Monday, September 2, 2013

Menopause Vaginal Dryness and How to Cure It


It is quite common for women to experience vaginal dryness post menopause and one of the underlying reasons behind this sexual problem is a drop in the production of the estrogen. Low levels of estrogen makes the walls of the vaginal thin and dry. Women tend to experience constant itching or burning sensation in the vagina due to a drop in the estrogen levels.

Excessive dryness of the vagina can make intercourse extremely painful and one of its implications is that women tend to lose interest in sex. It affects female sex drive adversely which can take a toll on your relationship.

How to Cure Vaginal Dryness Naturally

Here are a few steps that can help you get over vaginal dryness:


  1. Drink a lot of water- This is likely to keep you well hydrated and help ease out vaginal dryness. What you need to remember is that dehydration can only aggravate the problem

  2. Foods like soy, apples etc., can help increase estrogen levels.

  3. Most people tend to believe that all fat is bad. This can be very misleading. Your body requires essential fats like omega 3 for the production of hormones like estrogen. Make sure you get enough of essential fats in your diet. The best sources include fish like salmons, olives, olive oil, nuts etc.,

  4. Quit Smoking- Cigarettes contain dangerous chemicals that can aggravate dryness in the vagina

Over and above, there are some natural or herbal supplements as well as lubricants that can help ease out vaginal dryness.

Natural supplements are a rich and potent blend of herbs, vitamins, minerals etc., that not only increase blood flow to the genitals but also help increase estrogen levels without the side effects of hormone replacement therapy. Top of the line supplements comprise of ingredients like ginkgo biloba, epimedium sagittatum, black cohosh, ginger root, ginseng, red raspberry, melatonin, niacin etc.,

Such supplements increase blood flow to the genitals to ensure engorgement of the clitoris and also increase estrogen production in your body to ease out vaginal dryness.

Lubricants are a mix of various ingredients such as pure aloe, shea and cocoa butters, l-arginine, citric acid etc., A large number of women are buying such lubricants that make you feel and experience sensations which you might have never felt before.

The best thing such supplements and lubricants is that they do not have any side effects.

If you want to Get over Menopause Vaginal Dryness, check out the Best Sexual Enhancers for Women that are Natural and can make you enjoy most satisfying sex.

All About MellowPause


No woman is happy to go through menopause. Matter of fact, controlling their emotions is one of the side effects of the whole ordeal. The side effects that women deal with when they reach this stage in their life are not easy on the body physically, mentally, or emotionally. Even worse-the menopausal process (also called the climacteric stage) can have side effects that last for years for some woman. While it may only be a few months of distress for others, even a week of going through menopause is undesirable. There are ways to prepare for this time and help manage the discomforts. MellowPause is an example of a treatment used to help relieve symptoms associated with menopause and support estrogen balance in the body.

MellowPause takes advantage of natural ingredients to help comfort women going through either peri-menopause or menopause. Peri-menopause is what the body experiences when it is preparing for menopause. During the entire climacteric stage a female is left to deal with a serious estrogen and progesterone drop. This drop is what leads to these common side effects: hot flashes, night sweats, inability to focus, and mood swings. MellowPause takes into consideration both problems at hand during the climacteric stage-the internal imbalance of hormones and the discomforts that come with it.

There are two key ingredients that the MellowPause formula focuses on: Black Cohosh and Pasque Flower. Black Cohosh has become a popular ingredient over the years for the support of female gynecological health and support of the nervous system. The ingredient helps support healthy estrogen and is especially beneficially in the treatment of hot flashes. This is thanks to its natural ability to support temperature regulation in a female. Pasque Flower is used for soothing and supporting the reproductive organs of a female. It also has a natural ability to positively affect the nervous system.

MellowPause comes in the form of a tincture. The idea behind this is to ensure safe and quick delivery to the body. Women are instructed to dilute 10-15 drops of MellowPause into water, juice, or milk. This should be done three times daily and after a meal. For optimal results, women should pair this treatment with a healthy diet and exercise. This means eliminating excess sugar, artificial preservatives, stimulants, colorants, and keeping alcohol intake to a minimum.

This is just one of the many different products available to help women comfortably go through menopause. This particular treatment is said to delivery speedy results and each bottle should last about a month.

