pmonon asked:


Is it true that contraceptive pills can belate menopause? As they say there are a fixed number of eggs in the ovaries, when all the eggs are released from ovaries menopause occurs. Pills prevent release of new eggs so they slows down the process?

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Kathryn Whittaker asked:


There are plenty of alternative treatments such as biofeedback and medical treatments, such as hormone therapy that can help a woman cope with her menopause symptoms.However, despite the available treatments, some women don’t only worry about the symptoms of menopause; they worry about entering menopause too early.

What is considered early menopause? Early menopause is characterized by not having your period cycle for 12 consecutive months prior to being 45 years of age. Aside from early menopause there is also premature menopause which occurs before age 40, and is commonly known as premature ovarian failure (POF) if it occurs naturally. POF simply means that a woman’s ovaries are malfunctioning and prematurely shutting down in her 20’s, and 30’s, decades before they naturally should.

What is the cause of early menopause? Early menopause can occur for a number of reasons, some of which include:

?Autoimmune disorders – It is estimated that 2/3 of women who suffer from POF have autoimmune disorders; a medical condition characterized by the body’s immune system malfunctioning and attacking itself. In the case of POF, the autoimmune disorder eventually results in the destruction of ovarian function.

?Chromosomal Irregularity – This is a hereditary condition in which a woman has a defective X chromosome. In short, if one of a woman’s two X chromosomes is defective, it can interfere with egg production which can result in early menopause.

?Total hysterectomy or Oophorectomy – When the ovaries and uterus are surgically removed (total hysterectomy), or when only the ovaries are removed (oophorectomy) a woman is put into menopause, regardless of her age.

?Chemotherapy or radiation – Certain types of chemo and radiation treatments for cancer can damage the ovaries and put a woman in menopause right away.

Other reasons why a woman may experience early or premature menopause include:

? Ovarian damage that results from surgery

? Viral infections

? Hyperprolactinemia (Overproduction of prolactin causes amennorhea – cessation of periods)

? Thyroid disease

? Polycystic ovarian syndrome (characterized by skipped or missed period cycles)

? Cushings disease (characterized by overactive adrenal glands and can result in amenorrhea)

? Family history

The following are the signs and symptoms of perimenopause (stage before menopause occurs) to watch for -

? Irregular periods (Skipped periods or change in duration or frequency)

? Infertility

? Vaginal dryness

? Hot flashes

? Breast tenderness

? Stress incontinence (bladder control issues)

? Restless sleep and/or insomnia

? Headaches

? Gastrointestinal upset (constipation, diarrhea, nausea, bloating etc.)

? Tingly or itchy skin

? Thinning of hair or hair loss

? Weight gain

? Dizziness or lightheadedness

? Moodiness

? Anxiety

? Irritability

? Low sex drive

? Mental fogginess

? Depression

? Extreme fatigue

? Emotional detachment

? Lack of concentration

How can you determine if you are experiencing early menopause? If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or others that are not listed and you suspect you may be experiencing pre-menopausal symptoms, it’s time to bring your speculations to your doctor.

There are three main tests you can take to determine a menopause diagnosis -

1.FSH test – A follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) test is used to test a woman’s FSH levels. If levels are high it’s a sign that the ovaries have stopped producing sufficient estrogen and could mean that the body has begun menopause.

2.Blood test – You can ask your doctor for a blood test to determine estradiol levels. Estradiol is a form of estrogen and the levels decrease when the ovaries begin to fail. Therefore, low estradiol levels may be a sign of early menopause.

3.Thyroid test – A thyroid test is a good idea because many perimenopause symptoms mirror thyroid problems. Therefore, this test will help you determine if what you are experiencing is indeed early menopause.

If you are diagnosed with early menopause, you will find that there are different treatment options to help you cope with symptoms. Be sure to talk to you doctor about all possible treatments.



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Paulina Jenkins asked:


We often hear middle age women talking about menopause and menopause symptoms relief. Just what is menopause? Menopause is a natural biological process that every woman will face when she gets to the age of between 45 and 55. It is by no mean an ailment, infection or a medical disorder. This process is more of a time of physical and emotional changes. With the onset of menopause lower levels of female hormones are produced by the ovaries.

