When a woman’s menstrual periods cease for twelve consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause is apparent, then the woman has most likely reached the menopausal stage. Menopause is the time in a woman’s like when the menstrual cycle ceases and she is no longer able to get pregnant. This change is normal and generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 although there are some women who go through the change in their 30s and others who go through it when they are in their 60s. There is no way to really figure out when a woman will start to go through menopause although it is a general rule of thumb that they will start around the same age that their mother entered menopause.  Also, the age that a woman starts to have periods is not related to age they will stop having them.

Signs of menopause

Varying menstrual cycles are one of the first signs that menopause is setting in. As the change progresses, the ovaries cease their production of pregnancy related hormones estrogen and progesterone.  Aside from regulating the reproduction cycle, estrogen also protects bones, making them stronger, making postmenopausal women more vulnerable to osteoporosis. Aside from changes in the menstrual cycle, other symptoms of menopause include  hot flashes, night sweats, n=mood swings, vaginal dryness and itching, heavy bleeding, fatigue, depression, headaches, weight gain, and memory loss.

Stages of menopause

1. Premenopause: This is the reproductive stage which lasts between a woman’s first period and her last.
2. Perimenopause: The is the stage right before menopause that generally starts between the ages of 45 and 60. The stage can last for up to ten years and it is characterized by irregularities in the menstrual cycle and early symptoms of menopause. Irregularities that occur include variations in the length of the period, the time between periods, and the amount of bleeding that occurs, A woman is more and more unlikely to get pregnant as she goes through this stage.
3. Menopause: The menopause stage occurs when a woman has her final period and does not have another one for 12 consecutive months.
4. Postmenopause: Is the stage that occurs after the final menstrual period when the hormone levels decline. This drop in hormone levels may cause health problems such as coronary heart disease and osteoporosis. In fact, postmenopausal women are two to three times more likely to get  coronary heart disease that women of the same age who have not yet reached menopause.

Categories of menopause

There are three different categories of menopause that a woman might possibly go through.

1. Natural menopause: this occurs in the majority of women and it occurs as a natural process of aging and the ovaries start to produce less estrogen and progesterone.
2. Artificial menopause: This occurs because of medical procedure such as a hysterectomy, radiation treatments, or the surgical removal of the ovaries.
3. Premature menopause: If a woman has her final period before the age of 40, it is considered premature menopause. This happens to about 1% of all women and can because of autoimmune diseases, smoking, genetic factors or chemical exposure.

How to alleviate the symptoms

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the better ways that you can alleviate the symptoms that are brought on by menopause.  HRT has proven to be effective in helping stop hot flashes and the onset of osteoporosis; however, it has also been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Be sure to check with your doctor before considering hormone replacement therapy.

700-800mg of Evening Primrose can also be combined with other treatments to effectively assist in the symptoms of menopause.

For hot flashes, try combining about 2 teaspoons of black cohosh root tincture with 1 teaspoon each of  sarsparilla, chaste tree, don quai root, licorice root and ginseng root tinctures. Mix the ingredients well. Take 3 droppers full of this mixture on a daily basis and watch your problem subside!

For vaginal dryness you can try mixing 2 drops of geranium essential oil and one capsule of 1,000 IU of vitamin E to an ounce of almond oil. Apply this mixture inside and outside the vagina twice a day and see the difference it would make!

Cool your hot flashes by getting regular exercise. Dress in layers and try to pinpoint what triggers your hot flashes. For many women these triggers may include hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, hot weather, hot showers or baths, or a warm room.

Say no to vaginal dryness - As the estrogen level drops, the vaginal walls eventually become thinner and drier. This leads to the vaginal dryness that most middle-aged women experience. To help prevent this condition from setting in, fortify your diet with lots of foods containing vitamin C, beta-carotene and selenium or you may take these nutrients in a pill form. Decrease vaginal discomfort by using over-the-counter, water-based vaginal lubricants (Astroglide, K-Y) or moisturizers (Replens, Vagisil). Staying sexually active can help us physically as well as mentally. Talk to your partner about what you are experiencing. Even for couples with a close relationship, this can be a delicate topic, but it's worth it. Don't add emotional stress to your physical discomfort.

Rest and relaxation. Try to get plenty of sleep. For most of us, this is easier said than done, I know. Avoid caffeine. Schedule some time during the day to exercise, though not right before bed. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga can be very helpful. There are a lot of books and tapes -- many available free at your local library -- on different relaxation exercises. Hot flashes can be especially miserable at night, disturbing your sleep, and you may need to find a way to get them under control before you are able to get a good night's rest.