The physical changes that may affect your libido after menopause are caused by a decrease in various sex hormones in the body. Levels of estrogen that promotes enhanced sensitivity, progesterone that maintains libido, and testosterone which produces sexual desire and lubrication, all drop dramatically during the menopause.

Because of this hormone reduction many women experience a slower sexual response, taking longer to become aroused or to reach orgasm. They may also experience anything ranging from a mild discomfort to intense pain and bleeding during intercourse. This is caused by the vaginal walls thinning because of lack of estrogen.

Psychologically many women don’t feel like having sex. They may be experiencing insomnia, hot flashes and night sweats which aren’t much of an aphrodisiac. They may also be feeling self conscious about the physical changes to their body including increased weight, breast changes and incontinence.

Going through the menopause makes many women feel old and undesirable, which in turns lowers their libido. Some women can’t bear to be touched after the menopause, but whether this is a physical or psychological issue is often unclear. Rejecting their partners sexually can induce feelings of guilt and depression which often makes the situation worse.

The flip side of this is that some women are more able to relax and enjoy sex after the menopause. They no longer have the worry of contraception and becoming pregnant so they are able to be more adventurous. Some women experience an emotional roller coaster during their menstrual cycle, and the menopause can bring relief from this, resulting in better relationships and therefore a better six life.

If you are experiencing difficulties with sex following the menopause, there are various things you can try. Take longer building up to having sex, perhaps using massage or taking a bath with your partner.

You could limit full intercourse and use other methods of pleasuring each other; this may even spice up your sex life as you are inspired to try new things. Remember, however, that regular intercourse does improve the muscle tone and lubrication of the vagina, so perhaps you should not avoid intercourse altogether. Masturbating regularly can also help you to become aroused more easily and achieve orgasm.

You should avoid highly perfumed bath products as these will increase vaginal dryness. You could consider using water based lubricants to make sex more comfortable and pleasurable, and perhaps using a hormone cream, such as natural progesterone cream to keep your vaginal area healthy.

Although the menopause can have a dramatic impact on your body and mind, it does not have to mark the end of your sex life. Take time to relax and enjoy the freedom of sex without contraception, or simply use this time to become more intimate with your partner.

Although scientific research has not yet corroborated the theory, many people believe that menopausal symptoms are actually due to an imbalance in hormone levels, rather than simply a decrease in estrogen, and that using progesterone on its own could relieve this imbalance. This is particularly worth trying for women who avoid traditional HRT because of a family history of heart disease.

Taking progesterone transdermally (through the skin), as a cream, gel or patch seems to be a more effective way of absorbing the hormone into your blood than taking an oral pill. Taken orally, the progesterone has to pass through the liver, where it loses much of effectiveness. In theory taking progesterone transdermally requires a dose five to eight times smaller than taking it orally, to achieve the same results.

However, taking the hormone through the skin makes determining the dosage difficult because each person absorbs at a different rate depending on their skin type and temperature. Progesterone cream also needs to be applied very precisely in the right places to be really effective.

It is essential, when you are buying a cream, that you make sure it contains natural and not synthetic progesterone. Natural progesterone has exactly the same chemical structure as the hormone produced by the ovaries in menstruating women, by the placenta during pregnancy and by the adrenal glands after menopause.

While administering natural progesterone may affect the regularity of your cycle, synthetic progesterone has many more sinister side effects. As well as abnormal menstruation it can cause fluid retention, nausea and depression, and increase your cancer risk.

Cream containing natural progesterone should only be available on prescription. You may be offered an over the counter alternative containing diosgenin, which is a plant steroid found in Mexican yams. The belief is that the human body can convert this substance into natural progesterone, but there is no scientific evidence to support this, so the yam cream is best avoided!

As well as treating symptoms of the menopause, natural progesterone cream has also been used effectively to treat pre-menstrual syndrome. Some manufacturers and their customers believe these cream really address the root cause of PMS which is a hormone imbalance, rather than simply alleviating the symptoms.

They suggest a variety of other benefits for all women in using natural progesterone cream. These include achieving quality sleep, promoting thyroid hormone activity, reducing hormone related migraine, preventing water retention, decreasing risk of breast and uterine cancer, stabilizing blood sugar, and avoiding depression.

In fact, there are many herbal remedies that can help deal with the various menopausal symptoms that you are having. These include herbal remedies to alleviate your existing condition of night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, memory loss, depression and sudden mood swings.

Menopause is often referred to as the change. It is often a difficult period for the sufferer as well as those around. Also, it can get depressing as weight gain is a possible outcome during menopause.