Natural Factors VITEX Product Info


Menopause is a difficult time in a woman's life as it signifies a drastic change in the reproductive system, which can come with a lot of unpleasant side effects and awkward symptoms. There are many supplements and remedies on the market, which are produced to target these symptoms and bring women back to feeling normal again. One of these supplements aiming to combat a whole host of menopausal problems is Natural Factors Vitex.

There is a legitimate argument between menopause supplements that contain a list of ingredients and those that contain only one or two. It is hard to decide which is better, however the positive aspects of a simple formula is that there are less ingredients that the body could react badly too and also that the one ingredient could be more potent in a higher, concentrated dose.

The ingredient found in Natural Factors Vitex is chaste tree berry. Chaste tree berry (also known as vitex) is well known for use during menopause. Chaste tree berry is known for balancing out female hormones. This occurs as the effects on the body mimic that of progesterone, an important reproductive hormone that often fluctuates during menopause. The flavanoids in chaste tree berry target the pituitary gland, which in turn has an effect on certain hormones, (progesterone). This effective 'progesterone' balances out with the body's estrogen levels which is another of the most important hormones in the reproductive system. The regulation of these hormones is essential in combating any unwanted side effects that can occur with an imbalance such as hot flashes.

This ingredient can also be used for the menstrual cycle to help keep it regular. It is helpful in treating irregular bleeding in menopause.

Chaste tree berry is often recommended to be taken with other herbal supplements during menopause. In the case of Natural Factors Vitex 1-3 tablets should be taken daily before a healthy breakfast. As with other herbal supplements such as black cohosh, vitex is powerful and should not be taken for extreme lengths of time. Therefore caution is advised and it is important to follow the recommended dosage. Vitex along with most other menopause pills should not display obvious results immediately but should work over time to provide relief for symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. There are other useful herbs that can target symptoms such as fatigue and lack of libido. It is a good idea to consult a doctor or herbologist before combining ingredients.

Menopause and Anxiety - How to Bring Natural Relief


Even though menopause is a natural stage of a woman's life, it often creates anxiety due to misunderstanding of physiological changes. Menopause and anxiety should be understood as cause and effect due to the decline of estrogen level in woman's body. Thus, proper treatment for menopause can effectively bring emotional relief and eliminate depression and low-esteem in women.

Emotional Changes in Menopause

Menopause is characterized by a permanent cessation of woman's natural menstrual cycle. The production of the estrogen hormone reduces significantly in a woman during menopause causing her ovaries to stop producing eggs. As the estrogen level drops, the blood vessels expand rapidly leading to temperature rise in the woman's skin. This can further cause hot flashes that can be felt around the chest, shoulders, head, and neck. The sudden spread of warmth makes the woman to sweat and feel soaked. Many women also experience raid heart beating, insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. All those feelings then create psychological symptoms that include mood swings, depression and anxiety.

Sex and Weight Gain Factors

The feeling of anxiety during menopause could also be caused by misconception of sex and weight gain. There is a myth that a woman will lose her sexual desire during menopause, but in fact the midlife years can be a great time to enhance the sexual experience as there is no restriction from having to use birth control due concerns of possible pregnancy. In the case of vaginal dryness or painful intercourse, the woman can always apply lubricants or creams. After all, sex is about emotional feeling and is free of any hormonal changes.

Another factor that often leads to anxiety during menopause is the fear of weight gain. Biologically the fall of estrogen level can slow down the metabolism, which potentially results in weight gain. Because of this, it is important for women in menopause to maintain a balanced diet. Diet should be particularly high in Calcium and Phytoestrogens, chemicals that mimic and supplement estrogen-like hormones. Phytoestrogens are useful to maintain proper bone density post menopause. These chemicals can be found in soy bean, tofu, linseed, rice, oat, and red clover.

Other Useful Things to Do

Some other things that a woman can do to reduce anxiety and depression feelings during menopause are:

Regular exercise: doing routine exercise can significantly reduce hot flashes. Mild exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, swimming or lifting weight help to strengthen the bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

Proper Sleep: if a woman has trouble going to sleep during menopause, it will be a good choice to take a hot shower before bedtime or drink a glass of warm milk. Taking sleeping pill occasionally is also recommended, with doctor prescription.

Social activity: post menopause, some women find a new hobby like writing, gardening or pottery. Others meet old friends once a week for social. Basically, focusing on other useful things can significantly increase the quality of life post menopause.

