Menopause

Menopause was once believed to be the beginning of a fast downhill journey towards the end of sexual vitality for a woman. However, today's woman is learning a lot about menopause and is realizing the fact that menopause symptoms merely signal a grateful end to those annoying monthly periods. The first signs of menopause, or peri menopause, typically begin between age 45 and 55, affecting millions of women each year.

But menopause isn't as negative as some women believe or have been told. Once a woman goes through menopause, she no longer has to worry about getting pregnant. There are a lot of old wives' tales associated with menopause and the effect it can have on a woman's sex drive. However, no matter what you have heard, many women still enjoy a very healthy sex life, years after menopause. There are no more monthly periods and no more PMS ( premenstrual syndrome).

In essence, menopause is the time between peri menopause and the twelve months after your last period. Some women may go for months without a period then start menstruating again. Once a woman goes the full twelve months without a period, generally, her periods are officially over. Furthermore, some women may experience very heavy periods during menopause while others may have light to spotty ones.

Menopause symptoms vary widely depending on the individual. There are actually more than thirty symptoms associated with menopause, but the most common include:

- hot Flashes
- fatigue
- weight gain
- joint stiffness
- confusion
- anxiety
- vaginal dryness
- random periods
- dry skin

These symptoms are most commonly due to the body's inability to produce as much estrogen which leads to hormonal imbalances. Learning the facts about menopause will help to effectively understand what is happening, making it easier to cope. Many women go through menopause quite easily while others experience relatively mild to moderate symptoms.

Menopause relief includes basic healthy eating and drinking habits. Avoid fatty meats and sugary drinks. Include plenty of water in your daily diet along with cranberry juice and green teas, which are loaded with antioxidants. Nuts are full of heart-healthy omega 3 acids along with muscle-building protein and foods high in calcium will help strengthen bones. And don't forget the fruits and veggies for those all important vitamins and minerals.

Hormone Replacement Therapy is the suggested menopause treatment to help the body produce proper levels of estrogen. Your physician can recommend an estrogen treatment that is right for you. However, there is much controversy associated with estrogen replacement. Do the research and learn all of the facts before starting a hormone replacement therapy.

In some countries, a woman is considered a candidate for leadership once she reaches menopause due to the absence of so many raging hormones, which can cause severe mood swings and poor judgement.

Christian women testify to the fact that they become better followers of Jesus Christ once they reach menopause as they become more levelheaded and spiritually aware. They find that PMS and mood swings no longer impair their judgment as before, allowing them to be more open the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Women in rolls of leadership testify that they also lose the mood swings and find that their minds are sharp and they begin to develop more self-confidence.

Many women don't realize the effect that hormones can have on their thinking process and their ability to make good decisions. But those who have reached menopause no longer go "crazy" once a month. They don't have to endure period cramps, bloating and weight gain associated with menstruation.

Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as male menopause. Men experience a decrease in hormones and therefore experience similar hormonal imbalances. But male menopause symptoms don't compare to the menopause symptoms of a woman. Mostly, they experience a slow decrease of testosterone once they pass the age of 45.

In summary, the more you know about menopause and menopause symptoms, the easier it will be when you are faced with it. Peri menopause has been known to begin as early as the late thirties so it's important to know all of the facts. And of course, it is never too early to develop a healthy lifestyle.