Menopause is a natural life transition experienced by every woman in the world in her own unique way. As baby boomers age, an unprecedented number of women are reaching menopause every day. Still, many remain unsure when "the change" will occur, what to expect, how to prepare for it and how to safely and effectively address their symptoms. Unfortunately, people don't talk openly about menopause, medical doctors often approach it as a "disease", and this is not the menopause the generation before us experienced.
Although this is a natural life transition, our modern world isn't such a natural place and your entire endocrine system has had to adapt accordingly. Due to estrogen mimicking xenoestrogens and other chemicals in the environment and the products we use, ours is the first generation to experience extreme estrogen dominance. As a result, this once brief transition can now span 5-15 years of your life.
Far beyond mood swings, hot flashes and the end of your child bearing years, the journey through perimenopause and menopause impacts every aspect of your life - mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It's important to remember that your significant other, children, friends, family and co-workers will all be affected by the changes you experience too. Clearly, becoming more aware of menopause and discovering ways to navigate through the years ahead will enhance the quality of your life and those around you.
Understanding the Phases of "The Change"
Premenopause: The term "premenopause" is so often misunderstood that the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies abandoned it. Premenopause does not refer to the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause), but rather to the entirety of a woman's reproductive years.
Perimenopause: The years leading to actual menopause are known as perimenopause. The beginning of this phase is marked by a decrease in progesterone which allows estrogen to become in excess. This hormonal balance triggers the onset of symptoms including irregular periods, heavy bleeding, mood swings, breast tenderness and more. Many women are reaching perimenopause earlier in life due to estrogen mimicking chemicals known as xenoestrogens. A study of over 2,700 women found that perimenopause typically lasts between 2 and 15 years.
Premature Menopause: While the average age of menopause remains at about 51, more and more women are reaching menopause much earlier. Premature menopause can be naturally occurring, surgically induced (hysterectomy) or the result of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Menopause: The word menopause refers to a point in time rather than a span of years. A woman "reaches" menopause when 12 consecutive months have passed without a menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, estrogen levels begin to drop. After the wildly fluctuating hormones during perimenopause, this phase often brings a sense of balance. However, dropping estrogen levels also introduce new symptoms and new risks for hormone and age related health conditions.
Post-menopause: Post-menopause refers to all of the years of your life following a full 12 months without a menstrual cycle. Today, the average woman lives one third of her life after menopause. Hormone related health concerns increase, such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and vaginal prolapse. Women can take command of these health risks by utilizing the many prevention strategies available and initiating positive lifestyle changes now.
Hormone Related Health Conditions
Since the entire endocrine system is affected by the extreme hormonal changes taking place during perimenopause, it should come as no surprise that hormone related health conditions increase in midlife women. These can include hypothyroidism, blood sugar disorders, adrenal fatigue, elevated cholesterol, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and breast cancer.
Bio-identical Progesterone Cream - A Simple Solution
By now, we're all aware of the health risks associated with HRT. Despite FDA approval, the medications we thought would bring symptom relief, protect our hearts, prevent osteoporosis and lower the risk of breast cancer were found to do more harm than good.
The Organic Excellence Progesterone Creams were formulated to meet the strict criteria outlined by Dr. John R. Lee, MD. in his bestselling book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause". Identical to the progesterone naturally produced by the body, they offer a simple solution to safely and effectively restore hormonal balance, ease your symptoms, help protect you from hormone related health conditions and assure you of a more pleasant menopause transition, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Women in perimenopause with an excess of estrogen will benefit greatly from Feminine Balance Therapy, our progesterone cream without phytoestrogens. For those in menopause and beyond, Balance Plus Therapy (with added phytoestrogens) can help relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of too little estrogen.
The Affects of Progesterone
- Natural anti-depressant
- Helps use fat for energy
- Aids weight loss naturally
- Relieves anxiety
- Prevents cyclical migraines
- Promotes normal sleep patterns
- Facilitates thyroid hormone function
- Helps normalize blood sugar levels
- Normalizes blood clotting
- Calms the nervous system
- Helps restore normal libido
- Normalizes zinc and copper levels
- Natural diuretic
- Protects against fibrocystic breasts
- Restores proper cell oxygen levels
- Prevents endometrial cancer
- Helps prevent breast cancer
- Stimulates new bone formation
- Improves vascular tone
- Prevents autoimmune diseases
- Increases sensitivity of estrogen receptors
- Precursor of corticosteroid biosynthesis
- Prevents coronary artery spasm and atherosclerotic plaque
Holistic Menopause - Steps to Embrace Perimenopause and Menopause
As the owner of Organic Excellence, I've dedicated much of my life to providing women with acupuncture, herbal medicine consultations and lifestyle coaching. I feel so fortunate to have our very own menopause expert, Michelle Prince, to support you with the wonderful work she does at www.Holistic Menopause.com. Michelle has been offering Personal Consultations, workshops and retreats for women in perimenopause and menopause since 2004 and has only recommended one brand of progesterone cream during that time...Organic Excellence! Why? Because it's 100% chemical free and brings amazing results to her clients all around the world.
