Menopause The Change of Life

Menopause is sometimes called “the change of life” and literally means end of the monthly cycle. The average age that this occurs is 51 and symptoms experienced are due to reduction in levels of the hormone, oestrogen which is produced in the ovaries and heralds the end of the fertile phase of a woman’s life. Although it is a natural and expected event and not an illness it can bring with it a variety of troublesome and embarrassing symptoms that significantly affect a woman’s daily quality of life.

Many women begin to notice vague symptoms due to fluctuation of hormone levels some years before the full menopause (perimenopause).  Your periods may become more or less frequent and you may have a greater loss of blood (many women become anaemic at this time and benefit from iron supplements). Once you have not had a period for 12 months you are considered to have reached the full menopause but until this point you should use contraception if you do not want to become pregnant.

Symptoms vary tremendously from person to person both in their frequency and severity. About 1 in 10 women find they need to regularly see their GP for advice. For years doctors used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat symptoms of the menopause but they are more cautious now due to evidence of some problems caused by long term use and many people prefer to try and deal with this phase using more natural products.

We know that lifestyle and diet play a part so ensure you have a well balanced and varied diet as well as plenty of exercise – you might want to consider vitamin supplements specially formulated for women at this time of life.  Women report a number of symptoms but we will look at the most common ones below:

• Hot Flushes / Night Sweats – Try to avoid things that trigger these such as caffeine, alcohol, stress, spicy food. Keep rooms cool and wear light, natural fabrics and make sure you are well hydrated. You may want to try herbal teas, and a number of women have stated that sage supplements are helpful
• Insomnia – Often made worse by sweats but sleeping in cool room with cotton sheets can help greatly as can natural supplements such as Valerian taken orally or lavender essential oil sprinkled on bedding or on pulse points
• Anxiety and Mood Swings – avoid stimulants such as caffeine and try to get out and take short bursts of exercise. Many people find taking St Johns Wort has been helpful during this time. If energy levels seem low many people find ginseng gives them that extra boost
• Sexual Problems – Some women find their libido reduces possibly due to anxiety, lack of sleep and concern at having reached this stage in their life. Natural aphrodisiac foods such as chocolate and cinnamon may be the boost you need. Many women also experience vaginal dryness and this can be helped by use of a water based lubricant
• Memory Problems – Some women feel they are more forgetful during this phase in their life and find it more difficult to concentrate. There is some evidence that Ginkgo Biloba supplements can help with this
• Skin, hair and bones – Your skin will lose some of its elasticity and seem thinner and dry. Some women find their hair becomes a lot thinner as well as dry and dull. Look at our wide range of skin and hair products specially formulated to deal with these problems. Reduced levels of oestrogen make women more prone to osteoporosis and general aches and pains which can be helped with Arnica or glucosamine products

It can be overwhelming to try and decide which supplements may be good for you and to some extent it is down to trial and error to find what suits you as an individual. Vitamins A, B, C, D & E are often recommended as well as Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Selenium and Soy Isoflavones. 

At Natures Healthbox we have put together some of the products we think may help you. As always please let us know what products you have found helpful and any new ideas you have, as we are keen to support women in dealing with this sometimes difficult time in their lives.

A.Vogel Menoforce Sage 90 Tablets

A.Vogel Menosan Menopause Support 60 Tablets

A.Vogel Menosan Sage Drops 100ml

Lamberts Sage 2500mg 90 Tablets

To see the full list of products, why not visit our Menopause page.