Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy to Improve the Quality of Your Life

Are you experiencing a lot of problems because your body is not producing enough quantities of hormones? This usually happens as a result of old age or if you are a woman who has had a hysterectomy. You need to take steps to bring the hormones back to the original levels so that your body functions properly. The best way out of this problem is to opt for bioidentical hormones replacement therapy.

There are many problems that you will face unless you get started with bioidentical hormones replacement therapy. Women tend to suffer far greater discomfort than men especially if they are going through menopause. These include hot flushes, irregular menstrual periods, osteoporosis as well as thinning and drying out of the vaginal walls. There are many symptoms of hormone loss that are faced by men and women, particularly as they age. This includes increased risk of heart disease, increase in weight, reduced sex drive, insomnia, depression and reduced energy levels.

It is far better to go for bioidentical hormones replacement therapy instead of using conventional artificial hormones because this treatment is very effective. The hormones in question are made out of plant sources and are identical in molecular structure to the ones made by the body. As a result, they are very easily absorbed by the body and used without any problems.

You need to go to a really good doctor in order to get bioidentical hormones replacement therapy. The doctor will study your hormone levels after doing certain blood tests and will then determine what your exact hormonal requirements are. You will be offered specially formulated cocktails of these hormones that will help you get freedom from the above symptoms. The fact that there is reduced risk of negative side effects makes this treatment a very desirable option for you.

Low sex drive and hormones

Is having a low sex drive considered to be a medical disorder?

Despite what one reads and sees on the internet, not all women have high libido. A woman’s sex drive and desires fluctuate considerably throughout life and get even more unpredictable in middle age. The sex drive in a woman may be related to a personal relationship, marriage, children job, menopause, illness or there may be no obvious cause. One common cause of decreased sex drive in women is the use of certain drugs like the anti-depressants. In most of these cases, the sex drive reverses when the condition is treated or the drug is discontinued. , some women may have a persistent low sex drive or have a complete lack of interest in sex. If this low sex drive does not bother the female or causes no distress then it is not a medical disorder. The low sex drive is only considered to be a medical disorder if it causes you stress and you agonize over it.

In any cases, in many cases of low sex drive, there are simple changes in life style that can help boor libido. In rare cases, some women may need medications.

How much sex is considered to be less than normal?

There is no number that classifies low or high sex drive. If you are your partner are happy and have have a loving relationship and you have sex once a month (or more frequently), then that is ok . if the number of times you have sex does not bother you or your partner then you are normal. Many people are in a great relationship and do not have sex more than once a week and that is perfectly okay. There is such a range of sex drive that there is no such thing as normal. With the advent of the internet, it appears that having sex all the time is the norm- this is a delusion and myth propagated by people who want to sell porno. As long as you are happy and in a loving relationship, the number of times you have sex is irrelevant.

What are common causes of low sex drive in women?

There is no simple answer to this complex problem. Sex drive in women is intricately related to many factors including good health, intimacy, emotional well-being, experiences, interpersonal relationships and beliefs. Some of the causes of low sex drive include:

Medical disorders like arthritis, diabetes, cancer, having high blood pressure, stroke, muscular disorder and other bone development problems.

Some women may have a developmental abnormality that may make sex painful or make it difficult to achieve an orgasm.

There are several medications that can lower libido. These include anti-depressants and other mood altering drugs.

While a little alcohol may stimulate your libido, too much may cause you to feel sleepy and lower your sex drive. This also applies to many illicit drugs.

One temporary cause of low sex drive is surgery. Surgery especially in the pelvic area or groin usually does not help one get in the mood for sex. This applies to any surgery . the incisions can be painful and there is a chance that the wound can fall apart during sex. So common sense indicates that sex and surgery do not go well together.

Another cause of low sex drive is both physical and emotional stress. Women who are tired after a hard day’s work may not be in the mood to have sex. Looking after children all day can also be tiresome.

Is it normal to have a low sex drive during menopause?

During menopause, the levels of the female sex hormone, estrogen starts to decline. This is associated with a decrease in sex drive. The vagina and vulva also become dry and sex during this time period is uncomfortable. It is also known that during menopause the low levels of testosterone decline and this is also associated with a decrease in libido. Although sex during and after menopause is common, most women do notice a drop in libido. Many women resort to use of lubricants and topical hormones to have satisfying sex.

What type of emotional problems can lead to low sex drive?

