Menopause Symptoms Quotes

Age shame is also a problem primarily for women. As women approach and go through menopause, naturally gaining weight as fat-to-muscle ratios shift, they exhibit many of the same anxieties and symptoms that teenage girls do. The process of growing older makes women's 'flaws' more visible and acute, thus, aging, a natural process, becomes frightening, disorienting, and difficult for many women.

[Hot flashes] are the prime cause of sleep disruption in women over age fifty, Suzanne Woodward of Wayne State University School of Medicine reports. Her studies show that hot flashes in sleep occur about once an hour. Most prompt an arousal of three minutes or longer. Independently of their hot flashes, women who have them still awaken briefly every eight minutes on average. The sleep process dramatically blunts memory for awakenings, Woodward said, and in the morning women seldom realize how poorly they slept. Instead, they often focus on the daytime consequences of poor sleep, which include fatigue, lethargy, mood swings, depression, and irritability. Many women and their doctors, Woodward said, dismiss such symptoms as "just menopause." This is a mistake, she suggested, because treatment can reduce or eliminate hot flashes, aid sleep, relieve other symptoms, and improve a woman's quality of life. Treatment also helps keep frequent awakenings from becoming a bad habit that continues after hot flashes subside.

It's time to stop grouping up and complaining about all our estrogen deficient symptoms and demand real answers and plenty of estrogen.

I drove through red traffic lights once. I thought red meant 'go', which was dreadful because I know red means 'stop'. - Nora, 50

The German psychologist Jutta Heckhausen, now in California, studied a group of childless middle-aged women who were still hoping to have a baby. As they approached menopause, their emotional distress became more and more intense. But after menopause those who gave up their hope for pregnancy lost their depression symptoms.81 The irony is deep: hope is often at the root of depression.

Many menopausal women are now being diagnosed with AD/HD for the first time because previously developed coping skills that hid the symptoms are compromised once the estrogen changes exacerbate the symptoms.

In 1970, when Dr. Edgar Berman said women’s hormones during menstruation and menopause could have a detrimental influence on women’s decision making, feminists were outraged. He was soon served up as the quintessential example of medical male chauvinism.12 But by the 1980s, some feminists were saying that PMS was the reason a woman who deliberately killed a man should go free. In England, the PMS defense freed Christine English after she confessed to killing her boyfriend by deliberately ramming him into a utility pole with her car; and, after killing a coworker, Sandie Smith was put on probation—with one condition: she must report monthly for injections of progesterone to control symptoms of PMS.13 By the 1990s, the PMS defense paved the way for other hormonal defenses. Sheryl Lynn Massip could place her 6-month-old son under a car, run over him repeatedly, and then, uncertain he was dead, do it again, then claim postpartum depression and be given outpatient medical help.14 No feminist protested. In the 1970s, then, feminists

1922 was a bad year for Elizabeth. She was disappointed by some of the reviews of The Enchanted April although it was to prove the most popular — excepting the first — of all her novels. She suffered from depressions that she couldn’t throw off. Her doctor diagnosed menopausal symptoms.

Black cohosh is highly estrogenic and is often used for normalizing female hormonal levels during menopause and to alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. It has shown an antagonist activity toward the production and release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is essential in testosterone production.

Often, women's symptoms are brushed off as the result of depression, anxiety, or the all-purpose favorite: stress. Sometimes, they are attributed to women's normal physiological states and cycles: to menstrual cramps, menopause, or even being a new mom. Sometimes, other aspects of their identity seem to take center stage: fat women report that any ailment is blamed on their weight; trans women find that all their symptoms are attributed to hormone therapy; black women are stereotyped as addicts looking for prescription drugs, their reports of pain doubted entirely. Whatever the particular attribution, there is often the same current of distrust: the sense that women are not very accurate judges of when something is really, truly wrong in their bodies.

So here’s the million-dollar question: To what degree does menopause also deliver a customized update to your brain’s operating system? It is plausible that as the brain approaches menopause, it gets another chance to go leaner and meaner, discarding information and skills it no longer needs while growing new ones. For starters, some of the brain-ovary connections necessary to make babies are no longer needed, so arrivederci to that. But also all the neurologically expensive skills we reviewed in the last chapter—decoding baby talk, subduing temper tantrums, and high-level multitasking—are not as relevant once your birdie has flown the coop. They are still helpful, but not urgent. It only makes sense, then, that the brain would eventually start pruning away those expired connections—and what better biological clue to do so than menopause. Again, many believe that, as this latest and greatest brain update unfolds, that’s when hot flashes, brain fog, and other bothersome symptoms kick in. Once the update is complete, the symptoms start dissipating (which may take longer than the other two P’s because now we are . . . well, older). All this information is helpful to place menopause under a much broader lens. But where are the bonuses? Could it be that the menopausal brain morph might better equip us for our later years? Could menopause come with its own ingenuity, proving instrumental in preparing women for a new role in life as in society? Despite society having turned a blind eye toward any menopausal perks, there is increasing evidence that this profound hormonal event also bestows new meaning and purpose on women. HAPPINESS IS NOT A MYTH AFTER ALL Any major life transition can be a chance at reawakening, even if the road is rough.