Physiological changes in menopause are inevitable and normal. They may bring feelings of anxiety, depression, and moodiness. However, understanding on menopause treatment can greatly increase the awareness of psychological effects of it.

Memory Problems - Simple Lifestyle Changes and Menopause Supplements For Memory Lapses


The Problem - Memory Lapses

During menopause, you may experience frequent memory lapses. Hormonal imbalance is an important factor in memory problems among menopausal women.

During menopause, the estrogen level fluctuate greatly, causing physical discomforts such as joint pains, headaches, hot flashes, sleep disorder, and mental problems including mood swings, anxiety, depression and irritability.

In case of memory lapses, declined level of estrogen affects the cognitive functions of the brain. Insufficient level of this female hormone causes the brain to slow down, leading to frequent memory lapses.

In addition, stress and disrupted sleep during menopause can worsen the condition. Some women also report fuzzy thinking as an accompanied symptom.

Memory problems may impede daily life. Misplaced keys, forgetting names, failing to remember appointments or important numbers, these can be very troublesome for many women.

Simple Ways to Alleviate the Problem

The good news is that: memory lapses are reversible and preventable, with some effective treatments, such as lifestyle changes and natural remedies.

Incorporate exercise into our daily route. Regular exercise sends more oxygen to your brain and relieves stress and tension. Increased oxygen and reduced stress can help the brain function better and reduce memory problems.

Limit intake of alcohol. Alcohol is harmful for the brain function as it damages never cells and depletes vitamins in the body, which are vital for building neural connections.

Get more snooze time. Sleep is essential for proper memory functions. Lack of sleep can affect mood, judgment and memory ability. A good night's sleep can improve your memory, especially for menopausal women. Aim for 7 to 8 hours sleep a night to get fully rested.

Natural Remedies to Relieve the Symptoms

Apart from memory lapses, you are very likely to suffer from other menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia and anxiety. These symptoms are all hormone-related and can make your memory lapses worse.

To maintain a good menopause health and reduce the hormone-related symptoms, make sure you give body all essential nutrients for a good health foundation, as well as effective herbs to fight the unwanted symptoms.

Herbs can help stimulate the brain and boost memory. Herbal supplements for menopause can regulate hormone levels and alleviate menopausal symptoms. Effective herbs include Black cohosh, Dong quai and Red clover.

When you are combining lifestyle changes and quality supplements for menopause, you are treating the problems from inside to outside, from root cause to related symptoms.

With quality menopause supplements, memory lapses may be reversed.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Signs of Menopause - The Quick Reference Guide


Menopause is not a disease but is a normal phase in a woman's life and unfortunately you can't avoid it.

About Menopause

All women will experience differing signs of menopause and on average, women live more than 20 years after going through menopause. Menopause is commonly called the "change of life" because you go from being fertile to infertile. The average age that a woman reaches menopause is 52 although they will begin to feel symptoms a number of years before this, possibly in the mid to late 40s.

Perimenopause is the early stages of menopause and most often occurs in the mid-forties. The main menopause symptom is an irregularity of the monthly cycle. About 75% of women report experiencing hot flashes in the years leading up to the menopause.

Menopause is caused by a decrease in the body's production of estrogen and takes place gradually over several or more years. A decrease in estrogen increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. It also increases the occurrence of osteoporosis. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. 40% of women over 40 suffer bone fractures and this can often be attributed to the loss of bone mass that occurs with menopause.

There is no direct correlation between ethnicity, age at puberty, number of children born or the use of oral contraceptives in determining when a woman will go through menopause. Smoking can cause menopause to occur one or more years early. Smoking also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and so it is highly suggested that women give up smoking while in their menopausal years. Genetics is the major factor as to when menopause will occur. You are most likely to go through menopause at about the same age as your mother did.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is one way of treating some of the most severe symptoms of menopause. ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) is similar to HRT except that only estrogen is used. HRT can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis by replacing the hormones lost through menopause. HRT also has a number of risks involved including an increased risk of breast cancer and possibly uterine cancer. You should talk to your doctor about the possible risks and whether HRT is right for you.

Menopause is considered complete after one year without menstruation i.e. without experiencing a monthly period. Until menopause is complete you are still able to become pregnant and so you still need to take proper precautions.

