| Many women nearing the age of 50 have | | | | time, bone loss occurs at a rate of 0.13% per year. |
| experienced uncomfortable changes in their bodies as | | | | Later, it increases to 2% per year. |
| the menopausal period begins. Some women | | | | Osteoporosis increases the risk for bone fractures, |
| experience these changes as early as 40 years old | | | | which can be intensely painful and can interfere with |
| and all women will experience them after a | | | | daily activities. The risk for death also increases with |
| hysterectomy. | | | | bone fractures in menopause. |
| Menopause occurs because of a series of changes in | | | | Menopause increases the risk of heart disease. Some |
| the body's hormones. During the menopausal | | | | of this increased risk is probably due to aging, and |
| changes, the number of functioning eggs within the | | | | part is due to the hormonal changes that occur |
| ovaries begin to decrease and the ovaries | | | | around the menopausal time. |
| dramatically decrease their production of estrogen. | | | | Associated with the increased risk of heart disease is |
| At birth, most females have between 1-3 million eggs. | | | | the fact that cholesterol significantly increases at the |
| By the time of the first menstrual period, there are | | | | menopausal time. Total cholesterol as well as the 'bad' |
| approximately 400,000 eggs. At menopause there | | | | cholesterol or LDL increases and 'good' cholesterol or |
| are fewer than 10,00 eggs. Most eggs are | | | | HDL decreases. |
| reabsorbed by the body as they die off. | | | | Women will also notice an increase in weight during |
| Estrogen affects every part of the body, including | | | | the menopausal time. |
| heart, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, uterus, | | | | The Women's Health Study was a 15 yr study that |
| breasts, bone and brain. Another hormone, | | | | addressed the most common causes of death, |
| testosterone, is also reduced at the time of | | | | disability, and poor quality of life in post menopausal |
| menopause, and can cause a reduction in libido. | | | | women -- cardiovascular or heart disease, cancer, and |
| One of the major symptoms women will experience | | | | osteoporosis. |
| is Hot Flashes. A hot flash is an uncomfortable sense | | | | The two arms of the hormone clinical trials -- the |
| of warmth which spreads throughout the body | | | | estrogen only and the estrogen plus progestin studies |
| causing flushed, red skin, sweating, and palpitations. | | | | were stopped prematurely because of increased risk |
| They can lead to difficulty concentrating and | | | | noted to the cardiovascular system from the |
| sleeplessness. | | | | prescription hormone replacement therapy. After the |
| Hot flashes usually last 2-3 years, but some women | | | | release of this information, there was a dramatic |
| may experience them for 5 or more years. | | | | decrease in the use of prescription hormone |
| The menopausal time also causes changes in the | | | | replacement therapy. |
| urinary tract which can cause incontinence of urine. | | | | Natural forms of hormones however, have been |
| More frequent episodes of burning with urination can | | | | used for many years, and provide a safe method of |
| occur as well. | | | | treating the menopausal symptoms. Natural forms of |
| Bone loss, or osteoporosis, is another important | | | | progesterone, in particular, offer an effective and |
| change that begins in the peri-menopausal time, or | | | | safe treatment. Many medical and holistic providers |
| the years preceding menopause. Peak bone density | | | | now regularly offer their patients progesterone |
| occurs between 25 and 30 years of age. After this | | | | replacement in menopause. |