Many women nearing the age of 50 have experienced uncomfortable changes in their bodies as the menopausal period begins. Some women experience these changes as early as 40 years old and all women will experience them after a hysterectomy.
Menopause occurs because of a series of changes in the body's hormones. During the menopausal changes, the number of functioning eggs within the ovaries begin to decrease and the ovaries dramatically decrease their production of estrogen.
At birth, most females have between 1-3 million eggs. By the time of the first menstrual period, there are approximately 400,000 eggs. At menopause there are fewer than 10,00 eggs. Most eggs are reabsorbed by the body as they die off.
Estrogen affects every part of the body, including heart, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, uterus, breasts, bone and brain. Another hormone, testosterone, is also reduced at the time of menopause, and can cause a reduction in libido.
One of the major symptoms women will experience is Hot Flashes. A hot flash is an uncomfortable sense of warmth which spreads throughout the body causing flushed, red skin, sweating, and palpitations. They can lead to difficulty concentrating and sleeplessness.
Hot flashes usually last 2-3 years, but some women may experience them for 5 or more years.
The menopausal time also causes changes in the urinary tract which can cause incontinence of urine. More frequent episodes of burning with urination can occur as well.
Bone loss, or osteoporosis, is another important change that begins in the peri-menopausal time, or the years preceding menopause. Peak bone density occurs between 25 and 30 years of age. After this time, bone loss occurs at a rate of 0.13% per year. Later, it increases to 2% per year.
Osteoporosis increases the risk for bone fractures, which can be intensely painful and can interfere with daily activities. The risk for death also increases with bone fractures in menopause.
Menopause increases the risk of heart disease. Some of this increased risk is probably due to aging, and part is due to the hormonal changes that occur around the menopausal time.
Associated with the increased risk of heart disease is the fact that cholesterol significantly increases at the menopausal time. Total cholesterol as well as the 'bad' cholesterol or LDL increases and 'good' cholesterol or HDL decreases.
Women will also notice an increase in weight during the menopausal time.
The Women's Health Study was a 15 yr study that addressed the most common causes of death, disability, and poor quality of life in post menopausal women -- cardiovascular or heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
The two arms of the hormone clinical trials -- the estrogen only and the estrogen plus progestin studies were stopped prematurely because of increased risk noted to the cardiovascular system from the prescription hormone replacement therapy. After the release of this information, there was a dramatic decrease in the use of prescription hormone replacement therapy.
Natural forms of hormones however, have been used for many years, and provide a safe method of treating the menopausal symptoms. Natural forms of progesterone, in particular, offer an effective and safe treatment. Many medical and holistic providers now regularly offer their patients progesterone replacement in menopause.
Menopause occurs because of a series of changes in the body's hormones. During the menopausal changes, the number of functioning eggs within the ovaries begin to decrease and the ovaries dramatically decrease their production of estrogen.
At birth, most females have between 1-3 million eggs. By the time of the first menstrual period, there are approximately 400,000 eggs. At menopause there are fewer than 10,00 eggs. Most eggs are reabsorbed by the body as they die off.
Estrogen affects every part of the body, including heart, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, uterus, breasts, bone and brain. Another hormone, testosterone, is also reduced at the time of menopause, and can cause a reduction in libido.
One of the major symptoms women will experience is Hot Flashes. A hot flash is an uncomfortable sense of warmth which spreads throughout the body causing flushed, red skin, sweating, and palpitations. They can lead to difficulty concentrating and sleeplessness.
Hot flashes usually last 2-3 years, but some women may experience them for 5 or more years.
The menopausal time also causes changes in the urinary tract which can cause incontinence of urine. More frequent episodes of burning with urination can occur as well.
Bone loss, or osteoporosis, is another important change that begins in the peri-menopausal time, or the years preceding menopause. Peak bone density occurs between 25 and 30 years of age. After this time, bone loss occurs at a rate of 0.13% per year. Later, it increases to 2% per year.
Osteoporosis increases the risk for bone fractures, which can be intensely painful and can interfere with daily activities. The risk for death also increases with bone fractures in menopause.
Menopause increases the risk of heart disease. Some of this increased risk is probably due to aging, and part is due to the hormonal changes that occur around the menopausal time.
Associated with the increased risk of heart disease is the fact that cholesterol significantly increases at the menopausal time. Total cholesterol as well as the 'bad' cholesterol or LDL increases and 'good' cholesterol or HDL decreases.
Women will also notice an increase in weight during the menopausal time.
The Women's Health Study was a 15 yr study that addressed the most common causes of death, disability, and poor quality of life in post menopausal women -- cardiovascular or heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
The two arms of the hormone clinical trials -- the estrogen only and the estrogen plus progestin studies were stopped prematurely because of increased risk noted to the cardiovascular system from the prescription hormone replacement therapy. After the release of this information, there was a dramatic decrease in the use of prescription hormone replacement therapy.
Natural forms of hormones however, have been used for many years, and provide a safe method of treating the menopausal symptoms. Natural forms of progesterone, in particular, offer an effective and safe treatment. Many medical and holistic providers now regularly offer their patients progesterone replacement in menopause.
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