An out-of-balance Root Chakra could express its condition with issues such as a lack of grounding, fear of moving forward in life, general anxiety, impatience, and addiction. Physically, the body might respond with pain, growth problems, weight issues, colitis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, or menopausal symptoms. You may also constantly lack energy, feel tired or, if your Root Chakra is overly active, you can be high-strung, have difficulty sleeping, or act aggressive and greedy.

removing the ovaries before menopause leads to more hot flushes and more severe symptoms than the more meandering drop in hormones typical of menopause.

What happens to the gut during menopause? With estrogen decline, there is… •​Increased gut permeability •​Bloating, constipation, reflux •​Less bile production to help us break down fats and detoxify estrogen •​IBS symptoms •​Thinning of the mucosal lining of the gut due to estrogen decline •​Decreased calcium absorption (rapid bone loss)

What happens to the gut during menopause? With estrogen decline, there is… •​Increased gut permeability •​Bloating, constipation, reflux •​Less bile production to help us break down fats and detoxify estrogen •​IBS symptoms •​Thinning of the mucosal lining of the gut due to estrogen decline •​Decreased calcium absorption (rapid bone loss) •​Increased levels of cortisol due to a decline in estrogen, which can often lead to anxiety and a cortisol belly •​A slowdown in digestion of food due to high cortisol, which leads to digestive and gut imbalances and constipation •​Brain fog, anxiety and depression, poor energy, and insomnia

Gut health is so vital to our health because the microbiome has many functions: •​Makes and regulates hormones and neurotransmitters •​Absorbs nutrients •​Supports immune function •​Regulates estrogen levels in the body •​Fends off pathogens and parasites, and keeps healthy bacterial balance in check Estrogen and progesterone fuel the good bacteria in our guts. Without adequate levels, we can develop dysbiosis and its wide range of digestive disturbance symptoms, including diarrhea, cramping, constipation, bloating, and indigestion. When the gut microbiome is healthy, the estrobolome produces optimal levels of an enzyme called beta glucuronidase. As the liver metabolizes estrogen, it delivers this conjugated estrogen to the bile for excretion into the gut. A healthy estrobolome minimizes reabsorption of estrogen from the gut, and instead helps you poop it out. However, if you’re constipated and not pooping daily, or have an excess of bacteria producing beta glucuronidase, you can keep recycling estrogen in the gut and become estrogen dominant.

There are many examples of how Medicine 2.0 gets risk wrong, but one of the most egregious has to do with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women, long entrenched as standard practice before the results of the Women’s Health Initiative Study (WHI) were published in 2002. This large clinical trial, involving thousands of older women, compared a multitude of health outcomes in women taking HRT versus those who did not take it. The study reported a 24 percent relative increase in the risk of breast cancer among a subset of women taking HRT, and headlines all over the world condemned HRT as a dangerous, cancer-causing therapy. All of a sudden, on the basis of this one study, hormone replacement treatment became virtually taboo. This reported 24 percent risk increase sounded scary indeed. But nobody seemed to care that the absolute risk increase of breast cancer for women in the study remained minuscule. Roughly five out of every one thousand women in the HRT group developed breast cancer, versus four out of every one thousand in the control group, who received no hormones. The absolute risk increase was just 0.1 percentage point. HRT was linked to, potentially, one additional case of breast cancer in every thousand patients. Yet this tiny increase in absolute risk was deemed to outweigh any benefits, meaning menopausal women would potentially be subject to hot flashes and night sweats, as well as loss of bone density and muscle mass, and other unpleasant symptoms

of menopause—not to mention a potentially increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, as we’ll see in chapter 9. Medicine 2.0 would rather throw out this therapy entirely, on the basis of one clinical trial, than try to understand and address the nuances involved. Medicine 3.0 would take this study into account, while recognizing its inevitable limitations and built-in biases. The key question that Medicine 3.0 asks is whether this intervention, hormone replacement therapy, with its relatively small increase in average risk in a large group of women older than sixty-five, might still be net beneficial for our individual patient, with her own unique mix of symptoms and risk factors. How is she similar to or different from the population in the study? One huge difference: none of the women selected for the study were actually symptomatic, and most were many years out of menopause. So how applicable are the findings of this study to women who are in or just entering menopause (and are presumably younger)? Finally, is there some other possible explanation for the slight observed increase in risk with this specific HRT protocol?[*3] My broader point is that at the level of the individual patient, we should be willing to ask deeper questions of risk versus reward versus cost for this therapy—and for almost anything else we might do. The fourth and perhaps largest shift is that where Medicine 2.0 focuses largely on lifespan, and is almost entirely geared toward staving off death, Medicine 3.0 pays far more attention to maintaining healthspan, the quality of life. Healthspan was a concept that barely even existed when I went to medical school. My professors said little to nothing about how to help our patients maintain their physical and cognitive capacity as they aged. The word exercise was almost never uttered. Sleep was totally ignored, both in class and in residency, as we routinely worked twenty-four hours at a stretch. Our instruction in nutrition was also minimal to nonexistent. Today, Medicine 2.0 at least acknowledges the importance of healthspan, but the standard definition—the period of life free of disease or disability—is totally insufficient, in my view. We want more out of life than simply the absence of sickness or disability. We want to be thriving, in every way, throughout the latter half of our lives. Another, related issue is that longevity itself, and healthspan in particular, doesn’t really fit into the business model of our current