Here is a guide to the top 5 herbal remedies for menopause:

1. Gingko Biloba. Gingko Biloba is effective for those going through hormonal changes. Herbalists and naturopathic doctors say that this herb can increase and improve blood flow to virtually all parts of the body. Herbalists recommend that a dosage of 40 to 80 milligram capsule 3 times a day. This will also help in cases of memory loss.

2. Chasteberry. Chasteberry is one of the herbal remedies often overlooked when treating menopause’s difficult symptoms. However, this is a secret known to herbalists that this herb can have a profound effect on the body’s hormones. Herbalists recommend this herb because it can actually help reverse the vaginal changes, lowered libido, and other symptoms of menopause.

3. St. Johns Wort. St Johns wort, on the other hand, is a herb known to help with anxiety, irritability and mood swings. In fact, this is one of the herbal remedies that can be more more effective in treating depression than traditional antidepressants. In general, herbalists and naturopathic doctors recommend 100 and 300 milligrams of St. John’s wort 3 times a day. You should be sure that this is standardized for 0.3 percent hypercin.

4. Valerian. You may also find it hard to get to sleep at night during menopause. Many herbal remedies help to induce relaxation and sleep. One of them includes valerian. Valerian is both safe and nonaddictive. It is suggested that women should take between 300 to 500 milligrams of this one hour before bed.

5. Lavender. The last of the herbal remedies that is recommended is lavender. You can achieve a peaceful night of rest with lavender. This herb can be easily integrated into aromatherapy. Simply sprinkle a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your pillow before going to bed.

Before you try any of these herbal remedies, do check with your doctor. You have to make sure that the herbal remedies for menopause do not interact negatively with the other medications that you may be on. Also, you would need to ask your doctor or herbalist for the recommended dosages of herbal remedies for your specific case. What is useful is to know that hormone replacement therapy is not the one and only solution if you want to ease your menopausal symptoms. There are many herbal remedies out there that can help you alleviate your suffering!

The first possibility is that you are still having occasional periods. As women go through the menopause their cycles often become irregular and missed periods are common. They can become lighter and shorter or heavier and longer; all women are different. Although women are classed as being post menopausal when they haven’t had a period for a year, they may still have an occasional period after this time.

Once you really are post menopausal, there are other possible reasons for bleeding. Decreased levels of estrogen mean the walls of the vaginal become thinner and generally more prone to bleeding, especially after sexual intercourse. You may also experience bleeding due to a vaginal infection, or growths in the uterus. A trip to your doctor or gynecologist should put your mind at rest in these cases.

The most serious possible cause of vaginal bleeding is cancer of the uterus, known as endometrial cancer. There is a fairly high incidence of this cancer in North America, with 40,000 new endometrial cancer cases and 7,500 deaths predicted for 2007. Women are more at risk when they are undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that only involves estrogen and not progesterone, as progesterone protects the lining of the uterus.

The sooner endometrial cancer is diagnosed, the more chance there is of an effective cure. Vaginal bleeding is a very early indicator of this disease, so you should always consult your doctor if you experience unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Typically, bleeding caused by endometrial cancer has certain characteristics. Women usually experience a watery, blood streaked flow, with the proportion of blood gradually increasing over time. This may be accompanied by pain whilst passing urine, pain in the pelvis and pain during sexual intercourse. Of course these three additional symptoms can be indicators of other post menopause problems so don’t panic, but do mention them to your doctor.

If your doctor suspects possible endometrial cancer they will usually perform a transvaginal ultrasound so see if the endometrium, or uterus lining, is unusually thick. If it is they will then recommend a biopsy where a sample of the tissue form the lining of the uterus is removed and sent for laboratory testing.

If you experience post menopausal bleeding, there is most likely a simple explanation. However, if you are worried you should always consult your doctor or gynecologist. At the very least they will be able to put your mind at rest, or prescribe something to ease your symptoms. In the worst case, a trip to the doctor for early diagnosis and treatment could actually save your life.

Behavioral interventions: wearing cotton cloths may improve the way you feel, relax, practice abdominal breathing and don’t have any hot showers or baths before bedtime. You are suggested to avoid coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, and stress and use ice packs.