There is a common belief that only depression causes a low sex drive. While this is true that are many other mental health issues that can lead to a low sex drive. This includes the following:

- having financial stress
- Work related problems
- Generalized anxiety
- Unrealistic expectation
- Poor body image
- Lack of self confidence
- Low self-esteem
- History of sexual abuse
- Problems in interpersonal relationships
- Unresolved conflicts with the partner
- No or little communication with the partner’
- Partner who is cheating
- In ability to connect with the partner

How is the diagnosis of low sex drive made in women?

Having low sex drive is often due to lack of interests or desire and may often be associated with stress. In many cases, the diagnosis can be made just based on the history you provide. However, in some cases, your doctor may perform a pelvic exam especially if you have pain during sexual intercourse. In other cases the pelvic exam may reveal vaginal dryness and tender spots. In middle aged and menopausal women, other routine tests may include looking at levels of blood sugars and function of the liver and kidney. Since treatment of low sex drive is not within the realm of general physicians, it is most likely you will be referred to to a therapist.

Are there any medications that can be used to treat low sex drive?

In most cases, the treatment of low sex drive is non-medical. This may include seeing a therapist for sex education and improving self-confidence. If you are already on an anti-depressant medication, your doctor may alter the dosage or change the medication. Unfortunately, every single anti-depressant available today is known to affect libido. The one antidepressant that only mildly affects libido is wellbutrin. Unfortunately, after a few months use, this medication is also known to lower libido. Some doctors do prescribe Viagra as an off label use in women with a low sex drive. You have to discuss this with your doctor.

Are there any hormonal treatments for low sex drive?

Yes they are. There are various formulation of low dose estrogen available. The low dose estrogen not only lubricates the vaginal but also improves mood and has a positive overall effect. However, there is a lot of conflicting data about estrogen and most physicians are reluctant to prescribe these hormones for long periods. There is concern that estrogen alone when taken for a long time may increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer. For the short term, the hormone is safe.

The low dose estrogen is available as a gel paste or suppository that can be placed directly inside the vagina. Over a few days, the estrogen increases blood flow and moisturizes the vagina, thus making sex pleasant. In most cases, doctors also prescribe a low dose progesterone to counter the effects of estrogen.

The role of the male sex hormone testosterone is also conflicting. Low doses are known to increase libido in the female. However, a prescription of testosterone is very controversial. At present testosterone in any form is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of low sex drive in women. Moreover testosterone also has very undesirable side effects like excess body hair, acne and changes in mood.

Are there any home remedies to boost libido?

Well one has to be realistic. There is no magic bullet but there are something you can do at home. Exercise regularly and lose excess weight, Not only will you feel more confident you will also look sexier. Moreover, a trim weight will help boost your self-esteem. Try to communicate with your partner about your desires, needs, and wants. Sex is also a lot to do with what is in between the ears and less what is in the groin. Spice up your sex life and use different positions and different locations for sex. Experiment, use sex toys, and do something spontaneous and exciting.

Are there any benefits of sex hormones in post-menopausal women?

Yes, definitely there are some benefits. There are a variety of synthetic and non-synthetic hormones available. These hormones are only available with a doctor’s prescription. There are natural products available in health food stores without a prescription but the quality of these hormones is unknown and unregulated.

These hormones do have some benefits when taken for short periods and when closely followed by a healthcare provider. The sex hormones may provide protection against the following medical disorders:

- Osteoporosis. There are many studies, which show that the bone thinning that occurs after menopause can be prevented by sex hormones. By increasing bone density, there is also a decreased incidence of hip fractures.

- There is new evidence that these sex hormones may lower the risk of colorectal cancer. However, taking sex hormones for long periods is also associated with a risk of other cancers.

- Prior to menopause, women have a much lower risk of heart disease. This is due to the protection provided by the sex hormones. After menopause, women have declining levels of the sex hormones and their risk of heart disease quickly rises to the same levels as men. It is now known that estrogen at low doses when taken early in menopause may help maintain the low risk of heart disease.

Post-menopausal women are usually prescribed a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The reason for this is that estrogen alone increase the risk of uterine cancer, whereas the addition of progestin counters the risk. Any female who wishes to use sex hormones after menopause should speak to a knowledgeable physician and assess the pros and cons about this therapy.

Are there any risk factors for perimenopause?

While all women undergo menopause, not all women will have obvious symptoms of perimenopause. In some unlucky women, the symptoms of menopause may be much earlier than expected. It is now believed that there are certain risk factors that predispose women to early menopause. These factors include:

Smoking has been shown to develop symptoms of menopause by at least 1-2 years earlier in women who smoke, compared to women who do not. This is true in women who have been smoking for at least 5-7 years or longer. Discontinuing smoking may sometimes help revert back the timing of menopause.