What I recommend is that 80 percent of time you are ketobiotic, using the macros I laid out at the beginning of this chapter (50 grams net carbs, 50 grams protein, greater than 60 percent fat) and 20 percent of the time you eat to build hormones (not counting macros). In a week’s schedule, you would spend one or two days hormone-building and the rest week on a ketobiotic diet. Confused? I know for

THE 28 - DAY HORMONE RESET Day 1 to 11: Ketobiotic diet with your choice of fast. Day 12 to 14:  Estrogen-building foods with intermittent fasting. Day 15 to 21:  Ketobiotic diet with your choice of fast. Day 21 to 28:  Progesterone-building foods with intermittent fasting.

You can’t heal a body you hate.

Next Steps to Building a Fasting Lifestyle Move breakfast back an hour. Keep moving breakfast back until you are comfortable going 15 hours. Make intermittent fasting (13 to 15 hours without food) a normal daily routine. One day a week, do a dinner-to-dinner fast. Once you have mastered the above steps, you are ready to start experimenting with the other fasts. Join my Resetters group and try our Fast Training Week to exercise your fasting muscle.

soy protein is famous for its ability to ease menopausal symptoms,

You don’t know me but Kat forwarded your question. My depression and anxiety and disassociation symptoms greatly improved after menopause and lifelong relational avoidance patterns became conscious, visible

Today, in the medical field, chemo brain is referred to as cancer-treatment-related cognitive impairment, cancer-related cognitive change, or post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment. I am not a fan of the word impairment in these phrases for reasons we’ll discuss in a moment, but nonetheless, chemo brain is a symptom reported by as many as 75 percent of cancer patients. It is often described as difficulty processing information and feeling as if you can’t think as quickly and as clearly as you did before you had cancer or started treatment. Everyday tasks require more concentration and take more time and effort to take care of. As you may have noticed, this is not too dissimilar from the brain fog experienced by

To make matters worse, postmenopausal women are two to three times more likely than premenopausal women to develop new sleep problems, such as sleep apnea. While this disorder is typically considered a men’s issue, once menopause kicks off, women are also at increased risk, possibly because of changes in muscle tone. Sleep apnea is a chronic breathing disorder during which one repeatedly stops breathing mid-sleep. Typically, this is due to a partial or complete obstruction (or collapse) of the upper airway, often affecting the base of the tongue and the soft palate, or due to a depressed signal from the brain to initiate a breath. These events can last ten seconds or longer, sometimes occurring hundreds of times per night, causing severe sleep disruptions. Sleep apnea is more common than you probably think. The National Sleep Foundation reported that it likely affects as much as 20 percent of the population, although as many as 85 percent of individuals with sleep apnea don’t know they have it. That seems to be particularly the case for women, for two reasons. First, many women attribute the symptoms and effects of sleep disorders (like daytime fatigue) to stress, overwork, or menopause, rather than to sleep apnea. Second, the symptoms of sleep apnea are often more subtle in women than in men (read, women snore less). As a result, women tend to not seek evaluation for sleep apnea, which in turn delays diagnosis and treatment. Given the importance of sleep for your health, both physical and mental, I strongly recommend that you get a proper sleep evaluation if you are concerned that your sleep symptoms may be due to menopause, sleep apnea, or a combination of the two. Treatments for sleep apnea are available, which often include lifestyle changes and the use of a breathing assistance device at night, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Sleep disturbances due to menopause are also just as important to address. As with the other symptoms so far, remedies are available, which we’ll review in part 4.

According to recent statistics, over 60 percent of all perimenopausal and postmenopausal women struggle with brain fog. The experience is so marked that it can disturb one’s sense of efficiency, especially when memory lapses crop up. It’s important to realize that forgetfulness can spike during perimenopause, which can feed fears not only of going crazy but of experiencing early dementia. In other words, we are looking at millions of women in the prime of life who suddenly feel like the rug has been pulled out from under them—blindsided by their bodies, let down by their brains, and failed by their doctors, who also may not realize that those are symptoms of menopause.

or simple, hysterectomy, where the uterus is removed but the ovaries are left in place, will stop menstruation but not ovulation. As such, it will not prompt early menopause. However, hormonal production may decrease, and blood flow to the ovaries may be reduced, too. This may prompt the symptoms of menopause earlier than expected.

asked if there’s a simple hormone test that can tell if you’re nearing menopause or are already past it. The answer is no. Blood tests can be helpful but are not necessary to diagnose menopause. If you suspect that you’re in perimenopause or want to know if you’re past menopause, the best thing to do is to have a complete medical examination by a qualified healthcare professional. The diagnosis is based on age, medical history, symptoms, and period frequency. Blood work can be used as supportive information, but more often than not, it isn’t needed.