Some women feel better when taking vitamin E although studies haven’t shown a reduction in hot flashes, is recommended to take it during the menopausal period.
Soy has been found as having positive effects, but others suggest that hasn’t any effect at all. Soy isoflavones are also contained in one cup soy milk, 1/2 cup tofu, 1/2 tempeh,1/2 cup green soybeans (edamame), and three handfuls of roasted soy nuts. Natural progesterone cream reduces significantly hot flashes and has effects on most women, it si important to see exactly what’s the quantity of progesterone contained in the cream because it varies considerably from 5 mg to more than 400 mg progesterone per ounce.

Herbs

Promensil, is a plant estrogen found in the red clover that helps reducing the intensity of hot flashes, black cohosh is the best herbal remedy in relieving hot flashes. A randomized trial which involved women with a breast cancer history had results in decreasing the frequency and intensity in hot flashes and excessive sweating and lowering blood pressure. So use black cohosh continuously for 6 months.

Remifemin is a standardized extract of black cohosh, which is to be taken 2 tablets twice per day. You also may find black cohosh in different forms such as: powdered root or as a tea, powdered extract, fluid extract and tincture.

Drugs:
Effexor or Paxil is an antidepressant that reduces hot flashes, Clonidine normally used in treating hypertension helps relieving hot flashes. Tibolone is a promising remedy. Megestrol acetate is approved for women with breast cancer and helps diminishing the severity of flashes. Gabapentin usually taken for migraines has been observed as having good results in hot flashes.

Acupuncture and yoga

There are yoga studios that offer yoga classes for menopausal women and acupuncture has been tried by some women against hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and depression. Although studies haven’t shown any results in the post menopausal symptoms may women reported that they have a better state of health after practicing yoga and acupuncture.

Physical exercises

Among physical exercises are: aerobic exercises that reduced the severity of hot flashes, strength training, weight training also helps maintaining in a good shape the osteo-muscular system and maintaining the ideal weight. The symptoms in post menopausal women are relieved by physical exercises and the bone achieves greater density and lumbar spine bone mineral also maintains its density.

Although many women do experience weight gain when going through menopause, the results of various studies have shown that it is not the menopause itself that causes weight gain but the various bodily and lifestyle changes that are brought about as a result of the change of life. This includes factors such as reduced metabolism, lower levels of activity, and stress. For instance, the menopause can catalyze various emotional issues, and this can lead to comfort eating for many, which generally results in weight gain.

In order to combat excessive weight gain during the menopause, women need to make sure that they lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible. This is true both in relation to activity levels, and what they eat.

It is important to remember that the menopause can affect a number of physiological and psychological areas. For example, menopause can affect the function of the thyroid, and an under-active thyroid can result in weight gain. The mood swings and emotional issues that come about as a result of menopause can result in appetite changes and even uncharacteristic comfort eating. Fatigue or depression can lead to a reduction in physical activity.

Weight gain brings about a range of health risks if it puts you at a seriously overweight level. There are indications that weight gain during the menopause could actually increase the risk of breast cancer, although this risk can be reduced by the same amount - or even more - if the weight is lost after menopause.

In order to combat weight gain during menopause it is important to take sensible steps towards maintaining a healthy weight. This means a balanced and sensible diet, which is rich in vitamins and minerals and low in fat and calories. By at least supplying your body with the nutrients it needs, cravings can be better controlled. If your body is under-nourished, the inclination to junk food can be greater.

You should also ensure that you do not let your levels of physical activity slip during peri-menopause. In times of deep emotional flux, this is easy to do. However, if you find you’re having problems with your weight, or stress, exercise really does help. Find exercise or physical activities you really enjoy, and perhaps seek a buddy to work out with. It can be easier to motivate yourself to continue fitness activities with the support of a friend.

The Reasons

Increased hair loss and thinning hair as women approach the menopause is due to changes in hormonal levels in the body. In fact noticing hair loss can be one of the first signs of approaching the menopause. It is caused in part by a drop in estrogen (female hormones) levels produced by the ovaries, creating an imbalance between androgen (male hormones) and estrogen hormones. Testosterone is one of the hormones from the androgen group and increases as the estrogen levels fall. For men, testosterone is the hormone commonly associated with causing male pattern hair loss and although produced in much lower quantities in women, it creates a similar hair loss condition. This process is started by testosterone combining with an enzyme called Alpha5 reductase to create a substance called dihyrotestosterone (DHT). It is the DHT which is responsible for the hair loss. After the menopause the ovaries may continue to produce even more androgens than estrogen and this can result in further hair loss. It also doesn’t just affect hair on the scalp but body hair can also become thinner, just the opposite of men who tend to get more body hair as scalp hair thins. Some women however experience no menopausal hair loss or excessive thinning at all, the reasons for this are not yet fully understood.

