Are You at Risk of Premature Menopause?

Some women suffer the menopause before the age of 40, putting them in the category of women going through a premature menopause. The same symptoms which are attributed to a natural menopause still occur, such as emotional problems, hot flushes, vaginal dryness and a lower sex drive. However, for some women going through this early in life, the symptoms can be even more severe. Studies also suggest that women who have a premature menopause also seem to get weaker bones faster than those going through this at a later stage in life. This increases the risk of osteoporosis and bone damage. There are a number of reasons why women go through premature menopause, from genetic causes to unexpected results from surgery. Defects in the woman’s chromosomes could be a cause, such as in women with Turner’s syndrome who are born without a second X chromosome. This causes the ovaries to not develop properly, leading to menopause earlier than expected. Likewise, women who have a family history of early menopause are more likely to experience it early themselves.

 

Researchers have found that autoimmune diseases can also trigger this process – the body’s own immune system mistakes part of the reproductive system to be a threat and attacks it, damaging the ovaries and preventing them from producing female hormones. In women who have had surgery to remove the ovaries, known as a bilateral oophorectomy, menopause occurs straight away. This means she will no longer have periods and her hormone production will decrease at a rapid rate. She may also experience menopausal symptoms immediately too, such as hot flushes and a lowered sexual desire. Chemotherapy can also cause ovarian damage, leading to a premature menopause. It’s common for women who are undergoing chemotherapy to stop having periods, suffer fertility issues and even lose their fertility. It may take a few months or it sometimes happens straight away. This cause of early menopause depends on the type of chemotherapy you have, the age you are when you have it, and how long the treatment lasts for though, so you will need to discuss this with your GP. The younger you are when you undergo the chemo, the less likely you are to go through the menopause early.

 

If you think you’re suffering from premature menopause, your GP will probably ask you if you’ve noticed any changes that are commonly associated with menopause, such as vaginal dryness, irregular periods and problems sleeping. Menopause is usually only diagnosed when a woman hasn’t had a period for over twelve months. There are cases where these normal signs won’t be relevant with premature menopause diagnoses, though. This means you may have to have a blood test which measures the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which can determine if you’re going through a premature menopause. Your ovaries use this hormone to produce oestrogen, so when they stop making this your FSH levels rise. If your levels of this hormone are higher than normal, it’s likely that you’ll be diagnosed with premature menopause. There are many resources available to offer advice on this topic, as well as your GP being your first port of call for any questions you may have. Women going through the menopause can take hormone replacement therapies to combat the effects of a lowered hormone production, as well as ways to resolve issues with your sex drive. Speak to your GP if you would like to discuss medication and treatments to help you through this stage.

Categories: Causes, early menopause, hormone production, hot flushes, Menopause, Premature, premature menopause, Sex Drive, vaginal dryness, Women

Perimenopause or Menopause – What’s the Difference?

The menopause is a bit of a sexual taboo, even in developed countries like the United States, which is a bit ridiculous when you consider the effect that it can have on the wellness and wellbeing of around 50 percent of the population.

 

There is a bit of a tendency to not take the symptoms of menopause seriously, and many women have been victims of a healthcare system that tries to tell them it’s all in their heads. Conversely, in Australia, looking into the causes and effects of the menopause is seen as an important holistic and multidimensional approach to providing appropriate healthcare for women.

 

That does not mean that the actual, biological aspects of menopause are ignored, it simply means that the Australian healthcare system better understands the psychological side to the menopause during the menopause and perimenopausae.

 

The symptoms that women exhibit both during the menopause and the periomenopausae seem to be quite culturally specific. For example, Western city dwellers are more likely to experience a hot flash whereas in Japan it is so uncommon an occurrence that there isn’t even a Japanese word for it.

 

There have been various theories about why Japanese women do not seem to get hot flushes. One theory is that the Japanese diet, which is rich in vegetables and soy, provides a measure of protection against the side effects of the menopause. Another thought is that the Japanese culture of respect for older women makes the menopause a more comfortable time, as women feel they are moving to a place of honour rather than being pushed aside to be an invisible older person, as many Western women feel is the case.

