Going Through Menopause

Menopause is a unique experience for every woman. It marks the end of menstruation and the average age for menopause is around 52 (of course it can happen much earlier or later in rarer cases.). Menopause is a natural part of aging for a woman and is caused when her ovaries begin producing a lower amount of progesterone and estrogen. Unlike the first period, menopause takes time to come about. A woman can safely say that she has begun menopause when she has not had her period for a year.

Menopause does not have to be feared, but should be viewed as a normal part of aging for a woman. Menopause can be regulated with both natural and prescription drugs. Herbal supplements can be taken that contain such things as phytoestrogens (estrogen like substances from plants). HRT are hormone replacement therapies that can be prescribed by your doctor to ease symptoms.

Perimenopause is the period of time that leads up to menopause and can give you hints of what is to come. This is the time that the mood swings, night sweats, irregular periods and a change in your sexual desire generally begin. Another perhaps lesser known bothersome symptom can be insomnia and changes to your skin. Here are some ideas on how to sail through menopause.

If you have hot flashes and night sweats, you can counteract them by drinking cool water during a hot flash; dress in layers so it's easy to pare down during a hot flash, and you might want to try and reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol.

Decreased sexual desire is another complaint of menopause. However, there are some bonuses to aging when it comes to sex. Since most male's drive will slow with age, you and your partner may both be on the same page. But remember, if you still have a period (even though it's scant and irregular), you can STILL get pregnant!

Sleep disturbances and feelings of anxiousness can also be a common factor in dealing with menopause. This can be alleviated by making sure you only use your bedroom for sleep and sex, keep it dark and cool and quiet (ear plugs are a great invention if you find your partner snores too loud), go to bed and rise at the same time each evening and morning, and use relaxation techniques such as taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, or deep breathing exercises before bed.

Also, with menopause comes a thinning of your skin. This can make it extra prone to dryness, but there are some ways that you can combat this as well. Always wear a sunscreen with SPF protection of 15 or more. Drink plenty of fluids (water is the best), cut back on alcohol, don't smoke, exercise frequently as this improves blood circulation and thus improves skin's appearance.

Eating healthy is something that you should be doing all during your life, not just during menopause. Of course it is never too early or too late to start eating better! You should learn to love fruits and vegetables (5 servings per day is the daily recommended amount), learn to drink plenty of water, eat a heart friendly diet that is low in transaturated fats and high in fiber!

No matter what stage you are at in regards to menopause, it is worth your time to make an effort to educate yourself in this natural phase of your life.