Answers to Your Questions About Menopause – Part 3
Q: How long does menopause last?
A: The pre-menopause, or peri-menopause, stage lasts anywhere from two to fifteen years. You reach menopause once your menstrual cycle completely stops and you have not had a period for a year. Post-menopause then lasts through the end of life. Once you have reached menopause, your body will no longer produce the female reproductive hormones progesterone and estrogen.
Q: How will menopause affect my sex life and what can I do about it?
A: The challenges of menopause often include vaginal dryness and loss of libido. Not all women that reach menopause lose their interest in sex. Many find it much more liberating to no longer have to worry about pregnancy. However, loss of libido is actually quite common in this stage of life. Vaginal dryness can also make sexual intercourse painful and sometimes seem next to impossible. Natural hormone replacement therapy using progesterone cream and other natural solutions can increase libido by restoring the body’s balance of female hormones. Natural progestrone is highly effective in reducing and even eliminating the issues of menopause, including the loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. There are also many natural creams and lubricants readily available that greatly enhance sexual experience.
An increase in body temperature leads to hot flashes and night sweats that can severely disrupt sleep and the rise in your body temperature can also make it more difficult to sleep and can then cause insomnia. Natural options for menopause such as natural hormone replacement therapy with progesterone can reduce or eliminate the discomfort you experience that in turn will lead to more quality sleep.
Q: What is happening with my sleep patterns?
A: Some of the symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause include hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. These issues occur because of the imbalance and loss of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. An increase in body temperature leads to hot flashes and night sweats that can severely disrupt sleep and the rise in your body temperature can also make it more difficult to sleep and can then cause insomnia. Natural options for menopause such as natural hormone replacement therapy with progesterone can reduce or eliminate the discomfort you experience that in turn will lead to more quality sleep.
Q: Do I need different vitamins during this stage of my life?
A: There are certain vitamins that you will require more of once you experience the transition of menopause. These will be necessary for the remainder of your life for optimum health. These include vitamins A, C, D and E and vitamin B complex (especially B6). Having all the essential vitamins will help in the reduction of menopause discomfort and will improve your overall health.
Q: What about calcium?
A: When your body begins producing less estrogen, you may also begin to experience bone density loss. As a result, menopausal women can experience increased risk of osteoporosis. Women aged 25-50 who have not yet reached menopause should consider taking up to 1000 milligrams of calcium per day. Those that have reached menopause should consider taking 1500 milligrams a day to help prevent bone loss. Be sure to take sufficient amounts of Vitamin D to be able to absorb calcium taken in vitamins.
Q: What can I do with natural hormones like natural progesterone and herbs to help?
A: Natural progesterone cream can be used singly or in combination with phyto-estrogens on a consistent basis to create a regimen of natural hormone balance. These hormones are not only made from substances found in nature but are also structurally similar to the hormones already found in the human body. Natural hormone balance using progesterone can dramatically reduce and often help eliminate many of the disruptive issues experienced due to perimenopause and menopause. (This includes being able to enjoy quality sleep as well as a healthy libido.)
Phyto-estrogens or special blends of black cohosh, red clover or chasteberry taken along with natural progesterone can also help to reduce the experience of perimenopause and menopause discomfort. They have been shown to have a mild estrogen type effect and have been demonstrated to greatly reduce the experience of hot flashes and night sweats.
©Alternative Medicine Network 2009
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