Hormone imbalances and Menopause
Menopause is a normal aspect of our lives that we inevitably have to deal with. Characterized by hormone imbalances, this stage of our lives typically begins sometime between our late 40s and early 50s, but there are variations. Women who smoke tend to start menopause around two years earlier than non-smokers; those who have undergone hysterectomies begin menopause even earlier. The average female life expectancy is 82 years, so we experience menopause for another 30 years or so. Rather than as just the onset of old age, menopause should instead be viewed as the beginning of another phase in our lives that brings us different expectations, opportunities and rewards.
The experience of menopause varies widely from woman to woman and from culture to culture. All women, however, undergo hormone imbalances during menopause. A woman's ovaries produce three types of hormones, namely estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These hormones have throughout our lives played a fundamental role in our menstruations, ovulations and pregnancies. During the perimenopause stage (transition period into menopause), the ovaries' production of these hormones decreases. The adrenal glands and fat cells continue to produce testosterone and a form of estrogen, but in small amounts. This gradual decrease in hormone production usually takes a number of years, unless our ovaries are surgically removed or affected by radiation or chemotherapy.
These hormone imbalances that a woman experiences during menopause have the following symptoms:
Hot flashes and night sweats – characterized by feelings of heat that spread to the chest, neck, face, and even through the whole body. These can last between 30 seconds to 5 minutes, sometimes even longer.
Sleep disturbances – these are generally caused by night sweats. Sleep interruptions occur due to the frequent need to change clothing soaked in sweat.
Genital disorders – thinning of the vaginal tissue and vaginal dryness. This is due to hormone imbalances, specifically low estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a vital role in the maintenance of vaginal tissue.
Osteoporosis – accelerated bone loss, again due to low estrogen levels, which when one has in normal levels plays a significant role in slowing down the process of bone reabsorption.
Urinary problems – hormone imbalances, mainly the drop in estrogen levels, can aggravate existing pelvic floor muscle weakness, resulting in incontinence problems.
A number of hormone replacement therapies exist that can help us achieve a smoother transition into menopause. Patches, gels pills and creams are some of the treatment routes to choose from.
Hormone imbalances and their symptoms in menopausal women can most effectively be controlled with natural progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen creams.
Synthetic hormones sometimes cause unwanted side effects. Natural hormone creams are absorbed through the skin (transdermally), so unlike synthetic hormone pills taken orally, they avoid first-pass metabolism by the liver, a phenomenon where ingested drugs are broken down by the digestive system to the extent that only a small fraction of the active drug circulates the rest of our body.
As with all stages of life, following a healthy diet and exercising regularly naturally improves our physical health and promotes our general well-being. With appropriate professional medical consultation and suitable strategies to address hormone imbalances, menopause can be positively endured and accepted as a transitional time which offers us opportunities for challenges, rewards and greater personal growth.
If you're suffering from hormone imbalances because of menopause, then you may be suffering from a number of other symptoms and a diagnosis of low progesterone is greatly increased. You might want to check this list by clicking the link below.
Click here to read about the symptoms of PMS