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Monday, December 18, 2006

Story About Menopause

Menopause and Beyond contents page
"This is only one woman's story about menopause. But I felt I needed to say it. It may matter to others to hear it." My philosophy re HRT "I see that as a ...

Metroactive Books | Tina McElroy Ansa
First, The Hand is a story about "menopause." In the first chapter, it appears that the 40-something Lena may be a virgin (yeah, right). ...

A Healthy Perspective - Capers Community Market
The prevailing cultural story about menopause tends to focus on uncomfortable symptoms and out of control women who are becoming dry, brittle and angry. ...

Transgender poll...I am APPALLED at the results - Page 3 ...
If they really want a social issue how about a story about menopause? Now that would be funny and entertaining. Hot flashes, mood swings, low libedo, etc. ...

"WARD TRIPLETT" on Find Articles
keepmedia If you were an R&B fan in the early '80s, the cover story about "Menopause the Musical" probably reminds you of that song. ...

Be Aware, Be Very Aware
Oprah talks about her experiences with perimenopause.

Cecile Forte speaker brought to you by FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers
Wise Women Don't Have Hot Flashes ... They Have Power Surges! (a love story about menopause told from a husband's point of view) $10.00 ...

Blanck announces retirement

story about menopause in The Dallas. Morning News� PULSE magazine. �The. Future of Hormone Therapy,� by. Meharvan Singh, PhD, assistant profes- ...

Timothy McSweeney's Worldwide Fondness: Letters
It was titled: "An Open Letter to the Editor Who Rejected My Story About Menopause for a Book on the Same Topic Whose Title I Will Not Reveal, or The Mature ...

Copyright by Julie Ann Winterich 2002

cultural story about menopause becomes internalized and influences some women to ... Some women may reject the cultural story about menopause and find the ...

RECAP - Monday, June 12, 2006 - the buzz
This reminds me of her midlife crisis story, where people were upset because they wanted a more clinical story about menopause, instead of the writers' ...

Menopause and Menopause Relief!

by Jason Jeremiah Lee

Menopause is a biological phase which occurs which causes a woman's reproductive function to slowly cease working altogether. This occurrence will cause her menstrual cycle to halt. Usually, women with the age of 48 and above will get menopause. There are of course instances where women may get menopause earlier in their lives. Same goes for the symptoms of menopause and the level or its severity on different individuals.

For women on this stage in life, do understand that it is natural that your body is phasing out its reproduction system. The reason behind this biological phenomenon is simple. Your ovaries have started to produce less and less estrogen and progesterone which are the main essential hormones of womanhood. The result is apparent and unmistakable. Irritation and hot temper will follow suit. Ups and down emotional roller coasters can make menopausal women feel as if their lives are out of control. Being easily angered and irritated are consequences of natural hormonal fluctuations.

So how do we deal with this unpleasant phase in life. Firstly, do not despair as this is not something which is beyond help. Smart women learn to cope with these mood swings by performing regular exercises together with relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga.

We all need to know that exercise is a an important way to gain relief through menopause. A regular exercise routine helps to limit the effects of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes, depression, sleep disorders and irritability. These negative aspects of menopause can all be reduced from a good exercise regime. Exercising also helps lower the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease are more common among women with menopause.

Besides knowing what to do in terms of physical health, women can also look into areas of psychological health. One main reason is this, menopause is popularly associated with the �empty nest syndrome� where all children have left home and set up families of their own. Sometimes, this causes depression and to cope with this, women can join social clubs and socialize with other peers. This will put them in the position to be happier and also gain more valuable help and support through a group of women that personally can understand and empathize with post-menopausal women.

Knowing what to do is half of the story however. Women should experiencing menopause should also know what to stay away from. Smoking is one of them and its one major cause of heart attack. Research has also proven that smoking will increase instances of hot flashes and also in many cases, cause menopause to occur sooner than they should.