The most common symptoms of menopause include irregular periods, irritability, hot flashes, sleep problems and a decreased sex drive.

Good nutrition and exercise are two ways to decrease the severity of some menopause symptoms. Vitamin supplements are essential to ensure proper health during this time.

An FSH test can determine if you have started menopause. It measures the levels of FSH, which are usually below 10 MIU/mil. A level of 30 or 40 MIU/mil likely means you've reached menopause.

Strength training can help reduce bone loss and can actually reverse bone loss up to 1% a year while stretching exercises, such as yoga, can help to maintain suppleness and decrease the chances of suffering fractures and muscle tear.

Consult with your doctor to determine the best strategy for dealing with your menopause.

Peri Menopause Symptoms and Relief


Peri menopause may be a new term for you. It simply means the time “around” menopause. Peri menopause symptoms are caused by changing hormonal levels during the years that lead up to menopause. They may last as little as a few months or as long as ten years. Every woman is different. These differences may be related to nutrition, diet, exercise regimens, prescription medications or genetic factors. It may be that the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen or estrogen levels may change suddenly from month to month. Much is unknown.

As early as their thirties, some women begin to experience changes in their menstrual periods. They may become heavier or irregular. Some women begin to experience premenstrual syndrome for the first time in their lives. Some doctors recognize these changes and refer to them as peri menopause symptoms, helping to educate women about what they can do to reduce symptoms. Other doctors leave it up to the women to educate themselves. And others suggest a variety of prescription drugs, which may or may not help.

To help regulate menstrual periods, thus relieving those types of peri menopause symptoms, some doctors recommend birth control pills. Women who take birth control pills may have less symptoms of shorter duration, but this is not always the case. Some women cannot and should not take birth control pills, because of the risks associated with them. Many women prefer not to take them, if they are not needed for contraceptive purposes. Birth control pills have known benefits and known risks. To learn more about them, a good website to visit is [http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/the] pill.htm.

Worsening PMS symptoms may also be peri menopause symptoms. PMS symptoms vary greatly among women, from non-existent to severe. It may be helpful to keep a journal for a while, noting when symptoms like mood swings and breast tenderness appear. There are at least 100 different symptoms associated with PMS; thankfully most women do not experience them all. Women who take birth control pills do not experience PMS, because they do not ovulate, but may have similar symptoms related to varying hormone levels. Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed to relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, but may have side effects, including headache, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction. Regular exercise is one of the best PMS relievers, but without proper nutrition, you may not have the energy for it. A good daily multi-vitamin in addition to a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine will help increase energy levels and reduce PMS symptoms.

Hot flashes and night sweats may be the most frustrating peri menopause symptoms. Antidepressants may increase night sweats in some women. These symptoms are directly related to changing estrogen levels. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was at one time considered a safe treatment for all of the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause, but research has shown that those women using HRT had an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s.

All peri menopause symptoms, including the ones mentioned here and others are believed to be related to decreased levels of estrogen. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies contain synthetic estrogens, thus relieving symptoms, but increasing risks associated with synthetic hormones. Certain plant components have estrogen like effects. These components are referred to as phytoestrogens. Found in plant foods like soy and herbs like black cohosh, phytoestrogens can help relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, naturally without side effects.

Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are sometimes experienced in women during peri menopause. Night sweats are sometimes a major sleep disruption, but many women find that a full night’s sleep is just not possible. If you have a doctor that readily writes prescriptions and you tell him about all of your different symptoms, you may end up taking sleep aids, antidepressants and a variety of other drugs. I have known many women who were taking six or seven different prescription medications during peri menopause and still had problems.

Serotonin is one of the compounds circulating in the blood stream believed to regulate sleep and mood. It is regularly sold as a natural sleep aid, but precursors (those substances that the body uses to create serotonin) are more effective and safer for long term use. Tryptophan was heavily marketed at one time, but also had safety issues. 5-HTP is the newest alternative.

Derived from an African plant, 5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that in studies has been shown to act like a prescription antidepressant, without the side effects. It is recommended for use by women with PMS and peri menopause symptoms for many reasons. It promotes healthy natural sleep, without causing grogginess. It improves mood, without the side effects associated with prescription drugs or other herbal remedies. Studies have shown its effectiveness for migraine treatment. Women, who experienced migraines during puberty, often see them reappear during peri menopause.