The majority of women do not have much trouble going through menopause. On the other hand, there are many that suffer from average to severe symptoms. Menopause symptoms include night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, hot flushes, anxiety, joint pain, headaches, depression, sadness and heart palpitations. It is different with every woman when it comes to these symptoms. They could in some cases get worse or tend to last for years.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the common pharmaceutical treatment for alleviating symptoms of menopause. With this method women are either given oral estrogen hormone alone or combined with another hormone Progesterone in the form of progestin. These hormones are in a synthetic form. Until recently Hormone Replacement Therapy delivers the best menopause symptoms relief especially night sweats and hot flushes. It was also believed that HRT could prevent strokes, heart attacks and osteoporosis.

Many women have been taking HRT for years and it is now reported that it carries certain health dangers. These risks include blood clots, breast cancer, high blood pressure and uterine cancer. Menopausal women are advised to only take the lowest dosage that would give them menopause symptoms relief. They are also encouraged to take HRT for the shortest time frame possible.

There have been menopause natural relief products available that work for some people. For those who have very severe symptoms they have to resort to Hormone Replace Therapy. Today on the market there are products for menopause symptoms relief that are both natural and effective. Generally such menopause natural relief products are formulated with a blend of herbal extracts such as black cohosh, soy, damiana, vitamin E and other phytoestrogen herbal ingredients. Throughout history these components have proved to be effective in correcting hormonal imbalance. The ingredients in these herbal menopause symptoms relief products are highly recommended by leading herbal experts as alternatives to HRT.

Such menopause natural relief works by restoring the hormone levels of the body to give menopause symptoms relief. Females who have had a hysterectomy can also benefit from these products. These menopause natural relief products do not generally have interactions with drugs. Manufacturers of such menopause symptoms relief products often also make other quality herbal supplements.

For years manufacturers of menopause natural relief products cautioned women about the risks of synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Herbal menopause symptoms relief products are highly recommended by doctors the world over as the safe and effective menopause natural relief. Reviews from consumers show that menopause natural relief products are effective for menopause symptoms relief.

Many specialists are of the opinion that menopause natural relief products are safe and work better than prescription drugs or traditional hormone replacement therapy. Many of these herbal products do provide effective and guaranteed menopause symptoms relief. These products also help to maintain the normal functions of the female body.

If you are presently going through menopause and suffering from menopause symptoms, you owe it to yourself to find out more about such menopause natural relief products and how they can benefit you mentally, physically and emotionally.



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Groshan Fabiola asked:


In some cases, the causes of early menopause are clear, but there are situations when you keep asking why did that happen, and have no idea which can be the cause.A common cause of premature ovarian failure can be an autoimmune disorder. When this happens, the body senses parts of itself as being intruders, so, antibodies will attack those parts. Antibodies may attack your own ovarian tissue, your endometrium, or one or more hormones that regulate ovulation. This can happen in the case of premature menopause, and if you have a family history of autoimmune disorders, it is a great possibility that this is the cause for your early menopause.

It was seen that defects on an X chromosome may cause some cases of hereditary premature menopause. This defect to an X chromosome, also called “fragile X syndrome” seems to interfere with the production of eggs. So, women who have this syndrome will have a lesser number of eggs in their ovaries, and this will lead to an earlier menopause.“Turner’s syndrome” appears when you are born without a second X chromosome, or without part of the chromosome. As a result, the ovaries will not develop properly, and some of these women will never have their periods at all. There are situations when premature menopause appears because some women have three X chromosomes, and this affects the ovarian development too.

Oophorectomy and total hysterectomy are causes of early menopause due to surgery. The patient experiences premature menopause after removal of both of the ovaries, -and this is called a bilateral oophorectomy- or removal of the uterus, both fallopian tubes, and both ovaries, operation called total hysterectomy. As a result of these operations, progesterone levels plunge, and menopause appears right away.Sometimes, as a result of a hysterectomy in which one or both ovaries are left intact, it happens that immediately after surgery or up to a few years later one or both ovaries will fail. This may happen because during a procedure like cyst removal, the ovary or ovaries are damaged.Tubal ligation can also be a cause that leads to premature menopause in some women.

It was seen that the doses of radiation or chemotherapy used to kill cancer can damage the ovaries as well, and there appears premature menopause. In some cases there appears temporary menopause, but even when the ovaries start working regularly again, there can appear infertility.Recently, doctors have begun to prescribe the drug named Tamoxifen as a preventative measure for women who have a high risk of breast cancer. Everyone focused on the positive aspects of this drug, but it is important to know that it has as a potential side effect the apparition of premature menopause.

