For Peri,current, & Post Menopausal Women

[Rhoni]

Symptoms

Menopause Symptoms
Most women have menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep issues, and changes in sexual interest or response. Learn more about signs that signal menopause and when your symptoms may mean you want to call a doctor.
Heating Up With Hot Flashes
The most frequent symptom of perimenopause and menopause, hot flashes happen to more then two out of three North American women. How can you turn down the heat? Does soy, or herbs like black cohosh, help? Find out.
Is This Menopause?
How do you know if you've entered menopause? Here are the signs and symptoms to watch for.
Sex Drive and Menopause
If your sex drive is sputtering, learn how you can rev it back up.
Sex and Aging: What's Normal, Anyway?
Is it normal for your sex life to change with age? What's normal, anyway? Find out.
Hot Flashes, Menopause and Anxiety
Controlling lifestyle stress and anxiety may help reduce the number and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause, research shows. Learn more about these study results here.

Warning Signs

Menopause: Warning Signs
Menopause warning signs.

Types

Premature Menopause: What It Is, What to Watch For
Menopause starting before the age of 40, whether natural or induced, is known as "premature" menopause. What symptoms should you watch for, and how is premature menopause diagnosed and treated? Find out.
Surgical Menopause & Induced Menopause
Surgical treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the removal of ovaries, can cause women to go into induced menopause. Learn more about surgical and induced menopause here.
Postmenopause
The years after menopause are called postmenopause. Many menopause symptoms are easing now. Learn what changes you can expect in postmenopause -- and how to know you're in it.
Related Guide: Male Menopause: What Is It?
Men experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone with aging and some report menopause-like physical symptoms. Is this male menopause? Find out.
Related Web Site: Aging Male Syndrome
A decline in the male sex hormones can affect a man's body -- and many symptoms can occur. Testosterone maintains sex drive, sperm production, pubic and body hair, muscle, and bone. Read more about what can happen during male menopause. This link will take you to another site.
A decline in the male sex hormones can affect a man's body -- and many symptoms can occur. Testosterone maintains sex drive, sperm production, pubic and body hair, muscle, and bone. Read more about what can happen during male menopause. This link will take you to another site.

Complications

Sleep Disorders and Menopause
Many women going through menopause experience insomnia. What are its symptoms? Can alcohol or warm milk help? Find out how to treat your insomnia and get a good night's sleep.
Menopause and Weight Gain: Is There a Connection?
If you're approaching menopause and think you may be gaining weight, there could be a connection. One expert offers her opinion.
Related Guide: Incontinence and Menopause
Bladder control issues are common in women going through menopause, but there are many options available to treat incontinence. Find out what your options are.
Sex After Menopause
The loss of estrogen following menopause can lead to changes in a woman's sexual functioning. How can you cope with the physical changes? What can you do to give your sex drive a boost as you go through menopause? Get tips here.
Are You on a Rollercoaster?
Menopause can mean emotional changes, making you more inclined to irritability, sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and more. Lifestyle changes can help you cope. Learn how here.
Menopause and Depression
Women approaching menopause woman can experience depressive symptoms. Experts say you shouldn't just live through it, but seek help. Find out more.
Related Guide: Osteoporosis Quiz: Determine Your Risk
Reduction in estrogen after menopause may increase your risk for osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. Are you at risk? Take this simple quiz to find out.
Postmenopause Osteoporosis
Related Guide: Osteoporosis Facts: Get the Basics
An estimated 10 million people in the U.S. have osteoporosis, including 8 million women. Get a brief introduction to the basics about osteoporosis here.
Menopause and Heart Disease
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and as women get older, their risks increase dramatically. Find out what you can do right now to lower your heart disease risks and whether hormone therapy may be the right path.
Related Web Site: Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factor Tool
Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factor Tool
Heart Disease Quiz: What's Your Risk?
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. As women age their risks for heart disease increase dramatically. Are you at risk? Take this quick quiz to find out.
Menopause and Breast Cancer
Menopause itself is not associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer; age is the single-most important breast cancer risk factor. Learn how breast cancer is diagnosed and what steps you can take to prevent breast cancer.
Related Guide: Breast Cancer Facts
Get the facts you want. This overview tells you what you need to know about breast cancer and its causes.
Ovarian Cancer and Menopause
Menopause doesn't raise your risk of developing ovarian cancer; the risks increase with age. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women. Find out what causes this cancer, its symptoms, and what you can do to protect yourself.