Women who have a family history of premature menopause also tend to develop symptoms of menopause early. The exacts genetic linkage between family history and age of menopause remains unknown.

Women who have never had a baby generally tend to have early menopause compared to women who have delivered babies. Even one baby has an influence on the age of menopause onset.

Women who have had any type of prior treatment for cancer, such as radiation or chemotherapeutic drugs also tend to have early menopause. This is most likely due to the loss of capability of the ovary to release fertilized eggs

Finally, the last group of women who also tend to have early symptoms of menopause are those who have had a hysterectomy for whatever reason. Once a hysterectomy is performed, the uterus and ovaries are removed and the female is no longer able to bear children and menopause is usually much earlier.

Is there any medical benefit associated with hot flashes at menopause?

Hot flashes, night sweats and chills are not only uncomfortable but also downright annoying for many women. Hot flashes are common during menopause and are very difficult to treat. No one remedy seems to work for all women. However, women who have hot flashes should relax as current research indicates that hot flashes may signal a much lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.




In the past it was widely believed that hot flashes could trigger a heart attack or a stroke, now the research shows otherwise, Researchers analyzed data from 60,000 post menopausal women and discovered that women who had hot flashes at the start of menopause were actually at a slightly lower risk for stroke and heart disease, compared to women who did not have hot flashes.

Said Dr Emily Szmuilowicz, a co–author of the study from Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, "It is reassuring that these symptoms, which are experienced by so many women, do not seem to correlate with increased risk of cardiovascular disease."

The study also showed that women who initially did not develop hot flashes but did develop them later were also at a high risk for heart attacks or stroke. It is not known how hot flashes at the time of menopause are linked to a lower risk of heart attacks but Dr Szmuilowicz added, "One possibility is that perimenopausal vasomotor symptoms represent a physiologic response to the normal perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations, and the absence of these symptoms may signify a blunted vascular response to these hormonal changes."

Women who do develop hot flashes may not like them, but they can at least be partially reassured that they are not likely to die from any potential heart attack or stroke.

Can’t Find A Bioidentical Doctor?

What if you can’t find a bioidentical doctor? What if there is no compounding pharmacy in your area? What should you do if you are suffering from menopause symptoms and you don’t want to use synthetic hormones to treat your symptoms? I don’t blame you if you have decided not to use synthetic hormone therapy with all the bad side effects and the dangers to your health.

Speak with your regular doctor. If he or she does not know how to prescribe bioidentical hormones, you can still ask your doctor to do some hormone testing on you and get your results. Then ask your doctor for a prescription for either Estrace or Gynodiol and Prometrium. These are both non-compounded bioidentical hormones. Any pharmacy will be able to provide them for you. Prometrium is a form of non-compounded bioidentical progesterone. Estrace and Gynodiol are non-compounded bioidentical form of estradiol, an estrogen.

You will take estradiol as Estrace or Gynodiol twice a day and the Prometrium/progesterone twice a day. Though, my doctor has given me Estrace and told me to take the Estrace in the morning and to break up the Prometrium pill into two and take it both in the morning and the other half of the pill in the evening. He has told me to take it for three months consecutively, without a menstrual period. He is then going to take another hormone test to find out where my levels are. He said that after the third month I would take it cyclically so I can have a period which will help shed the lining of the uterus. Taking it cyclically means that I will take the Estrace from day one to day 14. On the 14th day, I am to add the Prometrium progesterone and on the 28th day, I will have a period. I’m then supposed to stop taking both for a period of one week.

You might ask why I am doing this? I was using bioidentical hormones, but was still plagued by hot flashes. My body doesn’t seem to absorb the bioidentical estrogen cream and one the week that I rested the body and didn’t take any hormones, I would immediately start getting very severe hot flashes again. So he is going to try me on the non-compounded bioidentical forms of estrogen and progesterone. We are going to see if this helps with my hormone levels. So I’ll let you know in about three months’ time how this new form of non-compounded bioidentical hormones works out.

So, my advice, if you don’t have a bioidentical doctor in your area and there is no compounding pharmacy either, and traveling out of State is too difficult, then ask your regular doctor about these non compounded bioidentical hormones. It might just work out well for you and you can get on with the job of living life to its fullest, in spite of menopause.