So don't worry if you have menopause. Lighten up and make yourself comfortable most of the time. Take deep breaths when you're not feeling comfortable. Remember to do your exercise and always know that living a healthy physical and psychological lifestyle will help you cope with the irritations of menopause. Be productive and you will feel happy and relieved.

infohub2006.blogspot.com/
shows you some of the methods in relieving menopause irritation besides having
good exercise. Drop by for more
menopause relief

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Jeremiah_Lee

Menopause Facts About

Hormone Therapy: What It Is and How It Can Help You

by Barney Garcia

Sally, one of my senior colleagues was in her mid forties when she experienced night sweat for the first time in her life. It was cold inside, yet she was all covered up with sweat. The story does not end there; she shares with us more of her experiences like depression, anxiety, hot flash, vaginal dryness, low sex drive and few more. Well, sally was going through the symptoms of menopause. It literally meant a sudden �change of life� for her. She suddenly started look different and started talking about strange things like �getting everything in order�. Any way, the cheery, confident Sally was gone and as if a different person came to work with us. It was evident that Sally failed to accept this natural transition of life with grace. It was then somebody broached the topic of hormone therapy to Sally. After a brief phase of indecision, sally decided in favor of hormone replacement therapy and today she is her active, enterprising self again and most importantly finally she came to realize that menopause meant only the end of reproductive life of a woman; it is not the end of life.

So what does a hormone therapy mean that brought about such a positive change in the life of Sally and why only Sally? Millions of women all across the USA, every year take recourse to the hormone replacement therapy to live a life happier and healthier in their post menopausal days.

No matter by what name you call it-- Hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy or ovarian hormone therapy, it is a treatment involving the use of estrogen and progesterone to supplement the declining levels of these hormones in female body during the days of menopause. The modern medical sciences are of the opinion that the term , "hormone replacement therapy" is contradictory to the very spirit of the treatment as the name suggests that menopause is a disease caused by hormone deficiency. But menopause is just a natural phase of a woman�s reproductive life and the entire life cycle as puberty is. So the term "hormone therapy" has become more popular over time.

Although menopause is just one of the phases of life, its symptoms often prove to be detrimental to a normal and active lifestyle of a career woman of today. So most of the women today undergo hormone therapy to get rid of these symptoms like hot flash, moderate to severe vaginal dryness and related discomforts. There are cases where even the younger women take the help of hormone therapy to treat the conditions in which ovaries do not produce sufficient estrogens naturally.
In its more advanced stage, hormone therapy is also being recommended for reducing the risk of heart disease and the debilitating disease of osteoporosis.

Part II

In order to alley the risks as far as possible, doctors suggest a continued treatment for 10 to 20 years or even throughout one�s lifetime.

Hormone therapy is a procedure for receiving additional estrogen and progesterone in the body and there are several ways to take these hormones into your body. You can pop hormone pills. You can use them as topical medicines for your vaginal treatments. They can also get inside your body as implants or you can take the hormones through injections.

The normal women who have their uterus have to take a combination of estrogen and progesterone. This is because estrogen alone greatly increases a woman's risk of uterine cancer. The progesterone neutralizes this risk factor. The women who have had their uterus removed however are prescribed estrogen alone. This is known as "estrogen replacement therapy" (ERT).

There are many women who experience menopause before they are forty. Sometimes this happens naturally. Sometimes it is the result of surgery to remove the ovaries. Radiation or chemotherapy are also sometimes responsible for advancing menopause in the lives of certain women. Whatever may be the cause, in these cases of early menopause hormone or estrogen therapy becomes particularly essential to counter the effects of a premature drop in estrogen levels.

Menopause is natural, but it is not that easy to deal with its symptoms. So it is no wonder that more and more American women are considering a hormone treatment as they reach the menopausal period in their 40�s and 50�s. But giving a consideration and taking the actual decision are not same and so there are considerable dilemma between the thinking and ultimately taking the decision. Most of the women swing between the question: to do or not to do? They can not be blamed for this indecision for making an informed decision about hormone therapy is difficult. One comes to read about so many benefits of this therapy only to be contradicted by a sea of risk factors written in another book or magazine or website. So before taking the decision you have to weigh carefully the pros and cons of this treatment.

