Treatment for Menopause

The different therapies for menopause treatment

Also termed as the ‘change of life’, menopause signals the end of a woman's reproductive life. At the onset of menopause, a woman mostly thinks about the ways to make this period as comfortable as possible. For some, no major change occurs except for the loss of the monthly menstruation (amenorrhea). However, for others, a lot of common complications could make life quite uncomfortable.

In most women, menopause begins between the ages of 45 and 55 years. There are 3 stages called perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause. While there are these phases, symptoms are often felt by women from the first stage to the third. There are signs and symptoms to look out for. Since menopause is characterized by a sudden or gradual loss of the female hormone Estrogen, the symptoms may be sudden or gradual as well. Many women feel well during the onset of menopause, while others suffer severe and acute pains.

When these symptoms occur they happen in that phase of menopause called perimenopause. In this period, women are approaching menopause and consequently hormone levels are dropping. Most of these symptoms involve irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness or itching, dizziness, palpitations, skin dryness, headaches, muscle and joint pains, the frequent urge to urinate, and weight gain. Emotional changes may also occur and these include loss of confidence, nervousness or anxiety, irritability, depression, a reduction in the desire to have sex, difficulty sleeping, fatigue or extreme tiredness.

When these symptoms occur, they happen in that phase of menopause called perimenopause. In this period, women are approaching menopause and consequently hormone levels are dropping. Most of these symptoms involve irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness or itching, dizziness, palpitations, skin dryness, headaches, muscle and joint pains, the frequent urge to urinate, and weight gain. Emotional changes may also occur and these include loss of confidence, nervousness or anxiety, irritability, depression, a reduction in the desire to have sex, difficulty sleeping, fatigue or extreme tiredness.

Several tests can be conducted to determine if this time of a woman's life has really arrived. A physical examination from your doctor is the most common way to go and this may include testing the blood pressure, taking weight and height, doing a thorough breast examination, and abdominal palpation. In addition to this, the doctor will probably ask a lot of questions about the woman's state of mind. This exchange is very important for the correct diagnosis of menopause.

There have been studies upon studies to look at the ways women can live comfortably through menopause. In July 2002, Hormone Replacement Therapy became the standard therapy in the United Stated for treating menopausal symptoms. Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is defined as a system of medical treatments for menopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women. This is dependent on the assumption that relief from the discomfort of menopausal symptoms, stemming from a decrease in the normal levels of the hormone estrogen, may be relieved through boosting these hormonal levels. Hormone Replacement Therapy is said to relive such discomforts as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It is also believed to help protect against other postmenopausal conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

While some women do well with HRT, others may wish to opt for more natural herbal remedies for relief of their menopause symptoms. There are several products on the market made out of natural ingredients. An example of this is Menozac which is a herbal alternative, made through a combination of several herb extracts, designed to be a source of relief through this transitional phase. Another highly recommended product is MellowPause, which is created with natural herbal ingredients that matches the effects of estrogen giving relief from menopause symptoms. These herbal remedies, most commonly prescribed for women with severe hot flashes, seem to bring about benefits that far outweigh some potential risks.

Ironically, despite arguments about the health risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy, this still plays a very big role in the way women with menopause are treated today. According to experts, the risks are low for a woman taking hormone therapy. The factors that most dictate this are the extent and severity of the symptoms involved. Suggestions involve one talking about choices in depth, the advantages and disadvantages of each, with one's doctor. Repeated symptoms that most benefit from Hormone Replacement Therapy are troublesome menopausal flashes and night sweats, vaginal discomfort including itchiness, dryness, itchiness, burning and pain during sexual intercourse, and osteoporosis.