Menopause Natural Hormone Replacement

Menopause is a stage in a woman's life that is marked by the end of menstruation and fertility. During menopause, estrogen levels drop, causing many disrupting symptoms to begin. Hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, night sweats and vaginal dryness are some of these symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy is one of the treatments used for women. Natural approaches to hormone replacement can also relieve some of the symptoms of this stage in life.

Causes of Symptoms

• Symptoms can begin years before menopause begins. The gradual decline of estrogen levels is responsible for these symptoms. When a woman reaches the late 30s and 40s, the ovaries do not produce as much estrogen. Fertility begins to decline during this stage as well. Women will experience unpredictability in their menstrual cycle. Some women experience heavier periods and shorter cycle times and others may experience lighter periods and considerably longer cycle times.

  Hysterectomy that removes the uterus and ovaries will immediately cause menopause to begin. Cancer treatments can also cause menopause to begin. In addition, some women experience menopause much earlier than is typical and this condition is called primary ovarian insufficiency.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for menopause. The doctor uses the lowest dose of hormone to relieve symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, mood swings along with all of the other symptoms are reduced with estrogen replacement.

  Antidepressants can also reduce hot flashes and the symptoms of menopause. Discuss herbal treatments or natural hormone replacement with your doctor if you have not reached menopause but are experiencing the symptoms.

Natural Hormone Replacement

• Natural hormone replacement has become popular because of the growing concern about the safety of synthetic hormones and their link to cancer. The natural hormones come from plants such as yam and soy plants.

  Lowered estrogen levels during menopause cause heart disease, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and cancer. The plant-based hormones are identical to the hormones in the human body. Synthetic hormones and those that come from animals are not identical in chemical structure and the way they interact in the body to human hormones.

  Natural hormones are available in patches, gels, creams, oral capsules, injection, and suppositories. These are available by prescription from your doctor. Always discuss these treatments with your doctor before starting any hormone replacement therapy. Natural hormone replacement may be able to relieve the symptoms of menopause without the risks associated with synthetic non-identical hormones.