Treatments and Advice

Many women are prescribed hormone therapy treatment (HRT) to counter some of the more severe symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, lack of sleep, mood swings, and sensitive skin. But HRT works by increasing the levels of estrogen to pre-menopausal levels. HRT is therefore also an effective hair loss treatment which reduces testosterone and DHT allowing hair to grow back.

There is also a prescription only drug called spironolactone that instead of raising estrogen levels, works in the opposite way by slowing down the production of androgens (testosterone) in the adrenal glands and ovaries. With less testosterone produced there is less damaging DHT produced and therefore less hair loss.

There are also a number of non drug based measures that can be used to slow down menopausal hair loss. For example gently massage the scalp when shampooing to increase blood flow to the hair roots. Also using good quality conditioners containing natural products like henna, helps to prevent breakage and reduce further hair loss. It is also important to eat a well balanced diet as healthy hair requires the minimum daily intake of the right minerals and vitamins. Try to eat plenty of fish, liver, dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat, etc, for vitamin A, Vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, also leafy vegetables, orange juice, avocado, beets and broccoli are a good source of folic acid.

Keep the hair short to help prevent mechanical breakage and have it layered to give the appearance of more volume. Try to avoid damaging the hair with hot hair dryers and heated hair straighteners and avoid chemically treating the hair with dyes, tints and bleaches.

Conclusions

Hair loss caused by the menopause is a natural process but can be managed through special care and prescribed treatments. If you have any special concerns about this condition it is always advisable to consult your local GP as stress and worrying can make matters worse. Remember that you are not alone, many women experience the menopause and hair loss but there are now many effective treatments available.

Listed below are the top ten myths associated with menopause and what the right answer and what do most men think.

Menopause Lowers Your Sex Drive

Most men think that the woman’s libido goes down during menopause. They may say it goes down after marriage though that myth is for another article. Research shows that the hormone estrogen is not linked sex drive and that when surveyed most women report no drop in sexual desire.

Menopause Makes You Gain Weight

Almost all men believe that women gain weight during menopause. The reality is that weight gain or weight loss is not associated with menopause. This myth probably exists because Americans as a whole are getting fatter, so many women will simply be gaining weight from poor nutrition and exercise choices. Many women living a healthy lifestyle lose weight during menopause.

Menopause Causes Huge Mood Swings

Men believe that menopause forces women into becoming an emotional collapse. The truth is that menopause has nothing to do with the ability to handle ones emotions. Many women experience menopause quite placid. Coping mechanisms, peer influences, and lifestyle play the role of mood swings and emotional collapses, not just the presence of menopause. One interesting stat the 46% of Americans take hormone therapy during menopause while in Japan only 6% do.

All Women have Terrible Menopause Symptoms

Men prepare themselves for the horrific symptoms the women in their lives are going to go through. Not all women have symptoms during menopause though most do. Intensity has a tremendous amount to do with healthy lifestyle and attitude. It is amazing how if we believe bad things are going to happen they do. About 85% of all women will experience hot flashes at some level.

Menopause Occurs at 50

This basic myth is true as the average age of women to undergo menopause is 52. Many women though experience menopause in their 40s and some a little later than 50. The normal range for women is between 45-55 years of age.

Menopause Lasts a Year or Two

Most men thing menopause is something a woman goes through for a couple of years and she is done with it. The true answer is that menopause can last any where from 6 to 13 years. Menopause is a long natural process that takes time and many of the changes don’t disrupt any daily activity.

There is a Cure to Menopause

Menopause is a natural process not a disease so there is not cure. Women in some cases use products or therapies to cope with symptoms during menopause. A common natural menopause symptom reducers is Femestra which many women chose over hormone therapy.

Women’s Hormones can be Fixed

Every guy always wants to fix things. Though for all the guys that want to do their part, a healthy diet of soy protein, cashews, peanuts, corn, apples, and almonds have phytoestrogens and isoflavones that have been shown to reduce the symptoms like hot flashes. This is one reason why Femestra works so well as it is rice bran oil.

Menopause is a World Epidemic

Many men believe that this is a suffering time for women around the world. The reality is that many cultures report few or no symptoms during menopause. New research shows that psychological factors influence symptoms of menopause more than any physiological changes and issues.

Menopause Causes a Loss of Memory

Men believe that during menopause women lose some brain tissue causing a loss of certain memories. One thing most people don’t know is that your brain starts to shrink after the age of 30. So, all men and women lose a little brain tissue as they age. Don’t fret a 10% loss in brain tissue may only lead to a difference in 1% of mental ability. Your brain becomes more adept to deal with the loss of tissue which I guess is where wisdom comes from.

