WHAT'S MENOPAUSE? WHAT IS PERI MENOPAUSE?

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE? 

Menopause is the period in a woman’s life after she stops menstruating, which marks the end of her reproductive years. A woman’s ovaries manufacture estrogen and progesterone.  These hormones control ovulation and menstruation.  A woman is born with eggs, which are stored in the ovaries.  When a woman’s eggs stop releasing an egg every month and menstruation stops – menopause has occurred.  Menopause is a natural part of aging and usually occurs after 40.  Other causes of menopause include hysterectomy, chemotherapy, or damage to the ovaries.  This is sometimes called premature menopause.  If you’re not sure if you are in menopause – your doctor can confirm with a specific blood test.  Average age for menopause is 51.

WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE? 

Perimenopause usually starts years before actual menopause when the ovaries begin to make less estrogen.  It usually lasts right up until menopause when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. During the last 1 or 2 years of perimenopause is when women usually begin having those dreaded symptoms. (we’ll talk about those in a moment or two)

WHAT IS POST MENOPAUSE?  

These are the years after menopause.  Menopausal symptoms usually stop during this time.  However, this is the time that health risks increase for women due to the loss of estrogen.  After menopause women are more prone to Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Bladder and Bowel issues, Alzhiemer’s Disease, wrinkling and poor elasticity, problems with vision.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PERIMENOPAUSE: There are many symptoms.  Here are a few:

Hot Flashes are a very common symptom:  Hot flashes cause a sudden rush of warmth that spreads over the upper body and causes seating and flushing (or blushing).  Hot flashes can be mild, moderate, or severe. 

OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:  Irregular periods, Mood swings, Fatigue, Insomnia, Depression, Itchy Skin, Heart Palpitations or Racing Heart, Headaches, Muscle and Joint Aches, Lowered sex drive. Vaginal dryness, Bladder Control issues, Forgetfulness, painful sex, vaginal yeast infections.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PERIMENOPAUSE:

•                 HRT (HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY)😨
•                 ERT (ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY)😠
•  NATURAL/ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES:  HERBS, ROOTS, ESSENTIAL OILS, ACUPUNCTURE, BREATHING TECHNIQUES, EXCERCISE,             DIET, SUPPLEMENTS, AROMATHERAPY, MASSAGE THERAPY, ETC.😎💝