Further, dozens of studies since then have provided reassurance that for healthy women experiencing the symptoms of menopause, the benefits of taking hormones—given at lower doses and often via the transdermal route—generally outweigh the risks.

Note that a partial hysterectomy (removal of the uterus but not the ovaries), ovarian cyst removal, or endometrial ablation does not cause menopause but can affect blood flow to the ovaries, prompting menopausal symptoms at an earlier age.

Over three-quarters of all women develop brain symptoms during menopause.

The medical term for hot flashes is vasomotor symptoms, clarifying that they are caused by the constriction or dilation of blood vessels. This results in a sudden rush of heat, usually felt across the face, neck, and chest. Your skin might redden as if you’re blushing or mounting a fever, and it’s common to break into a sweat just as intensely.

Testing is instead recommended to evaluate fertility problems or when periods stop at an early age, as with POI. Another reason to test is for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can impact menstrual regularity and fertility. Labs may also help determine menopausal status for women who no longer have a period due to medical interventions. These include a partial hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus but not the ovaries) or an endometrial ablation (a procedure that removes the lining of the uterus). These procedures stop your menstrual period but don’t stop ovulation. In this case, the occurrence of menopausal symptoms is the first indication of menopause, with blood work providing supporting evidence. In such cases, the levels of estrogen and other hormones, chiefly FSH and another hormone called inhibin B, are measured. Inhibin B regulates FSH production, and it can serve as a marker for ovarian function and follicular content. Normative

Women with low testosterone levels may also experience symptoms of anxiety, irritability, depression, fatigue, memory changes, and insomnia. Additionally, while it is true that testosterone declines are typically due to the aging process rather than to spontaneous menopause, induced menopause can be associated with a much more abrupt loss of testosterone, which can be quite challenging.

In clinical trials, desvenlafaxine was shown to reduce hot flashes by 62 percent and to lessen their severity by 25 percent. Escitalopram reduced hot flash severity by about 50 percent. On the other hand, common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) do not work as well for menopausal symptoms as the other antidepressants listed.

Breast-related changes can also occur, such as breast soreness, loss of breast fullness, and swelling. However, it’s crucial not to overlook the less-discussed bodily symptoms of menopause that can significantly impact women’s lives and well-being. These include irregular heartbeat and palpitations, which can be very scary, as well as changes in body composition, weight gain, and slower metabolism, along with digestive issues, bloating, acid reflux, and nausea. Additional changes encompass thinning hair, brittle nails, dry skin, and itchiness; changes in body odor; changes in taste or dry or burning mouth; tinnitus, muffled hearing, or sensitivity to noise; and even the development of new allergies. These symptoms should not be taken lightly, as they can be overwhelming to deal with on their own.

The hormonal chaos of midlife can set off changes not only in body temperature but also in mood, sleep patterns, stress levels, libido, and cognitive performance. Importantly, these shifts can occur without any hot flashes. Furthermore, some women develop neurological occurrences like dizzy spells, fatigue, headaches, and migraines. Meanwhile, others report more extreme symptoms, including severe depression, intense anxiety, panic attacks, and even what’s referred to as electric shock sensations. All these symptoms originate not in the ovaries, but in the brain. Yet despite significant progress in understanding the bodily aspects of menopause, we are only just beginning to grasp the full impact of the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive shifts that can arise during this transition.

There is some evidence that the more night sweats one experiences, the more white-matter lesions there are in the brain, potentially causing more severe issues down the line. In a nutshell, hot flashes are very real symptoms that need attending to before they become an actual problem. At a minimum, reports of severe and frequent vasomotor symptoms should cue doctors to look more closely at a woman’s cardiac health, as well as her brain health. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate, reverse, and even prevent vasomotor symptoms, which we’ll review in later chapters. An Emotional Roller Coaster

For example, paroxetine, an antidepressant medication, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing hot flashes. Other antidepressants, as well as medications like gabapentin and clonidine, also show evidence of efficacy in relieving menopausal symptoms. Just recently, in 2023, the FDA approved fezolinetant, a novel nonhormonal medication designed to treat moderate to severe hot flashes. Discussing all available options is essential to ensure that all women have access to appropriate and effective treatments for their own individual needs and circumstances.

You have reduced sex drive, depression, and fatigue after surgically induced menopause, and estrogen therapy hasn’t relieved your symptoms.

You don’t need to know everything about menopause to get the support you need. But what will be helpful is to have a fairly detailed understanding of the changes in the endocrine system that lead up to menopause, as well as the significant impact these changes can have on the body. Many practitioners will use the difficulty of the subject and the general lack of knowledge to sweep your symptoms under the rug quickly without offering any potential solutions.

