Menopause, like puberty, is a transition and a natural part of a woman's life. It is not a disease or an illness. Unlike puberty, menopause or the "change of life" was not discussed in grammar school and a "special talk" was rarely set aside to explain what to expect and how to deal with its many, sometimes debilitating symptoms. Educating oneself by reading the most recent articles and/or talking to a physician about menopause is a valuable tool in preparing oneself for what can be a very challenging time in life.

The word menopause comes from the Greek "mens" which means monthly and "pausis" which means cessation. A woman has begun her menopause when she has not had her menstrual period for full year. The six or more years that gradually lead up to menopause are called "perimenopause" or pre-menopause. In the United States, perimenopause usually starts between 45 and 55 years of age. During this time, women may or may not begin to show some of the following symptoms.

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Head aches
Irritability
Depression
Problems with concentration or memory
Insomnia
Fatigue
Vaginal changes
Brest changes
Thinning of the skin of the vagina and or vulva
Changes in menstrual periods (longer or shorter, heavier or lighter)
Changes in libido
Thinning hair
Weight gain (usually around the abdomen)

With age, the female body gradually decreases hormone output as the ovaries prepare to scale back. Each woman experiences the onset of menopause differently. Your physician may advise you to keep track of your periods and symptoms in order to better form a treatment plan for you.

Menopause relief and menopause treatment options focus on treatment of the symptoms and not menopause or perimenopause itself.

Options include:

Lifestyle changes (including quitting smoking and or cutting back on caffeine)
Natural or Herbal remedies (such as Saw Pimento, Black Cohosh, Echinacea, Uva Ursi, Passion Flower, St. John's Wort and Golden Seal)
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT (consult your physician about possible side effects)
Other medical therapies

Men deal with the symptoms of menopause too and not always the symptoms of their mate. Some of the same symptoms reported to doctors by women are coming from men. With age, a man's hormone levels decrease which may lead to Male Menopause. Studies are still being made to find out if hormone replacement therapy is helping to relieve symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual dysfunction in men.

While menopause comes with getting older, keeping a positive attitude is very important.
So the next time you have a hot flash, think of it as a POWER SURGE!

Learn more about this author, Dorothy Hobson Cabrera.
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