However, there are some women who are not considered ideal candidate for hormone therapy. They include the Women with certain conditions should not take hormone therapy. These include the women diagnosed with breast cancer, active liver disease, a history of blood clots or vaginal bleeding without any apparent reason.

Any decision regarding hormone therapy must be taken after through discussion with your physician who will decide after taking into consideration such factors as your age, medical history, overall health and Current symptoms.

Barney Garcia writes about hormone therapy. Visit: hormone therapy and hormone replacement risks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barney_Garcia

My Concers About My Menopause

An Overview Of Breast Cancer

by Michael Russell

Many women consider their breasts to be their defining feature and cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of the world. As the name signifies, cancer of the breast, or breast cancer, is a type of cancer. It is predominantly a female disease and it is one of the most common forms of cancer. In the United States alone, approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, though the figure is somewhat lower in countries like Canada and Australia. It is also a major cause of cancer deaths in women. The majority of patients are women who have crossed the menopause stage. Birth control pills also increase the chances of its occurrence as do treatments like HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Being overweight and the excessive consumption of alcohol also contribute significantly to it. The occurrence of breast cancer in family members can increase the chances as there is a gene which can be inherited.

What is Breast Cancer? Simply put, cancer of the tissues in breast is called breast cancer. It usually surfaces in the form of a lump or tumor in and around the breast. Every lump found in the breasts is not necessarily an indicator of breast cancer; sometimes it may not be associated with breast cancer at all. It is normal for lumps to be formed, especially during the growing up stage. They can also be formed as a result of hormonal changes and they are usually temporary.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

It is not possible to detect this disease in the starting stages. The symptoms start appearing slowly and slowly as the disease progresses. They could be anything like:

. A lump or swelling in the breast or adjoining area like the underarm.

. Increase or decrease in the shape or size of the breasts.

. Dimpling or change in the color of the skin

. Discharge from the nipples.

Factors that increase the risk of Breast Cancer

. Contraceptives.

. Hormone therapy.

. Overweight.

. Alcohol.

. Age factor.

. Genes.

. Dairy products.

How To Detect Breast Cancer

Early detection of breast cancer is vital to cure the disease. The sooner it is detected, the better. The chances of curing it are more if detected in the early stages. It is very difficult to cure it in the advanced stages. There are many ways to find out if you are suffering from breast cancer. A few of them are:

. Medical examination of breasts and armpits by a doctor, at least once in a year.

. Mammogram, especially if you are above 40 years of age.

. Ultrasound, can be done separately or combined with other tests.

. BSE (Breast Self-Examination).

. Biopsy.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurs broadly in two places, lobules or the milk ducts. They are:

. Invasive lobular carcinoma - Cancer originated in the lobules, but has now spread.

. Invasive ductal carcinoma - Cancer, which originated in the milk ducts but has spread.

. Lobular carcinoma in situ - Cancer in the lobules.

. Ductal carcinoma in situ - Cancer in the milk ducts.

Treatments available for Breast Cancer

There are various options available for its treatment. Some of them are:

. Surgery.

. Radiation Therapy.

. Chemotherapy.

. Hormone Treatment.

Prevention of Breast Cancer

The most important aspect of this dangerous and fatal disease is prevention. The various treatment options are costly and damaging to the body. The old saying prevention is better than cure is aptly applicable to this disease. Prevention of breast cancer is more important than its cure. Routine medical examinations and immediate medical advice in case of suspected symptoms can greatly reduce the chances of breast cancer spreading.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Tell You About Menopause

Soy and Menopause

by Danna Schneider

Soy and Menopause - How Soy Naturally Reduces the Effects of Menopause and Replaces Essential Chemicals Lost During This Phase of Life

The soy bean first became a common staple food in China roughly five thousand years ago. Research on soy's cardiovascular benefits and other positive effects on cholesterol and bone health began in the early 1900's when it was discovered that chemicals called isoflavones, which are found in soy and actually make up a large part of soy, prevented the leeching of bone calcium that commonly occurs in individuals who consume red meats.

Hot flashes, a common symptom of menopause which occurs due to a loss of temperature control associated with dropping estrogen levels, can be alleviated through the utilization of a soy menopause supplement because of the estrogenic effects of the soy isoflavones found in soy.