The origins of the practice of shiatsu derive from the full oriental medical system which looks at the human body as a network or series of meridians. These networks allow the positive energy or vital life force (or chi) to flow through it. According to shiatsu practitioners, an individual becomes sick due to the flow of chi or energy becoming sluggish or disrupted in one way or another. This however can be easily remedied. The energy imbalance can be corrected by way of applying pressure to particular points on the body that correspond to a given meridian. This is all good news for women going through menopause, as the practice of shiatsu is an excellent one to try to help relieve your symptoms.

Treating Menopause Symptoms

In order for shiatsu to work at treating the symptoms of menopause, first an accurate diagnosis of the symptoms must be done by the qualified practitioner. When patient with menopause symptoms experiences ringing in the ears, pain in the shoulder and/or dizziness, shiatsu can address the meridian of the small intestine, which can aid in the health of the ovaries.

Ask the shiatsu specialist to apply pressure to the stomach and spleen meridians if you find yourself suffering from any type of nervous or stomach disorders or if you have a tendency to eat too much because of anxiety and frustration. The meridians for the heart, bladder and kidneys need to have pressure applied to them if as a menopause patient you suffer from any type of nervous disorders or heart palpitations.

If constant fatigue is a problem or if you suffer from headaches, then you need to look to the triple heater meridian. If you suffer from constant weight gain or obesity and/or hormonal imbalance then you need to look to the gall bladder meridian for the help you need for relief.

In order for shiatsu to work at treating the symptoms of menopause, first an accurate diagnosis of the symptoms must be done by the qualified practitioner. If you suffer from anxiety and a great deal of tension on a regular basis then look to the shiatsu technique described below to bring relief:

First you must find the middle point that exists between the eyebrows and to make it easier for you, this point is to be found directly above where the bridge of the nose is found. Apply a circular type of massage technique to this area and count slowly from one to 30 and while so doing make sure to exhale as well as inhale as deeply as you can for maximum benefits. Do this once and then repeat the process again. To get as much relief as possible from this technique, shut your eyes and then take the time to pay close attention to both your steady breathing and your heartbeat.

Do these techniques as many times as you feel it is necessary. Choose the type of massage that works best for you whether it be smooth, pulsating or a stroking type of massage. Always go with what works best for you as not everyone will respond well to the same kind.

Menopause symptoms are caused when the ovaries slow their production of various hormones including estrogen. These hormone fluctuations can wreak havoc with a woman’s body. Women may experience hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, unexplained weight gain, and mood swings. Women may even experience exhaustion. It can be so difficult to contain these symptoms without allowing them to cause stress in the life.

Prescription drugs can provide some relief from these symptoms; however, there are some drawbacks to using prescriptions. Some have serious side effects that can be worse than the symptoms themselves. For example, some of the prescriptions available for hot flashes cause itchy rashes all over the body. Other prescriptions have long term health effects including devastating diseases like cancer. Treating your symptoms with a safe, natural herbal remedy is often the best way to handle menopause.

As you begin the search for the right remedy, you might be a bit surprised and overwhelmed at the number of products on the market. Choosing the right product for you can be a difficult task. There are several people you might want to talk to as you start your search.

First, consult your gynecologist. They will be able to tell you which herbal remedies are safe for you and which are not. Moreover, they can let you know which methods are working for their other patients and which have proven to be completely ineffective.

In addition to your doctor, you might talk to an herbal store consultant. They talk to a number of women who are dealing with the same symptoms that you are. As a result, they can guide you in the right direction.

One of the most popular herbs to deal with menopause symptoms is Black Cohos. This herb helps with a number of different menopause symptoms including night sweats, hot flashes, and anxiety. This herb has been extensively studied, and the studies have all pointed to its effectiveness.

Pasque Flower has also proven to be a great herbal remedy to deal with menopause symptoms by offering the same effect a mild sedative might have.

An herb combination called MellowPause might also help your symptoms. It has a soy base, and it combines the power of Black Cohosh and Pasque flower to help you fight insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings.

Menocore is another herbal combination that will help with the same symptoms. It contains a number of different natural herbal products.

One final product that might relieve your symptoms is Triatone. The ingredients list on this includes Black Cohos, Chasleberry, Dong Quai, Isoflavones, and Licorice Root. This product not only relieves many of your symptoms, but it also helps to give you a good sense of well being.