Menopause is a new phase in a woman's' life that is the period of natural cessation of menstruation. It naturally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 when a woman's body stops making eggs, and many changes take place in her body.

PERIMENOPAUSE

Menopause begins for a woman in the form of perimenopaus when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. At this time a woman can still become pregnant because she is still producing eggs, just less of them. Perimenopause usually lasts for about a year, but can last longer, and at this time a woman's menstrual cycle will fluctuate. A woman may have other symptoms also that are very similar to menopausal symptoms such as: mood swings, fatigue, irritability, and night sweats.

MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS

Many women can expect to have an entire range of symptoms when experiencing menopause. A woman may have many symptoms or she may be one of the lucky few that sails through without any symptoms at all. The symptoms a woman may experience are: night sweats, hot flashes, irregular or skipped periods, mood swings, insomnia, irritability, depression and racing heart. Other symptoms can include: headaches, hair loss, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and lowered sex drive.

TREATMENT FOR MENOPAUSE

First a woman should find out if she is experiencing menopause by talking to her health care professional about the symptoms she is having. After discussing the symptoms the doctor can administer a blood test of the follicle stimulating hormones, (FSH) levels, to determine if they are shutting down. Once it has been determined that a woman is experiencing menopause, treatment can begin.

A woman can try hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help lessen the symptoms of menopause. But with this treatment comes the risk of blood clots, higher blood pressure, and stroke. A woman would have to consider her family health history and the risks involved for this kind of treatment.

By eating healthy foods such as striving for five fruits and vegetables every day then a woman can feel healthier and help herself get through menopause successfully. Working out five days a week for just 30 minutes can help also. By doing weight bearing exercises several days a week can help build strong muscles and keep bones strong and healthy. Working out will also help keep a woman's weight down to help prevent other health related problems during and after menopause.

At this time a woman should cut down on caffeine use and quit smoking. Cutting down on caffeine intake can ease hot flashes. By quitting smoking a woman can help to keep her heart healthy, due to decreasing levels of estrogen at this time. Taking calcium supplements to prevent bone loss will also help a woman stay healthy and live a better life during and after menopause.

Menopause diet pills can help a woman with the weight gain that is often associated with menopause. Many different pills are on the market that can get rid of the build up of water and the increase of fat. Some pills deal with water weight gain by flushing it out of the body, but the water eventually finds it way back.

A woman experiencing menopause can help herself by beginning a health regime plan. By eating healthy foods, exercising, trying relaxation techniques such as yoga, and by cutting back on caffeine, a woman can feel healthier and get through menopause feeling like a million dollars.

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