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy for You?

Each woman is different. Throughout your life, your unique hormone levels rise and fall throughout the month. Your hormone levels are different from every other woman and when you reach pre-menopause or menopause, your hormone requirements are different from everyone else’s.

What is surprising is that the pharmaceutical companies profited from their one size fits all prescription and were able to profit so greatly from menopause for decades. The one size fits all synthetic estrogen and progestins were successful only because of one thing: marketing. Because of their loss of sales, they have continued to wage a war against bioidentical hormones because they cannot profit from something that cannot be patented.

However, that all changed with the Women’s health Initiative (WHI) study of 16,608 women which was halted because of the dangers to women’s health from the use of synthetic estrogen and progestin which clearly demonstrated a 29 percent increase in heart attacks, a 41 percent increase in strokes, a 22 percent increase in cardiovascular disease, a double risk of blood clots and a 26 percent increase in the chance of getting breast cancer. In addition, it was found that treatment of synthetic estrogen alone increased the risk of mild brain damage, stroke and dementia. No wonder women are frightened by the mere mention of the word: hormone replacement therapy.

Only about 20 percent of women at the age of menopause suffer from severe menopause symptoms. For these women, not only will they have to improve their lifestyles dramatically in the way of health, but help is at hand with natural bioidentical hormones. For the other 80 percent of women, they may find relief in the way of nutritional supplements in addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Bioidentical hormones are the safest option for women suffering from menopause problems. With bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, (BHRT), women will find relief from hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain around the waist, depression, sleep problems, mood and energy levels.

Bioidentical hormones are made from either soy or diosgenin (wild yam) plants and synthesized in a laboratory. These natural hormones are bio-identical (the same structure) to the hormones that are already in your body. A doctor will determine by way of a blood or saliva test, what hormones you need and how much you need in order to replace the diminished hormones in your body. A compounding pharmacist will make up your individual prescription. You will use these bioidentical hormones in the manner in which your doctor has prescribed. That is, you will take estrogen, progesterone, and perhaps testosterone in a cyclical manner, replicating the natural rise and fall of hormones in the body during the month.

Your doctor may also prescribe DHEA and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) if you require it. He will also test your thyroid levels to see if you need thyroid medication as many women experience hypothyroidism as they grow older. All hormones must be balanced in the body for you to experience a high quality of health. Taking natural hormone replacement therapy has many health benefits for your body and health. They also have anti aging benefits. Women who are not taking natural bioidentical hormones will gain more weight than women who use bioidentical hormones. Replacing all your lost hormones with natural bioidentical hormones will help you enjoy a higher quality of life as you age and let you get on with the more important task of living. Are bioidentical hormones right for you? Do the research and speak with your medical practitioner.

Hormones and Stress

Stress, as we already know, has a multitude of negative effects on the body. It can have long term negative health consequences for your body and it can also affect your hormone levels and how you experience menopause. High stress can cause the early onset of menopause and it can determine whether menopause symptoms during this time are severe or not.

Stress and other issues can affect how we experience menopause. Lifestyle issues can affect your menopause symptoms. Unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol and unresolved problems can effect your symptoms. Life events, divorces, problems with your teenage children and even traveling can upset your hormone balance. You may experience weight gain for no reason or an increase in hot flashes. You may experience increased tiredness. All of these symptoms are because your hormone levels are decreasing and stress is blunting the positive effects of bioidentical hormones.

If you are using bioidentical hormones, you may find that your estrogen levels decrease because of stress. You may suddenly be gaining weight, even though you are eating carefully. Your bioidentical doctor can re-test your hormone levels and decide that you need an increase in your estrogen (estradiol) or progesterone cream until your symptoms have disappeared and a second hormone test shows that your levels have become more adequate.

Because of the negative effects of stress on your hormones, try to find ways to reduce your stress. Eating a careful, healthy diet will help. Quit smoking and stop drinking in excess. If you have unresolved life issues, try and work these problems through with the help of friends or relatives or a therapist. Add some yoga sessions to your daily life. Learn to meditate and breathe deeply. Center yourself. Think positive thoughts and visualize your life without these problems. These are all ways that you can reduce the stress in your life, balance your hormones and be healthier. All of these things will affect how you experience menopause.

Menopause is no easy ride. It takes strength and health to manage this passage of life. However, it is a time of new beginnings and change and can be a positive force in your life.

Hypothyroidism and Menopause

In this article, we will discuss how hormonal imbalance and other factors affects the thyroid leading to hypothyroidism.