If there is a family history of premature menopause, it is important to know that there is a great chance for daughters to go through menopause at about the same age their mothers did.If a pregnant woman will contract a viral infection, it is possible to affect the baby’s ovarian development, and when the baby is born, will have a lower number of eggs, which will result in premature menopause.

It is known that there are some diseases that can cause symptoms that overlap with those of menopause. Hyperthryoid can cause palpitations and sweats, and hypothyroid can cause hair loss, weight gain, moodiness, and amenorrhea. The reversal of symptoms can be obtained with proper diagnosis and treatment.A disease that is marked by overproduction of prolactin, hyperprolactinemia can lead to amennorhea, and it is known that one of the typical signs of this disease is galactorrhea.Usually, this disease is treated with drugs like Parlodel.Women with pitiuitary disorders often go through amennorhea, and they discover their periods have stopped. There may be necessary a scan to determine whether they have a tumor or lesion, which can be treated through surgery or medication.Skipping periods and a number of other symptoms, including excessive hair growth can be caused by the polycystic ovarian disease.We can mention some other causes of amennorhea, like excessive weight gain or weight loss, excessive exercise, use of certain drugs, recent use of birth control pills.Through blood tests or “progesterone challenge” test, the doctor will be able to determine the cause of the symptoms.

For more resources about menopause or about early menopause symptoms please review http://www.menopause-info-guide.com/early-menopause-symptoms.htm



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Janet Martin asked:


Menopause is an inevitable phase in a woman’s life. However, some experience this stage earlier than others. Normally, the average age of women who go through menopause is 51. This cessation of the menses is usually due to the depletion of eggs in the ovary.

In some cases, however, menopause is brought about by surgery, treatment for other diseases, ovarian failure or other problems. The condition wherein women younger than 50 find themselves facing menopause symptoms, regardless of the reasons, is generally known as early menopause.

If you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s and are already experiencing symptoms of menopause, then you are probably suffering from early menopause. To know more about the nuances of this condition, read on and learn:

Premature Ovarian Failure

Known more commonly as POF, Premature Ovarian Failure occurs when a woman experiences menopausal symptoms, including the ending of menses, before the age of 40. You will know that you have this condition if your hormonal tests show that your levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and estradiol levels are at post-menopausal stages.

The most common reason why women with POF experience the cessation of menses is the inability of the body to respond to calls for ovulation, even when eggs are still present inside the ovaries. Since this is the case, women with POF may still ovulate or even bear children, but chances are dramatically slim.

Reduced Ovarian Reserve

If your hormone tests show that your levels of FSH and estradiol are normal and that you experience periods every now and then but you are experiencing menopausal symptoms at an early age, then you are probably suffering from Reduced or Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Experts believe that this condition is a sign that you will be experiencing POF in the near future.

Early Menopause Due To Medications Or Surgery

Women who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatments often find themselves undergoing signs of menopause. In this case, it is clear that outside forces are the ones causing changes in your ovulation or hormonal processes. If such treatments do not cause an ovarian failure, then there is a chance that your monthly menses will become normal again after a few months of stopping the medication.

Pelvic surgery or the removal of both ovaries can also cause early menopause. Some women who had undergone pelvic-related surgery may suffer from poor blood circulation. When blood flow to the ovaries is impaired, there is a big chance for an ovarian failure. Women who had both their ovaries removed also go through early menopause because they are no longer producing sex hormones.

Perimenopause

If you are suffering from menopausal symptoms prematurely but you do not have POF, or your hormone levels are fluctuating but can still be considered normal, or you did not undergo pelvic or ovarian surgical procedures, or you are not taking any treatments for cancer, then you are just probably suffering from perimenopause. This means that you just feel the symptoms of menopause at an earlier age. Women who are at this phase are actually still ovulating and can still bear children. Basically, this phase is a precursor to menopause.

It is common for women over 40 to experience perimenopause. Even if you are over 40, however, it is still wise to consult a doctor about your condition to rule out serious illnesses and conditions. Furthermore, you can also discuss with your doctor the best possible ways you can alleviate the nasty symptoms of menopause.