Should you be eating soy? There’s been some debate about soy due to the perception of its carrying estrogen, but I want you to understand that phytoestrogens aren’t estrogen, nor do they act like human estrogen. Instead, phytoestrogens are isoflavones, one of the unique phytochemicals in soy beans. There are actually three soy isoflavones: genistein, daidzein, and glycitein. They have a number of health benefits, including: lowering cholesterol, strengthening bones, treating menopausal symptoms, lowering risk of coronary heart disease, and reducing risk of prostate/colon/breast/ovarian cancers. Want even more good news about soy? There are certain gut bacteria that can convert soy isoflavones into an even more beneficial compound called equol. This is like a supercharged isoflavone, giving you even more cardiovascular, bone, and menopausal health benefits. Unfortunately, you need to have the bacteria in order to do this. Equol can be produced by 50 to 60 percent of Asian people but just 30 percent of Westerners. For what it’s worth, diets high in carbohydrates (really meaning fiber) and low in saturated fat are associated with equol production, while antibiotics appear to hinder it. I recommend consuming only non-GMO and organic soy in its whole-foods forms: edamame, tofu, miso, tempeh, tamari, and unsweetened soy milk. Model your soy consumption after the way they do it in Asia. For some delicious ways to consume soy, check out the recipes in Chapter 10.

Blood tests are unnecessary for those aiming to use hormones for symptom relief. This is because we are not treating hormone levels. We are treating the symptoms of menopause, which do not correlate with hormone levels. You may have symptoms even if your hormones are within normal range, and you may have very low estrogen and no symptoms

So listen up: there are at least thirty-eight symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Most are caused by the gradual decline or fluctuation in hormones in a woman’s body as she ages. For the majority of women, it happens from the age of about forty. Aside from the much-chronicled (and, annoyingly often, laughed-at) hot flushes and night sweats, you can also get sore joints, insomnia, depression, dizziness, tingling in the extremities, loss of libido, numbness, headaches and tinnitus. Tinnitus? I mean, who knew you could get menopause of the ears, for god’s sake? There are also emotional or psychological symptoms, like anxiety and low mood, mood swings and panic attacks. But perhaps the most frustrating and surprising medically recognised symptom of the perimenopause is ‘the rage’.

Estrogen-building foods: Flax seeds Sesame seeds Soybeans/edamame Garlic Dried apricots, dates, prunes Peaches Berries Cruciferous foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts Progesterone-building foods: Beans Potatoes Squashes Quinoa Tropical fruits Citrus fruits

Believe it or not, breakfast being the most important meal of the day was an advertising slogan that Kellogg’s came up with to promote their new cereal, Corn Flakes, back in the 1970s.

It is a well-known fact, and one that has given much ground for complaint, that after women have lost their genital function their character often undergoes a peculiar alteration, they become quarrelsome, vexatious and overbearing, petty and stingy, that is to say that they exhibit typically sadistic and anal-erotic traits which they did not possess earlier during their period of womanliness,” Sigmund Freud declared in 1913.8 Well, you can argue that he was a man of his time; the first couple of decades of the twentieth century weren’t exactly known for their respect for women’s finer qualities. But unfortunately, the nonsense didn’t stop there. “The unpalatable truth must be faced that all postmenopausal women are castrates,” pronounced American gynecologist Robert Wilson in a 1963 essay;9 he then elaborated fulsomely on this theme in his 1966 bestseller Feminine Forever.10 This frighteningly influential book, it later emerged, was backed by a pharmaceutical company eager to market hormone replacement therapy. “Once the ovaries stop, the very essence of being a woman stops,” psychiatrist David Reuben wrote in 1969 in another bestseller, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask.11 The postmenopausal woman, he added, comes “as close as she can to being a man.” Or rather, “not really a man but no longer a functional woman.” Half a century on, has anything really changed? Sadly, I don’t think so. It might not be acceptable in most circles to write that kind of thing anymore, but menopausal women are too often the butt of men’s jokes for me really to believe that the attitudes themselves have shifted. They’ve just gone a little more underground. So if these are the stories men are telling about us, where are the stories we’re telling about ourselves? Unfortunately, they’re not always very much more helpful. A surprising number of self-help or quasi-medical books by female authors toe the male line, enjoining women to try to stay young and beautiful at all costs, and head off to their doctor to get hormone replacement therapy to hold off the “symptoms” of the dreaded aging “disease” for as long as possible. Their aim, it seems, is above all a suspension of the aging process, an exhortation to live in a state of suspended animation. And although more women are beginning to write about menopause as a natural and profoundly transformational life-passage, in the culture at large it is still primarily viewed as something to be managed, held off, even fought.