Menopause is a time of profound changes, both emotional and physical in a woman’s life. Although some women do not suffer from the changes brought on by menopause, a good percentage of women do suffer extreme symptoms which make quality of life decrease drastically.

Changes in both body and mind can begin as early as the late 30s for some women, this transition is known as permenopause or premenopause. Hormone levels are changing, some such as progesterone levels are declining and sometimes estrogen level will either increase dangerously (estrogen dominance) or also decline. The body is sent into a tailspin with these hormonal shifts.

It is believed by some doctors and researchers that hormonal balance itself can lead to hypothyroidism which is a decrease in thyroid functioning.

Adrenal glands can affect thyroid functioning. A bio-identical doctor should also evaluate adrenal functioning alongside thyroid testing. It is very possible that hypothyroidism can be caused by overstressed adrenal glands.

Stress is the major cause of problems with the adrenal glands. This includes mental, physical or emotional stress which causes implications for the entire body. High cortisol levels will also be present when there is a problem with the adrenal glands and the thyroid. The production of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and T4 to T3 conversion is affected by high cortisol. Cortisol produced by the adrenal glands will eventually reach an exhaustion point resulting in burnout or adrenal fatique, both serious conditions.

Lower levels of T3 will create symptoms of hypothyroidism such as memory loss, weight gain, especially around the waist, extreme fatigue, depression, infertility, hair loss, poor concentration and puffiness in the face, etc.

A doctor, at this point, will probably prescribe a drug called levothyroxine which replaces T4 levels in the body. This will improve the symptoms of hypothyroidism. If it doesn’t, after a few months of using this medication, the doctor will test your blood again and increase the dose if necessary.

Besides high cortisol levels and tired adrenal glands causing hypothyroidism, there are other causes to a low thyroid condition. There could be a problem with low iodine levels. Other factors to consider as contributing to hypothyroidism include food allergies and sensitivities. Gluten or soya could contribute to low levels. Try eliminating these foods from your diet. Sensitivities to prescription medications such as somatostatin, inhalers, lithium, and amiodarone could be affecting your thyroid.

Poor nutrition could also be a factor. Having enough iodine in your diet, selenium (which is necessary for T4 to T3 conversion), Vitamin A, C, E, B complex, DHA, EPA and zinc also help with this converstion for a healthy thyroid. Consuming enough Omega 3 fatty acides and more antioxidants will help support your thyroid hormone. Reducing your stress levels will also help with your thyroid problems.

Balancing your hormones with natural bioidentical hormones will assist with your hypothyroidism. You can also ask your bioidentical doctor to prescribe a natural thyroid hormone such as Armour Thyroid, West Thyroid or Nature-Throid or compounded T3 and T4, though these compounded medicines for thyroid are somewhat controversial.

Remember that menopause is a change in life and you have to take utmost care of your body at this time in life. This time in life is all about You. Although you may experience many of the negative symptoms of menopause, including hypothyroidism, this is the beginning of a new life and a new found freedom. Improving your quality of life is all up to you now.

The Benefits of Sex Hormone Therapy?

Menopause is an agonizing time for most women. With declining levels of the sex hormones, a great majority of women develop symptoms like vaginal dryness, dry skin, hot flashes, depression, itchiness, difficulty sleeping and even weight gain. While there is no satisfactory therapy, most physicians do recommend a short course of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is very effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and is available in many formulations. It can be taken orally, applied as a patch on the skin, used as a cream format, injected or even be placed directly into the vagina as a suppository. Within a short time, most women find relief from the above symptoms. When used on a regular basis, estrogen can also ease symptoms of vaginal dryness during intercourse.

However, long term treatment with sex hormones is not recommended. The reason is that there is a lot of evidence that use of sex hormones for more than 3-5 years can lead to development of breast or uterine cancers. However, when these hormones are taken for short term they do have certain benefits like:

Osteoporosis. There are many studies that have shown that hormonal therapy can help prevent bone loss and improve bone density. The benefits on bone can be seen with fewer fractures and decreased pain within one to two years.

There is some evidence that hormone therapy may also help prevent colorectal cancer. While this is not a universal observation anecdotal reports show that some women who have been on these hormones have a much lower incidence of such cancers.

Regular consumption of female sex hormones is known to decrease fats and cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. The studies do show that sex hormones when taken early during menopause can help decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke compared to women who do not take these hormones.

