Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Sept. 16 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Perimenopause - Complete Guide to Symptoms and Treatments of the Change of Life
By Amos Grunebaum M.D.


Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments


As women near the age of menopause, they may find themselves suffering from menopause symptoms. Menopause is defined as the lack of menstrual cycles and egg maturation, so the "change of life" as it is commonly called, is actually perimenopause. Perimenopause can begin in the late 40s and last until the late 50s or early 60s, in rare cases.
How Will Perimenopause Symptoms Progress?
The common symptoms of menopause are synonymous with perimenopause. Symptoms can last for decades with the earliest symptom being a change in menstrual cycle. Many women note lighter, less frequent periods as they enter their 40s. This is often a sign of menopause that goes unnoticed.
Lighter periods are not the only change associated with perimenopause. Some women actually have stronger periods that last longer. The change is unique to every woman, however, women fighting heavy, painful periods often seek medical attention to treat the symptoms thus masking them until later in life.
About 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year. In cases with no cancerous medical history, the ovaries and cervix are often left behind. Hormone production continues, but perimenopause does not stop. Perimenopause is linked to the ovaries and estrogen production, not the uterus. Even when periods have stopped and the uterus is removed, women wills till go through menopause via perimenopause.
Is There a Treatment for Perimenopause?
Many women find comfort in taking contraception to control periods. Others have extenuating medical conditions that lead to a complete or partial hysterectomy. Until a woman is considered as being in menopause, there is no treatment for symptoms aside from menstrual cycle control. After menopause, contraception is often replaced with hormone or estrogen replacement therapy.
Women who enter perimenopause early may wish to seek out fertility treatment. There are only a set number of eggs available for maturation and release. Once those are gone menopause begins and natural motherhood is impossible.
Pregnancy and Perimenopause
A woman may think because she has had no menstrual cycle for a few months that she cannot get pregnant. This is not the case. It is not until a woman has passed 12 months without any bleeding, spotting, or period like discharge that she is considered barren. Until then, pregnancy can occur.
Perimenopause can be more disheartening and difficult than menopause. With changing hormone levels, emotional swings, and irregular periods, women often feel they are on the cusp of losing control. Perimenopause is a part of life nearly every woman has to live through - but once the time has passed - freedom from periods is often the best reward.
Information on Fertility and Pregnancy you can Trust.
Amos Grunebaum M.D. is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. In addition to providing pregnant women researched information on pregnancy at BabyMed.com, Amos specializes in perimenopause and menopause.

Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amos_Grunebaum_M.D.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Sept. 08 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Herbs For PMS and Peri-Menopause
By Marilyn Zink

Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.

As women get older and closer to menopause, they experience a variety of symptoms in their bodies - symptoms that can make life unpleasant and sometimes downright difficult.

These symptoms include; heavy periods, forgetfulness, fatigue, insomnia, headaches as well as symptoms like bloating associated with menstruation.

There are a number of herbs that can help make life a whole lot easier for women who are experiencing peri-menopause as well as women with symptoms of PMS. Three of these herbs are Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) and Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis).

Black cohosh has been used for menopausal symptoms as well as menstrual cramping, headaches, water retention, lessened or absence of menstrual bleeding and uterine/bladder prolapse. Since black chohosh is anti-spasmodic, it tones the female reproductive tract.

However, it is also good for toning and sedating the nervous system. Many women have emotional ups and downs associated with their cycle, so black cohosh is especially useful for problems such as nervous irritability and depression. The herb also helps aching muscles and chilliness associated with the menstrual cycle for the peri-menopausal woman.

Black cohosh should not be used on its own. It is best used in a formula along with other herbs that support the female reproductive tract.

Chaste Tree is another excellent herb good for a variety of female reproductive concerns. These include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding, mid-cycle spotting and irregular cycles which are due to a deficiency of the corpus luteum. Chaste tree can also help with other hormonally related symptoms, such as acne, breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts and pre-menstrual symptoms including water retention, headaches and depression.

Chaste Tree is useful for younger women as well as it has been used traditionally to treat infertility and prevent miscarriage, as well as to alleviate post-partum depression. It has been used traditionally to relive muscle spasms and pain.

Dong Quai is often used in many women's formulas. It is a warming female tonic as it enriches the blood, promotes blood circulation as well as regulating and normalizing menstruation and the menstrual cycle. Dong Quai is also a mild laxative, an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic.

Dong Quai can be used for PMS, cramps, menopausal-related symptoms, anemia, bleeding of the uterus due to stagnation as well as chronic pelvic infections. In Chinese medicine, Dong Quai is seen as a herb that 'dissolves stuckness,' which means it reduces blood clots, fibroids and other masses.

Dong quai is useful for gynecological complaints when there is pain with spasms, chills, dryness of skin and constipation due to dryness. Dong Quai is often considered the female version of ginseng and it helps women feel good.

Women who take Black Cohosh and Dong Quai should be aware that these herbs should not be consumed during pregnancy and nursing.

Marilyn Zink is the publisher.editor of The Herbal Collective magazine as well as the author of several ebooks. Learn more about herbs and herbs for women's issues from The Herbal Collective magazine. Get all the herbal health information you need at http://www.herbalcollective.ca


Recommended Reading
Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information
About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.

Back To Home

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