Menopause can be a boon or a bane depending on how you view the condition. But for most women, it’s a terrible thing to go through — what with all the symptoms and discomfort that go with it. If you’re wondering whether you’re already going through menopause, then check this list of common symptoms.

#1 ” Irregular periods. This is more pronounced in healthy women who have experienced regular periods in their youth. Some periods are much heavier than usual while others are nonexistent. The duration of periods may also experience some irregularity ” while a period usually lasts around five days in healthy women, the onset of menopause may cause periods to last as short as one day or as long as ten.

Keep in mind that menopause doesn’t happen immediately — it’s a gradual change. The first stage of menopause is called “pre-menopause,” and it usually starts a few years before the real menopause begins. Pre-menopausal symptoms are light and tolerable, but gradually increase in intensity as menopause approaches.

#2 – Hot flashes. These sudden spikes in body temperature can happen early in the day or evening, and usually result in sweating and discomfort. These flashes aren’t very uncomfortable if they last less than a minute, but they can get in the way of things when they last around 30 minutes.

#3 – Sadness and anxiety. Mood swings may be brought about as hormone levels drop during menopause. This can lead to more serious psychological problems if left untreated, so it’s very important to recognize this is as just another symptom of menopause. Nevertheless, it can still strain social ties, so it’s best to have a support group, such as family and friends, around during this difficult period.

#4 ” Decreased libido, or pain during sex. Menopause’s hormonal changes can cause the vagina to be more sensitive and less lubricated, which can make sex painful. This is obviously another problem that can be dangerous if left untreated!

These are only some of the more common symptoms of menopause. There are other symptoms that are less common but are still experienced by many women, and they can be quite depressing.

But then again, menopause can be a blessing and not a curse if you choose to see it that way. For instance, if you were worried about conceiving, you can now enjoy guilt-free sex once your system stops ovulating.

It’s very important to see your doctor regularly when your symptoms begin to get in the way of everyday life. Your special case may require special treatment.

Bioidentical ” natural hormone replacement

Bioidentical is a compound word that means: bio is defined as life; living organism and identical is alike in every way; the same. Put the two together and it means anything that is composed of the same type of substance of a living organism. The usage of the word bioidentical in this modern day is in reference to a natural hormone that has the identical cellular structure of the human body.

Synthetic hormones have been created and are used in this modern day. It is the popular thinking of this day and age that synthetics are used because a human body is incapable of using natural substances to create the hormones it needs – but look at how long mankind has survived with natural substances from mother earth compared to the problems that synthetics cause.

Why hormone therapy?

We are what we eat has been a common saying, there is some truth to that because hormones are chemical substances that are produced in the body from the sustenance that we give our bodies. Once manufactured, the hormones are delivered via the blood to different organs to get the functional activity to occur.

From the age of 35 and each year thereafter, the amount of hormones created in the body decreases. Among the thirty-nine different hormones that are manufactured by our bodies are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

For women, during the menopause years, including the time prior to menopause when irregular periods and other symptoms occur is when the first hormone Prosgesterone starts to decline. Indications of the decline can start 15 years before menopause occurs with symptoms that can include being irritable,anxious, etc. The next hormone to dwindle is estrogen which causes hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other symptoms that can last 2 or 3 years and sometimes longer. Following those two hormones, testosterone starts diminishing and with that goes physical stamina, sex drive and tissue degeneration.

Should we be without hormones? NO!!

What does an imbalance of hormones have to do with cancer?

There are 3 forms of naturally occurring estrogens in a human female body, Estrone, Estriol, and Estradiol. Out of these only one i.e. Estrone is clot forming and breast stimulating causing cancer. Horse or equine estrogens, that are synthetic hormones in use today, have no Estriol, which is the most protective estrogen (it is anti-cancer), and it has 40% of equine (horse) estrogens, not exactly compatible to human female hormones.

Bioidentical hormones are made either from Soy or Yam and modified in the lab to be exactly the same as human hormones. Synthetic progesterone causes weight gain, irritability, acne, migraine, fluid retention and bad cholesterol ratio which in turn causes other body problems. Synthetics are given daily which is not the female cycle ” it only naturally occurs for 15 days of every month.

When taking the bioidentical progesterone, because it is compatible with the human body, a women can experience improvements in mood, a lessening of irritability, relief from bloating and hot flashes besides a diminishing of other problems with the digestion, with flatulence and with memory loss. Using the bioidentical hormone therapy has also shown improvements in the reduction of tender or swollen breasts and a reduction in vaginal bleeding.

In conclusion bioidentical progesterone makes happier women, a better quality of life, more cardiovascular protection, better cancer protection, more brain protection and better bone protection. On the other hand synthetic progesterone antagonizes the beneficial effects and creates the opposite results.

Why is cancer a concern in menopause?

During menopause, the lack of hormonal balance begins to happen in a women’s body. Estrone levels that escalate too high and progesterone levels that fall very low are what need to be paid attention to. Estrone that is way too high causes cancer and progesterone, which is cancer preventative falling too low creates problems. Replacing bioindentical hormones in women makes a natural balance of the two hormones. Creating this natural balance is evident with a happier and higher quality of life for women.