Actually, in Japan, where soy foods are a household staple, women are about one third less likely to have menopausal symptoms than women in the US and Canada. Research has shown that women who consume soy flour daily experience roughly a 40% reduction in menopause symptoms.

This research implies there are exciting possibilities for future alternatives to traditional hormone replacement therapy for women uncomfortable with synthetic hormone therapy and introducing foreign and synthetic substances into their body.

Soy as an Antioxidant

Another exciting property of soy, besides it's menopause relief benefits, involves two compounds found in soy called genistein and daidzein. These two compounds have been found to have anti-cancer properties due to their highly antioxidant effects on the female body, along with the overall hormone balancing properties of soy, especially on hormone-dependent cancers like uterine and breast cancer.

One researcher quotes "although plant estrogens are a thousand times weaker than natural estrogen, they also circulate in the blood at levels thousands of times higher than natural estrogen". And, guess what? The food that is by far the richest in natural plant estrogens and isoflavones is - you guessed it - SOY!

To summarize, if you are looking for natural alternatives to menopause relief, a good soy-infused menopause relief remedy can dramatically improve your menopause symptoms, and be a healthy addition to any woman's diet as an antioxidant and cancer prevention measure. Soy and menopause - The healthy and natural solution for menopause relief.

Visit Natural HRT Soy Menopause Remedy for more information on how to naturally eliminate symptoms of menopause and hormonal imbalance. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Herbal Therapeutics Herbal Remedy Info and Reviews, a site dedicated to providing reviews and articles on the most effective natural alternative products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danna_Schneider

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Menopause Women Attitude About Men

Menopause Options - There Are Many

by Michael Russell

Every woman will go through the life changing menopause. Each woman is unique, which means each menopause that is experienced differs. Some woman travel through this stage of her life without any problems while others suffer from a very difficult time, which can affect their life and the lives of those closest to them.

Thankfully today there is lot of help out there for those women of a certain age, and any woman experiencing problems should reach out for help and explore the different options on offer.

Some women use herbs to help combat the unpleasant symptoms, other choose to use Hormone Replacement treatment (HRT). The Herbal route can offer fewer side effects than medical drugs, which make them popular.

The menopause can take years to complete and is heralding a new stage of the woman's life. Once it is known that menopause has started it is important to take control. A nutritious diet is important as too is exercise.

It is quite possible to combine both conventional hormone replacement treatment and alternative therapies. The important thing is to become educated and to make choices that suit you.

During the menopause the ovaries stop making estrogen and progesterone. As part of the menstrual cycle the ovaries also make androgens and testosterone. So with the hormone levels changing many ladies need help in replacing them. This is where Hormone Replacement Treatment comes in. HRT can relieve the unpleasant symptoms sometimes suffered, for example hotflashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and loss of libido and can give protection against osteoporosis, heart disease and stroke but on the down side HRT does present some risks which should be discussed with your physician.

HRT can be very useful for those women who have a surgical pause where the ovaries and usually her uterus and fallopian tubes are removed. When this is done there is a much more sudden drop in sex hormone levels than when the menopause takes its natural course. This sudden drop can cause many health problems especially in younger women.

Some women choose to use herbal treatments to help them through the difficult times. If this route is chosen than a physician should still be consulted as some herbal products can have side effects and may react with other prescribed medication.

It is also believed that Soy and soy products can help with the symptoms of menopause but there is some controversy over this.

During the menopause stage of life it has been found that regular exercise offers huge benefits in aiding with the discomfort of symptoms. I am not talking about a punishing routine but gentle exercising that aids with mobility and relaxation. Just by choosing to use the stairs and not the elevator is a start. Practicing yoga stretches is also a good way of exercising.