Contact Michelle for a Holistic Menopause Personal Consultation that's guaranteed to save you time, money and energy! And, be sure to check out The Online Retreat for a complete guide to the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of your midlife journey.
Here are Michelle's Steps to Embrace Perimenopause and Menopause...
1. Adopt a fresh, positive attitude about "the change". Menopause is a natural life transition experienced by every woman in the world. Toss away any old, outworn beliefs about how "terrible" this time of life is. Adopt a positive attitude by becoming aware of what's really happening and why. Knowledge is empowerment!
2. Understand the important difference between perimenopause and menopause. Your midlife transition unfolds in two distinctly different phases ~ perimenopause and menopause. Each phase has a unique set of symptoms (with only a few common to both) and each requires a completely different approach. What works to relieve your symptoms in menopause can actually make you feel worse and even be counter-productive during perimenopause.
3. Identify your symptoms as estrogen dominance or estrogen deficiency. Ours is the first generation to experience extreme estrogen dominance. Understanding estrogen dominance will empower you to make wiser choices and could help you avoid unnecessary medical conditions and surgical procedures.
4. Eliminate the possibility of hormone related health conditions. Don't dismiss all of your symptoms as "just hormones". Undiagnosed hormone related conditions are common in midlife. Their symptoms both mimic and intensify your normal symptoms and can put you at risk for more serious health conditions later in life.
5. Follow current, accurate information. Use caution when searching for information and products on websites, articles and books. There are far too many unqualified people offering downright dangerous information, not to mention misleading and confusing pharmaceutical company funded clinical studies. New discoveries and products are constantly introduced, so be sure what you're following is current.
6. Always check for contraindications. If you have existing health conditions and/or use prescription medications, please don't miss this step. Always check for contraindications before adding supplements, herbs and even certain foods. Never stop using medications without first consulting your doctor.
7. Choose supplements and herbs carefully. We become super sensitive during perimenopause and menopause, making it essential to read ingredients carefully. Choose supplements and herbs free of preservatives, unnecessary fillers, endocrine disrupting chemicals and food coloring. Know when to use soy products and when to avoid them.
8. Make positive dietary changes. Dietary changes are essential during perimenopause and menopause. What you do and don't eat, portion size and the frequency of your meals have a huge impact on the quality of your life. Nourish your body, mind and spirit with healthy foods!
9. Establish proactive, preventative health strategies. Heart disease and osteoporosis are the "silent symptoms" of menopause and beyond. Initiate preventative health strategies now with proper diet, exercise, stress management, supplements and holistic modalities proven effective for long-term, comprehensive wellness. The quality of the many years ahead depends on it!
10. Choose "clean" foods and personal care products. Choose organic foods, especially meats and dairy products to help eliminate excess estrogens, chemicals, pesticides and preservatives. Remember, what you put on your skin goes in your body. Examine your personal care products for ingredients known to be endocrine disruptors. Without your knowledge, they can make you feel worse and be potentially dangerous. For your personal care needs, choose the 100% chemical free Organic Excellence products. See the clean ingredients they DO use and the harmful ingredients they DON'T use. Please send Toxic Ingredients to Avoid.
11. Utilize effective stress management techniques. Ease your transition by learning to effectively reduce and manage stress. Consider yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, deep breathing, journaling, walking, jogging or any number of stress reduction techniques.
12. Learn to "listen" to your symptoms. Your symptoms have an important message for you. Know that everything you have put on the back burner will surface in midlife. Stored resentments, unhealed wounds, losses you haven't yet grieved ~ all will demand your attention now. Learn to listen to your symptoms and allow them to guide you to areas of your life in need of attention.
13. Take time for YOU! After years of putting the needs and desires of others before your own, it's time for YOU! Taking quiet time to go inward has never been more important than during perimenopause and menopause. Give yourself permission to rest, restore, reflect and reevaluate your life. Create a safe place to go within. Journaling helps you explore where you've been as you reinvent yourself for life's next chapter.
14. Seek support for your unique symptoms and life circumstances. Every woman experiences perimenopause and menopause in a unique way. What works to bring relief to your friends, might not work for you at all, and could potentially be dangerous. Others might be gliding through "the change" with ease, while you've got every symptom on the list. Don't just follow what others are doing or what you read is "right". Get support tailored specifically to fit your unique needs.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed medical doctor. Organic Excellence does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have or suspect a mental or physical health condition, please see your healthcare provider.