Although the treatment of choice when it comes to menopause is HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, many women are afraid to get this medication because of fear of side effects. If you are one of the many who feel uncomfortable with HRT, then you can always use natural supplements to help you survive early menopause symptoms. One product that many women are using to help them cope with signs of menopause is Menersa. If you are interested in this product, just visit http://www.menersa.com/ for more information.



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Lidybeff asked:


I am unable to take hormone replacement as my cancer was hormone sensitive. I am 7 weeks into surgical menopause and went straight from regular ovulation to losing my ovaries , and everything else. I am coping with the hot episodes (and am grateful to now be cancer free) but would appreciate any tips anyone could give me on how to lessen them or ease them. I can’t take any hormones, not even plant based ones. Thanks.

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Juliet Cohen asked:


Menopause literally means the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles. The root cause of menopause is not what is happening to the uterus, the whole process of menopause is triggered by the faltering and shutting down of the ovaries. This process usually normally occurs more or less in midlife. Menopause, or the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, is a natural biological process, not a medical illness. Hormonal changes cause the physical symptoms of menopause, but mistaken beliefs about the menopausal transition are partly to blame for the emotional ones. First, menopause doesn’t mean the end is near — you’ve still got as much as half your life to go. Second, menopause will not snuff out your femininity.

Menopause is a normal part of aging; about 70% of woman experience symptoms. Lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and medications can help. Menopause occurs as the ovaries begin to fail to be able to produce an egg or ovum each and every month, which in turn after a number of years, leads to the somewhat chaotic shutting down of the whole reproductive system.

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases. Main effect of the menopause is a greatly reduced production of the hormone oestrogen. Some menopausal women suffer psychologically from the awareness that they have come to the end of reproductive life. The menopause is often viewed as a significant stage in the ageing process. The menopause involves the end of egg production (ovulation) by the ovaries. However, menstrual cycles can still occur, without ovulation taking place, as the menopause approaches. For this reason, pregnancy is very rare after the age of 50. A woman’s periods do not usually stop suddenly, although sometimes this does happen. They usually become less frequent, the odd period is missed, and then they stop altogether. Many prescription medications and natural remedies exist to prevent and control high cholesterol and bone loss, which can occur at menopause. Estrogen is a well-established prescription therapy for hot flashes. Estrogen also helps build bone mass, reduces the risk of fractures, and improves cholesterol.

Some women decide to take herbal, natural, or plant-based products to help their symptoms. Some women turn to herbal remedies or to certain estrogen-like chemicals in plants (called phytoestrogens) for help. Many people will take multi-vitamins to ensure their bodies receive all of the nutrients they need to stay healthy. B-Vitamins: This family of vitamins can be a big help in coping with premature menopause, both in terms of helping combat symptoms and fighting negative long-term risks. B vitamins can keep your energy levels up. Bioidentical hormone herapy. Some women visit alternative medicine doctors and get a prescription for these products, which are made from different plant hormones that are like those in a woman’s body. Black cohosh may also help with cramps, heavy periods and other menstrual irregularities. Kava Kava appears to be a big help in reducing anxiety, fighting depression, and leveling mood swings, kava kava has been shown to be quite effective. Eating soy and their isoflavones are the most popular natural way to increase estrogen.

Home Remedies for Menopause

1. Flaxseed nutrient high in phytoestrogens (especially lignans), flaxseed also is high in omega-3 fatty acids — a key helper in fighting heart disease.

2. Red Clover is another phytoestrogen which also is high in bioflavonoids.

3. Vitamin E and Citrus Bioflavonoids-This combination is a hot-flash buster — with studies showing that taking these two supplements together helps combat hot flashes.

4. Vitamin E is also good for helping with dryness.

5. Vitamin A or beta carotene can help menopause.

6. Vitamin A helps maintain tissues, skin, and mucous membranes — which can help fight back against dryness.

7. Calcium: A definite must to help prevent osteoporosis, calcium can also help lower blood pressure, reduce triglyceride levels.

8. Black cohosh may also help with cramps, heavy periods and other menstrual irregularities.

9. Kava Kava herb that appears to be a big help in reducing anxiety, fighting depression, and leveling mood swings, kava kava has been shown to be quite effective.

10. Valerian-It’s used widely in Europe to treat sleep disturbances, as well as for nervousness and menstrual problems.



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