 

Whatever the culture, the symptoms for perimenopause and menopause are largely similar, they are just milder in the earlier stages, whether that be the hot flushes common in the West or the ‘frozen shoulder’ symptom that is often reported in Japan or North Africa.

Categories: healthcare, hot flushes, japanese, Menopause, nbsp, Perimenopause, symptom, Women, women feel

How To Beat Menopausal Hot Flushes With Natural Methods

The menopause can be a difficult time, with all the associated symptoms and health concerns. During this time of change, one of the biggest threats to your sense of wellbeing is the recurrent hot flushes that are often associated with the menopause. Along with a plethora of other symptoms, this can be a huge threat to your sense of wellness, and yet getting rid of those troublesome flushes can be very difficult indeed.

 

During the menopause or perimenopause, women experience many symptoms that are based on the hormones that start to dwindle in their bodies. The symptoms can vary depending on lifestyle and hormones, but most women report that they experience hot flushes, with around 85 percent of them experiencing them as early as the first year or two of the menopause.

 

Some women end up taking HRT to help control the discomfort and embarrassment of hot flushes, but there are also natural methods that you can try to help cope with the symptoms.

 

Black Cohosh is one such natural remedy. This plant is used widely for treating the menopause, and hot flushes in particular. Some studies have shown that Black Cohosh may be as effective as any drugs, including pharmaceutical oestrogen when it comes to providing relief from hot flushes.

 

Flaxseed oil contains fatty acids which are thought to be useful when it comes to reducing the symptoms of menopause. The plant lignans in flax are thought to be similar to oestrogen, and these may cause oestrogen levels to stabilise within the bodies of menopausal women.

 

Evening primrose oil is often used for women’s reproductive health conditions. It can help to stabilise hormones and it also has a cooling effect on the skin and helps to regulate the way that the body produces oestrogen.

Categories: black cohosh, flush, flushes, hot, hot flushes, Menopause, Natural Methods

How Can Exercise Help With Cancer Treatment?

Those battling cancer will often need to undergo various treatments which affect your body in different ways, often leaving you feeling quite drained, both physically and mentally. Chemotherapy is the most commonly associate treatment, but radiation therapy and drugs are also used. Some women find that they struggle to cope with the side effects of Tamoxifen pills, which are designed to combat the effects of oestrogen-based cancer-female/">breast cancer. Side effects which have been reported include getting lightheaded and hot flushes – some even pass out due to these effects. This can mean added stress, in addition to the emotions you’re already feeling through coping with the cancer itself. While not everyone experiences these side effects, many feel more comfortable taking an additional tablet known as Effexor to boost their energy levels.

Many find that listening to their body helps determine which treatments are most effective – some, for example, report that following chemotherapy, they feel lightheaded and have been known to pass out. It’s important during this time to be diligent with your diet, as a loss of appetite is one known risk of the chemotherapy. With so many chemicals and drugs going into your body, a strict diet is vital in order to ensure you’re filling your body with the nutrients it needs to stay as healthy as possible. Protein is important for keeping your energy levels up, so protein bars and shakes are useful to keep around the house, as it eating every two hours to refuel your body. Your immune system will take the brunt of the chemotherapy, so refuelling with healthy vitamins, minerals and protein will keep it fighting any additional illness.

Your support network of family and friends will get you through this stage in your life – don’t feel worried about leaning on them for emotional support when you need it. Many people feel as though they need to hide their illness and stay strong for others, but your health is what’s important here, so if you’re struggling you need to let people around you know. Likewise, remain positive – once the chemotherapy is over, your energy levels will start to return to normal and you’ll begin to feel like yourself again.

How Can Exercise Help With Cancer Treatment?

Categories: body, cancer, chemotherapy, Effects, energy levels, feel, hot flushes