In menopause, estrogen is should not be prescribed alone. This is because estrogen alone can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Thus most formulations also contain a low dose of progesterone or there is a separate cream of progesterone to take at the same time..

Whether to take a bioidentical hormone or the conventional synthetic hormones is a personal choice. However, bioidentical hormones are much safer because they are derived from natural plant sources and then synthesized in a laboratory. Synthetic hormones have been studied in 2002 by the Womens Health Initiative and shown to cause all sorts of serious problems for women such as stroke and breast cancer.

Bioidentical Hormones in Menopause

Menopause is defined as a time period when the menstrual cycle and fertility come to an end. This is a natural physiological process which all women undergo. The time of onset of menopause varies from age 44-50. Menopause is associated with a lot of upheaval in the life of a woman. There are many physiological and emotional changes. One may feel tired, depressed, angry, many are not be able to sleep, become irritable, gain weight, develop pain in the muscles and lose interest in life. The chief reason for these symptons is the declining levels of female sex hormones. Menopause takes away everything that a female desires like sexuality and feminity. However, a solution can be found using Bioidentical hormones in menopause.


All women should understand that menopause is not an illness. Many women go through menopause and suffer no ill effects. However, there are others who simply need some type of treatment to help them get over this period of transition.

Today, bioidentical hormones are widely being used to treat symptoms of menopause. However, before one embarks on a treatment with bioidentical hormones, it is essential to discuss this with your health care practitioner. Not all menopausal women are candidates for bioidentical therapy; women who continue to have vaginal bleeding from an unknown source should wait until the cause has been identified. Women who have a history of blood clots or those who have breast cancer should not use these hormones. To know if you are a candidate for bioidentical hormones, one can quickly get an answer by doing a simple saliva test. The levels of hormones in the body can be measured in the saliva - the test is simple and involves no blood or needles. One can then obtain an individualized prescription of bioidentical hormones.

Bioidentical hormones are not synthetic like Premarin, but are obtained from extracts from plants such as yams. The hormones are extracted and can be combined in various formulations to suit your needs. Bioidentical hormones for menopause come as gels, creams, troches (lozenges), and injections.

It is important to ensure that your bioidentical hormone therapy combines estrogen with progesterone. Taking only estrogen alone is not safe as it has been liked to both uterine and breast cancer. One should always start at the lowest possible dose..

All women should understand that no matter how great bioidentical hormones are, one should also incorporate life style changes. One should avoid too much coffee and not smoke, eat healthy, perform pelvic exercise to strength lower abdominal wall muscles, optimize sleep and exercise regularly. All women who do take bioidentical hormones in menopause should be followed by a health care professional.

Menopause Hormones

Menopause basically means that the menstruation cycles have come to an end. The female womb is no longer fertile. Menopause is not a medical disorder but a physiological process. All women go though it. Besides the decrease in the menopause hormones, there are many other physical and emotional changes associated with menopause. The emotional symptoms affected by changes in menopausal hormones include poor sleep, lack of energy, depression, a void feeling and apprehension.

All women should understand that menopause is not the end of life. In fact, it is just the beginning of a new life without menopause hormones. While a female may have physical and emotional changes during this time period, it does not mean that one can’t enjoy sex or be intimate.

There are a lot of myths surrounding menopause. Some cultures just accept this physiologic process. Other want a medical remedy for it and a few cultures want alternative health care treatments. For most women, menopause comes and goes; and life goes on. A few women simply are not able to enjoy life with the decline in menopausal hormones. For these women, there are ample treatments available. Besides natural hormonal therapy, a change in life style can make a big difference.

The typical features of menopause include the following:

- irregular menses
- diminished fertility
- vaginal dryness
- hot flashes
- sleep disturbances
- low mood
- dry skin and thinning of hair
- loss of elasticity in breast tissues and saggy breasts

It is the decline in menopause hormones, estrogen and progesterone, that are primarily responsible for all the physical and mental changes that occur during this time period. As women age, these sex hormones start to decline and by the 40s some of the physical changes start to become apparent. The first sign that menopause hormones are declining are changes in the menstrual patterns. The cycle starts to become irregular, and there is a change in the character of menstruation, first heavier, the lighter and finally no more periods. Once the ovaries shut down, the menopausal hormones disappear from the blood circulation.

Most women go through a tapering off of periods and menstruation does not abruptly shut down. Today, there is no way to know when the last regular period before menopause will arrive. One thing is for sure; once menopause hormones start to decline the chances of getting pregnant are slim to none.