[Rhoni]

I printed this off of google.

[Rhoni]

This morning I heard a message given by Pastor Richard Ellis [Reunion Church Dallas, Texas] and it was a wonderful message. He described many of the menopausal symptoms I have experienced and he relates it to Adam and Eve and their sin in the garden of Eden. He said that he did not know what God's plan had been prior to the sin, but the curse that comes from this sin is what we experience in work, relationships, childbearing, and employment.

He talked about the responsibilites of the men [husbands, fathers, uncles, & sons] in the lives of women who are pregnant or menopausal and the love and support they needed/depended on to get through physiological, emotional, spiritual, mental, and sexual issues related to these hormonal changes.

Men of course are to love the wives as Christ loved the church. The better is good, and the worst is worse than can be imagined when going through menopause. LOL. He talked about temperature control, emotional rollercoasters, lack of sexual response and how men are to deal with it: much prayer, and then pray some more as you love you wife through these changes.

I thought maybe we women can share some experiences and let each other know that we are not alone in the things we go through related to aging and hormonal changes.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Gracemaker]

Thank you for the information. I have been going through menopause for the past 5 years and it has been horrible. I do know that God's grace is sufficient for all those who put their trust in Him.

GM

[commonsense]

For me, it began in early 40's; lasted about 7 years. Only had a few major problems.....I won't elaborate since this is a public forum.

I think black cohosh helped. Find lowest dosage to start. I am in favor of supplements but use good sense and monitor amounts until you know what works or if you react.

The blessing of old age is that's its over.

I know there are some unpleasant symptoms for some. Most of my experiences were mild.

[commonsense]

It's not a hot flash, it's a power surge!

[ILG]

My doctor and I think my use of progesterone cream caused my problems here of late. (I had a VERY heavy period, ending up getting a blood transfusion and am anemic.) I read the book written by Dr. John Lee, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Peri-Menopause, bought a brand he recommended used 1/8 teaspoon for 21 days on and 7 days off, had a three week period, realized it was probably caused by the progesterone and tapered off using it. I seemed fine until my next period when I had two regular days and then one day that was so heavy it was unbelievable. And then 3 more days that were fairly heavy. My hemoglobin was 7.8 when I went into the doctor. I had used this previously on a very minimal level with success but when I used it AS DIRECTED (21 days on, 7 days off 1/8t - 1/4 t) this is what happened to me. I thought it was the cream when I went in and was up-front with my doctor who thinks this very well may have caused it. I have used black cohosh with success in the past. I seem to be recovering from this episode, I only hope I don't have any ongoing problems from it. This makes me very angry as the book said that progesterone cream is a CURE for heavy periods. All I am saying is please be careful when you use any of this stuff. It is over the counter and it can cause problems. I used this exactly as directed AND ordered one of a number of recommended brands as the wal-mart and some other over the counter brands are not recommended for use by this doctor.

[Rhoni]

Yes, I had to have a D & C when I was peri-menopausal, but then I only had a few more menstral periods then it was over. That was the ONLY good thing about menopause. I have had several different hormone replacement series that ended in weight gain, extreme mood fluctuations that have caused problems in my relationships, and then the night sweats which turned my white pillow-top mattresses to pink when my red sheets stained them when I sweated all night with the A/C set on 65 degrees.

I am technically post-menopausal. I have less mood swings, less hot flashes and night sweats, but my brain stopped functioning and I am taking brain supplements. LOL. So if I appear crazy...chances are...

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Yes, I had to have a D & C when I was peri-menopausal, but then I only had a few more menstral periods then it was over. That was the ONLY good thing about menopause. I have had several different hormone replacement series that ended in weight gain, extreme mood fluctuations that have caused problems in my relationships, and then the night sweats which turned my white pillow-top mattresses to pink when my red sheets stained them when I sweated all night with the A/C set on 65 degrees.

I am technically post-menopausal. I have less mood swings, less hot flashes and night sweats, but my brain stopped functioning and I am taking brain supplements. LOL. So if I appear crazy...chances are...

I have read of some women having had very terrible times and mood swings especially with HRT. I know that some people can really struggle with it. I do have some problems, but so far the cure has been worse than the problem itself!!

[commonsense]

I have a couple of tapes from John Lee promoting progesterone.

I've used the cremes in the past. Not sure it helped. I finally quit since I read somewhere one should use caution with progesterone too, not just estrogen.

Do your own research. And remember that we all react differently--------------