10 Things You Should Always Discuss with Your Gynecologist – Motherhood Chaitanya Hospital Your gynecologist is your partner in women’s health, and open communication is key to receiving the best care. From reproductive health to general well-being, here are 10 crucial topics you should always discuss with your gynecologist. If you’re in Chandigarh, consider reaching out to the Best Female Gynecologist in Chandigarh through Motherhood Chaitanya for expert care. 1. Menstrual Irregularities Don’t dismiss irregular periods as a minor issue. They could be indicative of underlying conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, or hormonal imbalances. 2. Contraception Discuss your contraception options to find the one that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Your gynecologist can provide guidance on various birth control methods, from pills to intrauterine devices (IUDs). 3. Pregnancy Planning If you’re planning to start a family, consult your gynecologist for preconception advice. This can help you prepare your body and address any potential risks or concerns. 4. Sexual Health Openly discuss any concerns related to sexual health, including pain during intercourse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or changes in sexual desire. Your gynecologist can provide guidance and offer solutions. 5. Menopause and Perimenopause If you’re in your 40s or approaching menopause, discuss perimenopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and changes in menstrual patterns. Your gynecologist can recommend treatments to manage these changes. 6. Family History Share your family’s medical history, especially if there are instances of gynecological conditions, such as ovarian or breast cancer. This information is vital for early detection and prevention. 7. Breast Health Talk to your gynecologist about breast health, including breast self-exams and recommended mammograms. Regular breast checks are essential for early detection of breast cancer. 8. Pelvic Pain Don’t ignore persistent pelvic pain. It can signal a range of issues, including endometriosis, fibroids, or ovarian cysts. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. 9. Urinary Issues Frequent urination, urinary incontinence, or pain during urination should be discussed. These symptoms can be linked to urinary tract infections or pelvic floor disorders. 10. Mental Health Your gynecologist is there to address your overall well-being. If you’re experiencing mood swings, anxiety, or depression, it’s important to discuss these mental health concerns. Your gynecologist can offer guidance or refer you to specialists if needed. In conclusion, your gynecologist is your go-to resource for women’s health, addressing a wide spectrum of issues. Open and honest communication is essential to ensure you receive the best care and support. If you’re in Chandigarh, consider consulting the Best Gynecologist Obstetricians in Chandigarh through Motherhood Chaitanya for expert guidance. Your health is a priority, and discussing these important topics with your gynecologist is a proactive step toward a healthier, happier you

Menopause and Urinary Symptoms Menopause on average starts at the age of 51 in most women. This causes changes in the female body including urinary function. According to Dr Tejinder Kaur, MBBS, Diploma in Hospital Administration, Diploma of National Board Training, Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine, Consultant-Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, bladder symptoms become more likely as you get older due to the lack of oestrogen in the body. Around two-thirds of women in their menopause experience vaginal and bladder-related symptoms. If you feel such symptoms, consult the best gynaecologist in Mohali at the earliest.

Make up your mind beforehand what you want to tell your doctor. Write down a list of your important signs, symptoms, complaints and worries. Women who have not yet gone through the menopause should take along details of their last few periods.

Spartan Medical Associates are bio-identical hormone replacement specialists and Doctors in Huntersville, NC and Charlotte, NC. We specialize in hormone replacement therapy for men including TRT, testosterone replacement therapy and hormone replacement therapy for women including treatment for symptoms of menopause, hot flashes and night sweats and perimenopause. Experienced bio-identical hormone doctors have state of the art training to a personalized hormone replacement treatment plan.

Menopause is crazy hard. Sleepless nights, erratic moods, weight loss resistance, memory loss, hot flashes, thinning hair, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido are not a walk in the park. Menopause is not like handling a bad flu that comes and goes in a matter of weeks. It’s a decade-long journey during which our bodies shift in massive ways.

When you go for your yearly check-up with your doctor, she will normally do a complete blood analysis. In this blood test, there is a measurement called hemoglobin A1C. Hemoglobin A1C tells you what the trend of your insulin levels have been for the past three months. You want that number under five for disease prevention and under three for longevity.

You might be chatting sociably with friends, and suddenly you notice that they're all flapping their hands at at their faces. You're all sitting there like a bunch of chickens - all flapping away. You hardly notice that you're doing it because it's such a habit. All clutching at your clothes to try and flap some cool air in, And all of you are bright red in the face." Sally, 58

The very best way that you can help yourself is to develop and sustain a positive attitude. The way you think and feel about everything will make all the difference to your experience.

I made a mental note of where I'd parked the car, but when I came out of the precinctI couldn't remember where it was. I pushed a full shopping trolley through acres of busy car park to try to find it, and after 20 minutes I was nearly in tears. Eventually I just stumbled across it, but I don't remember parking there at all. I felt so stupid. What's even worse was that a few weeks later I did exactly the same thing. - Fiona, 56

Imbalances in Women’s Sex Hormones What happens when a woman’s sex hormones are out of balance? Imbalances in estrogen and progesterone can occur at any age but are most common during puberty, before menopause, and for many years after menopause. Women can also suffer from low testosterone, experiencing symptoms that include low libido, muscle weakness, and others that may resemble those associated with hypothyroidism. Symptoms associated with sex hormone imbalances in women include: • bone loss • loss of muscle mass • depression • hot flashes • irregular periods • low libido • memory lapses • mood swings (PMS) • acne • headaches • heart palpitations • fibrocystic breasts • thinning skin • nervousness • night sweats • poor concentration • sleep disturbances • urinary incontinence

I went to work wearing a suit and odd shoes. One was blue and one was black. I can't believe I did that. I'm so particular - I would never have done that before. - Les, 48

Dr. Pat Quinn, who has done groundbreaking work on the issues of ADD women, has found in the course of her clinical work that hormones have a significant impact on the symptoms of women with ADD. Falling estrogen levels turn out to be the biggest problem for ADDult women. Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter of taking a blood test to determine if you have the correct level of estrogen in your body. It is possible to have an estrogen level that falls in the normal range but is low for you as an individual. Low estrogen states occur in the phase before menstruation and during postpartum and perimenopause/menopause.