One of the hardest things for women and their families during this time is the emotional problem that can come along. Leading a woman to act or react in ways alien to their normal behavior patterns. Anger and depression are emotions commonly seen amongst menopausal women. It is so important to nurture yourself during this time. Spend time doing relaxing things. Make this a way of life. Treat yourself to massages, manicures, aromatherapy treatments, anything to help you feel good.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Menopause

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Sex Lies And Menopause The Shocking Truth About Hormone

First Symptoms of Menopause

by Jodie Phillips

Normally, women experience the first symptoms of menopause during their late thirties and early forties. Menopause is a natural occurrence and a gradual transition occurring in every woman. Menopause is not any disease or illness but a total cessation of menstrual cycles for twelve months or more. Some women experience first symptoms of menopause earlier than other women do.

Early development of first symptoms of menopause could be due to higher stress levels, unhealthy lifestyle, lack of regular exercise, irregular eating patterns, insufficient consumption of healthy foods, etc. The most prominent first symptoms of menopause are irregular menstrual cycles. Menstrual flow during such period could be very high or extremely low.

While you experience the first symptoms of menopause, your menstrual cycles could occur frequently within a fortnight or sometimes, you miss your periods for over a full month too. There could be widening gap between menstrual periods overtime.

There is also no set limit over the menstrual flow, sometimes it could be for three to five days while sometimes it could continue for more than a week. The first symptoms of menopause could lead to total disruption in your regular and systematic menstrual cycles.

Other common first symptoms of menopause include tenderness in breasts, inability to handle stress, lapse of memory and other nervous problems like depression, anxiety, confusing thoughts, mood swings, etc. It is common to note the setting in of the first symptoms of menopause with a gain in your body weight. Your body tends to retain more water and you seem to bloat.

Changes in hormone levels in your body indicate the first symptoms of menopause. Such hormonal changes are often the cause for your low energy levels and a lower drive to face the challenges in life. In other words, you seem to lack sufficient interest in life. These hormonal changes are also the cause behind your sudden hot flashes, which are the most common first symptoms of menopause.

You experience such sudden hot flashes at any time, more often at night. There is no method to predict occurrence of these first symptoms of menopause. More than forty percent of women having regular menstrual cycles also experience such hot flashes in their forties. These are therefore a prelude to the first symptoms of menopause.

There is no particular time limit for occurrence of such hot flashes. Around eighty percent of women experience hot flashes for around five years while around ten percent of women experience it for ten years too. Although there is nothing to predict their occurrence or lapse, these first symptoms of menopause definitely decrease overtime.

Jodie Phillips is the owner of several Women's Health-related websites at http://nail-fungus.gaodr.com and she shares her knowledge and research on Women's Health in a series of articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jodie_Phillips

New Findings About Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy

Early Menopause

by Kevin Stith

Early or premature menopause is defined as menopause before the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure, surgery, and chemotherapy may all result in early menopause. About one in a hundred women may experience early menopause; some may be teenagers or in their twenties. Symptoms of early menopause tend to be very similar to those of normal menopause. Changes in the timing and duration of menstrual periods and hot flashes are common.

In some women, early menopause may be due to failure of the ovaries and is called premature ovarian failure. It is thought that such failure is due to hormonal, autoimmune or genetic processes, which result in a depletion in the number of viable eggs in a woman�s ovaries. This depletion may be complete, or, in approximately ten percent of women who have premature ovarian failure, partial. These women have a reduced but possible chance of becoming pregnant. Recent research has shown that female twins may be up to four times more times more likely than other women to undergo spontaneous early menopause. Either or both twins may be affected.

Surgery is another cause of early menopause. When the ovaries are removed or damaged during surgery, there is a rapid reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels and the immediate onset of menopause. Because the hormonal changes are so abrupt, menopausal symptoms tend to be more intense.

Women who undergo chemotherapy for cancer treatment may have premature menopause. Cancer-killing drugs may damage other tissues too, including ovarian tissue. Tamoxifen, a drug prescribed in certain types of breast cancer, has an anti-estrogen effect and can also trigger early menopause. Sometimes, chemotherapy-induced menopause may be temporary.

Early menopause can be extremely distressing, particularly when it occurs in younger women who may not yet have had children or completed their families. Besides treatment of menopause symptoms, some women benefit from counseling to address emotional issues.

Menopause provides detailed information about menopause, early menopause, male menopause, menopause and osteoporosis and more. Menopause is the sister site of Chronic Insomnia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Stith