When advice or discussion is what you need, a menopause support group may be the answer.
Not every woman has an older sister or a living mother to turn to when she is trying to choose a menopause product or considering hormone replacement therapy.
Studies have shown that women with a supportive environment have fewer menopausal symptoms.
Briefly, in this article, we offer some practical advice that every woman can use during the menopausal transition.
It is not intended to take the place of a menopause support group or the advice of your doctor, but maybe it will be just the right amount of information at the right time for some women.
The menopausal transition is typically broken down into three or four categories.
Pre-menopausal women are those who have not experienced any changes in their menstrual cycles.
Peri-menopause technically means the time "around" menopause when women usually begin to notice some changes in their menstrual flow.
It may be lighter than usual, heavier than usual or irregular.
Peri-menopause may last for several years before menopause begins.
Menopause is simply a term that means the end of menstruation.
The average age of menopause is 51.
Women who smoke usually enter menopause two years before women who do not smoke.
Smoking also aggravates many menopausal symptoms.
When a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, she can no longer become pregnant.
Her ovaries have stopped functioning.
The years following menopause are usually referred to as post-menopause.
Post-menopausal women are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
They must pay particular attention to diet and lifestyle; have regular breast cancer screenings and regular physicals.
Some women have very few menopausal symptoms, other than irregular or missed periods.
About 50% of all women have hot flashes and/or night sweats at some point during the menopausal transition.
This is one of the most common symptoms for which women seek hormone replacement or another menopause product, such as botanical or herbal remedies.
Nutritional menopause support generally focuses on calcium intake.
But, without adequate amounts of vitamin D, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals, the body cannot efficiently absorb calcium.
Lack of physical activity further inhibits the process.
Studies from the USRDA currently suggest that most people over the age of 50 do not get adequate amounts of vitamin D and supplementation is suggested.
Some studies indicate that estrogen plays a role in calcium absorption.
Women taking hormone replacement therapy have better bone density levels than women who do not.
However, the largest study concerning the health benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy concluded that the risks of blood clots and stroke outweigh the benefits of improved bone density.
An over-the-counter menopause product usually contains some form of plant estrogen, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium.
The plant Black Cohosh has been shown to effectively reduce hot flashes in most women and is often a menopause product ingredient.
Women's clinics advise that the menopausal transition is not always difficult.
Individual symptoms should be discussed with one's doctor.
Recording menstrual cycles and irregularities can be helpful when seeking treatment.
A menopause support group or discussion board can sometimes help to improve mental attitude.
Yoga and other stress reduction techniques help relieve tension, improve circulation, quality of sleep and sometimes help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.
Not every woman has an older sister or a living mother to turn to when she is trying to choose a menopause product or considering hormone replacement therapy.
Studies have shown that women with a supportive environment have fewer menopausal symptoms.
Briefly, in this article, we offer some practical advice that every woman can use during the menopausal transition.
It is not intended to take the place of a menopause support group or the advice of your doctor, but maybe it will be just the right amount of information at the right time for some women.
The menopausal transition is typically broken down into three or four categories.
Pre-menopausal women are those who have not experienced any changes in their menstrual cycles.
Peri-menopause technically means the time "around" menopause when women usually begin to notice some changes in their menstrual flow.
It may be lighter than usual, heavier than usual or irregular.
Peri-menopause may last for several years before menopause begins.
Menopause is simply a term that means the end of menstruation.
The average age of menopause is 51.
Women who smoke usually enter menopause two years before women who do not smoke.
Smoking also aggravates many menopausal symptoms.
When a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, she can no longer become pregnant.
Her ovaries have stopped functioning.
The years following menopause are usually referred to as post-menopause.
Post-menopausal women are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
They must pay particular attention to diet and lifestyle; have regular breast cancer screenings and regular physicals.
Some women have very few menopausal symptoms, other than irregular or missed periods.
About 50% of all women have hot flashes and/or night sweats at some point during the menopausal transition.
This is one of the most common symptoms for which women seek hormone replacement or another menopause product, such as botanical or herbal remedies.
Nutritional menopause support generally focuses on calcium intake.
But, without adequate amounts of vitamin D, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals, the body cannot efficiently absorb calcium.
Lack of physical activity further inhibits the process.
Studies from the USRDA currently suggest that most people over the age of 50 do not get adequate amounts of vitamin D and supplementation is suggested.
Some studies indicate that estrogen plays a role in calcium absorption.
Women taking hormone replacement therapy have better bone density levels than women who do not.
However, the largest study concerning the health benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy concluded that the risks of blood clots and stroke outweigh the benefits of improved bone density.
An over-the-counter menopause product usually contains some form of plant estrogen, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium.
The plant Black Cohosh has been shown to effectively reduce hot flashes in most women and is often a menopause product ingredient.
Women's clinics advise that the menopausal transition is not always difficult.
Individual symptoms should be discussed with one's doctor.
Recording menstrual cycles and irregularities can be helpful when seeking treatment.
A menopause support group or discussion board can sometimes help to improve mental attitude.
Yoga and other stress reduction techniques help relieve tension, improve circulation, quality of sleep and sometimes help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.