Probiotics—These help maintain healthy intestinal flora and healthy estrogen levels. Make sure you get human-strain probiotics that have live cultures. Consider taking 10–60 billion units per day. Plant Phytoestrogens—These plant-based compounds have healthy estrogen-like activity and have been found helpful for a variety of conditions, including menopausal symptoms, PMS, and endometriosis. Phytoestrogens can be found in soy, kudzu, red clover, and pomegranate. Resveratrol is a bioflavonoid antioxidant that occurs naturally in grapes and red wine and has been reported to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in laboratory studies. Black cohosh—This herb has been used for centuries by Native Americans for hormonal balance in women.

Menopause made its way to Capitol Hill on December 13, 2023, when there was a press conference in support of the Menopause Research and Equity Act. This proposed legislation calls on the National Institutes of Health to evaluate and report to Congress on the current state of menopause-related research and identify any gaps in knowledge, research, and treatments for menopause-related symptoms, and then to create a plan and a budget to resolve the gaps in knowledge and research that their study identifies

Perimenopause means “around menopause.” It is the four- to ten-year period leading up to your last menstrual cycle. Typically, but not always, the symptoms of perimenopause are more bothersome and intense than the symptoms of menopause and postmenopause. Yet only 34 percent of women even know that perimenopause exists!17 Which makes perimenopause the most confusing phase.

Your symptoms may or may not have subsided once you are postmenopausal. Don’t hate me for saying so, but some women can be symptomatic for up to twenty years after menopause. Most women definitely reach a plateau with their symptoms, but it can take time—all the more reason to start exploring your options now.

The takeaway is this: We have to be our own advocate. It’s easy to say but not as easy to do, especially when doctors are either dismissive of your symptoms, eager to write a prescription for sleep meds or antidepressants as a Band-Aid measure, or not up to speed with the latest research on treatments—hormonal and otherwise.

If your doctor is not talking about the pros and cons of HT along with the pros and cons of antidepressants and/or sleep meds, as well as evaluating whether you are a candidate, then it is time to find another physician who is more knowledgeable about (peri)menopause, because HT can be very beneficial for mood, energy, and sleep (although not FDA-approved for these uses). Most women report significant resolution in their symptoms when they are on HT, and these improvements can be felt quite soon after starting HT. There is nothing wrong with using antidepressants or antianxiety meds or sleep meds temporarily, but they are generally not the solution.

So, how did the WHI go so wrong? There were two main reasons: 1. The WHI chose the wrong population. The average woman in the study was sixty-three—at least ten years past menopause—and the age of the participants ranged up to seventy-nine.4 That’s a big problem, since the older you are, the higher your risk of chronic disease. And, to minimize the number of dropouts, women were chosen who no longer had menopause symptoms. In addition, many participants were overweight and almost 50 percent were current or former smokers.5 This is significant because being overweight and cigarette smoking are both primary risk factors for heart disease. 2. The increased risk of breast cancer was misreported. The WHI found that the risk of developing breast cancer rose from 2.33 percent in the general population to 2.94 percent in the women taking HT in the study. In the press conference announcing that the study had been halted, the WHI presented the figure to the mainstream media as an increase in risk of 26 percent. While technically true (the difference between 2.94 and 2.33 is 26 percent of 2.33), it was a 26 percent increase of a very small number. In reality, it meant an additional 8 in 10,000 women would get breast cancer. (It’s worth noting that even this finding was walked back; the study was halted prematurely, and in the five-year follow-up, it was concluded that many of those women had developed their breast cancer before the advent of the study.)6

the goal of taking hormones is to treat the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. And the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause all have a common root—the lack of hormones.

Other things you might notice are a burning sensation in the mouth, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), shoulder aches, even all-over body pain, something known as arthralgia. You might get heart palpitations as well, and find that you’re getting breast tenderness as the estrogen fluctuates. You may notice things like dry skin and dry hair. You might find it really hard to lose weight so your weight might increase. And then there’s a whole host of symptoms in regard to your periods. If you’re not using any form of hormonal contraceptive, your periods might become heavier or lighter, more frequent or further apart. You might also notice changes to your vagina, whether that’s dryness, difficulty with sexual intercourse, recurrent urinary tract infections, or maybe even urge incontinence. So, as you can see, perimenopause can affect the whole body, not just your periods.

Dr. Arif: The definition of perimenopause is when you’re having both menopausal symptoms and periods. It can last for up to a decade before you get to one year without a period. Hot flushes and night sweats are the classic symptoms, but there are a lot more. The psychological symptoms include brain fog, irritability, tearfulness, and insomnia. It could be fits of anger that you never had before. You might find that you’re becoming a lot more clumsy. Headaches, migraines can suddenly start at this age as well.

