by Kimberly Foster

Created on: April 23, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

Menopause is defined as absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The word comes from the Greek mens, meaning monthly, and pausis, meaning cessation. Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases and she can no longer become pregnant. The ovary is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and the hormones estrogen & progesterone. Menopause itself is a normal part of life and not a disease that requires treatment. Menopause is part of a woman's natural aging process.

The process of menopause happens over several years, commonly between the ages of 42 and 56 but a woman has officially begun her menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months. Perimenopause refers to the several years when a woman begins experiencing the symptoms of the menopause transition.

Menopause symptoms vary greatly amongst women and even cultures. Many women will have few to no signs while others can have moderate to severe symptoms. The clearest indication is a change in menstruation. Irregular periods, light or heavy flow, are possible indicators of the menopause transition. Some additional symptoms may include:

Insomnia
Weight gain
Night Sweats
Hot Flashes
Fatigue
Bowel upset
Vaginal dryness

Most symptoms will lessen at the completion of the menopause transition which may not be comforting to the severe sufferer. There are options that the woman can discuss with her physician that may alleviate severe symptoms.

Hormone Therapy is the most common treatment to combat severe menopause symptoms related to declining estrogen levels such as hot flashes. While HT or HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is the most effective method to treat these symptoms there are risks to be considered very carefully between patient and doctor. Studies have found an increased risk of breast cancer as well as heart attack & stroke in women undergoing hormone therapy.

For those with severe symptoms related to irregular or heavy periods, doctors may prescribe oral contraceptives which are also a form of hormone therapy. Risks are associated with "the pill" as well including an increased risk of breast cancer and stroke especially in smokers over the age of 35.

For those patients with milder symptoms or those not interested in HRT due to the risks, they might consider plant estrogens or phytoestrogen. Plant estrogens have a similar chemical structure to human estrogens. Studies have not proven their effectiveness and the debate rages on, however plant estrogens may well be much more effective in another area of complaint amongst menopause sufferers, weight gain. Flax seed and other oilseeds contain the highest amount of phytoestrogen, followed by soy bean, tofu, cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. While the benefit of relieving menopause symptoms such as hot flashes may be debated, one cannot argue the overall health benefits of including foods rich in phytoestrogen in their diet one of which certainly is maintaining a healthy weight.

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