, quitting smoking would be of great benfit.