Not only are hot flashes not funny, they can actually be a sign of long-term risks down the road, such as bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis. The SWAN study (Study of Women Across the Nation), which was initiated in 1996 to define and map the menopause transition in an ethnically and racially diverse sample of midlife women, found that hot flashes are also linked to cardiovascular disease.11 The more severe the symptoms, the greater the risk.

On the other hand, common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) do not work as well for menopausal symptoms as the other antidepressants listed.

Foods Rich in Phytoestrogens: Strengthening Women’s Health Women’s health is significantly influenced by diet, and one of the most important yet often overlooked nutrients is phytoestrogens. These plant-based compounds mimic estrogen in the body, helping to balance hormones, support bone health, and enhance overall well-being. What Are Phytoestrogens? Phytoestrogens are natural compounds found in plants that function similarly to estrogen. They are particularly beneficial for women experiencing hormonal imbalances, menopause symptoms, or those looking to strengthen their bone and reproductive health. There are three main types of phytoestrogens: Isoflavones: Found in soybeans, chickpeas, and lentils. Lignans: Present in flaxseeds, sesame seeds, and whole grains. Coumestans: Found in alfalfa sprouts and certain legumes. Top Foods Rich in Phytoestrogens Including these phytoestrogen-rich foods in your diet can promote hormonal balance and overall health: 1. Soy Products Soybeans, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk contain isoflavones, which support menopausal health, bone density, and heart health. Regular consumption of soy-based foods can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis and alleviate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. 2. Flaxseeds Flaxseeds are a top source of lignans, which provide hormonal support, heart benefits, and improved digestion. These tiny seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and support brain function. 3. Sesame Seeds Packed with lignans, sesame seeds help maintain estrogen levels, strengthen bones, and support skin health. They are also a great source of calcium and zinc, essential for bone strength and immune function. 4. Chickpeas & Lentils Rich in isoflavones, these legumes help regulate hormonal fluctuations while offering a great source of plant-based protein. They are especially beneficial for women seeking to maintain steady energy levels and muscle mass. 5. Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts) Nuts contain phytoestrogens that contribute to hormonal stability and support heart and brain health. Walnuts, in particular, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote cognitive function and reduce inflammation. 6. Berries Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants and phytoestrogens, reducing inflammation and boosting immunity. Their high vitamin C content also aids in collagen production, supporting skin elasticity and wound healing. 7. Whole Grains Oats, barley, and wheat contain lignans that support hormonal balance, digestion, and metabolic health. They also provide fiber, which helps in maintaining a healthy weight and stabilizing blood sugar levels. 8. Alfalfa Sprouts These sprouts are rich in coumestans, a type of phytoestrogen that supports bone health and helps manage menopausal symptoms. They are also packed with vitamins and minerals essential for overall well-being. Health Benefits of Phytoestrogen-Rich Foods Balances Hormones: Reduces symptoms of PMS, menopause, and hormonal fluctuations. Supports Bone Health: Strengthens bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Promotes Heart Health: Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and improves circulation. Enhances Skin & Hair Health: Boosts collagen production, promoting youthful skin and strong hair. Aids Weight Management: Supports metabolism regulation and helps control cravings. Boosts Brain Function: Improves cognitive health and memory, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. How to Include Phytoestrogens in Your Diet? Add flaxseeds to smoothies, yogurt, or oatmeal. Enjoy a soy-based meal like tofu stir-fry or soy milk. Snack on nuts and berries for a healthy boost. Use whole grains in your daily meals. Sprinkle sesame seeds on salads and dishes. Incorporate alfalfa sprouts into sandwiches and salads.

With the onset of menopause, estrogen and progesterone diminish. Dropping hormones lead to a slew of changes that can result in disruptive menopausal symptoms and can make exercise feel harder, including less-compliant blood vessels (blood pressure changes are slower); it also gets harder to handle the heat. Menopausal women are more sensitive to carbohydrates, so they have more blood sugar swings and need less carbohydrates overall. Your body uses protein less effectively at this time of life, so the type and quality of protein you eat and when you eat it become very important to build and maintain your muscles. High-intensity power and strength training is really important once you hit menopause to prevent muscle loss, bone loss, and weakness with age.

By the time women are six years past menopause, up to 84 percent of them experience genitourinary syndrome of menopause, known as GSM.1 What those three letters spell for women is a combination of a lack of natural lubrication and a thinning of the vaginal wall, resulting in painful sex. As common as these symptoms are, they still often come as a surprise. “Every woman knows about hot flashes and night sweats,” says Dr. Sheryl Kingsberg, chief of the Behavioral Medicine program at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. “But it’s a conspiracy of silence that they don’t know about painful sex.

I honestly thought I was losing my sanity. I knew about hot flashes/night sweats but nothing about the other symptoms. Lack of sleep due to night sweats, which caused me to be irritable and have anxiety and paranoid thoughts. I was becoming someone I did not like and was a little afraid of because I could not control my emotions or understand where they were coming from. But thankfully I now know that I am not crazy but normal. We talk about periods and sex education when we are younger—menopause should be included in that. Having the knowledge about what menopause is and being able to discuss it would have made going into it less traumatic for me (and no doubt for others, too).