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[B872]Breast Pain Post Menopause

by John Russell, Joh

There are three basic stages that make up this cycle; first - perimenopause, second - menopause and, third - post menopause. There is always a lot of information around regarding the first two stages but a lot of people are often unaware of what to expect once menopause is over. Do the symptoms stop? Are there changes to the body? It's questions such as these that women want the answers to, so let's take a further look.

Once menopause is over, women's hormone patterns have changed significantly. Your ovaries no longer produce estrogen or progesterone; this can, however, have a few side effects such as the following:

Dry or Itchy Skin

As we age our skin commonly becomes thinner; so, without estrogen being produced, the skin finds it difficult to retain moisture.

Aches and Pains

Joint and muscular pain, backache, and headaches are prime examples of what you may experience, again due to low levels of estrogen.

Loss of Vaginal Elasticity

Intercourse can become very painful after menopause due to the thinning of vaginal walls, which leads to dryness. Yep, you guessed it, this also happens as a result of your ovaries no longer producing estrogen.

Estrogen is responsible for the development and maintenance of female sex organs and breasts. It is produced to help maintain the lining of the vagina and keep parts moist and flexible. So, as estrogen is no longer produced post menopause, a lot of women turn to a means of replacing it. The first place a lot turn to is HRT (hormone replacement therapy). This is designed to increase levels of female estrogen. There are, however, risks associated with this treatment as it increases your chance of developing serious disease such as breast cancer. HRT is basically one of the most controversial topics in healthcare. So, instead, you may be better off looking into alternative methods such as natural herbs and remedies like black cohosh, which is one of the leading natural hormone replacement therapy products in use today.

As well as stopping the production of estrogen, post menopause can also cause an increase in testosterone. This can create what is known as peach fuzz. This is an increase in the amount of hair that is present on your body; most commonly the neck and upper lip.

There is help available if you do start to suffer from peach fuzz after you have gone through menopause. Drugs can be prescribed that will block the affect of testosterone on hair follicles. They work by slowing down the hair growth and are probably your best bet at fighting the growing phenomenon known as peach fuzz.

Post menopause is not all doom and gloom however; a study concluded that 65% of women between the ages of 50-64 were happier than they were pre-menopause. Also 59% were said to be enjoying better relationships not only with their partners but also with their friends.

Women who are post menopausal often feel a unique freedom and energy; 66% felt more independent and many women claim they finally feel like they have time to be themselves. So don't look at this cycle as a loss of youth; think of it as a new beginning and never be afraid to ask for help to get through it.

The term post-menopausal sometimes needs a little clarification. It is usually applied to women who have completed the menopause, meaning they have not had a period for over twelve months. This can be due to a natural menopause, or a surgery induced menopause. Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy are not considered to be post menopausal as they may experience symptoms of the menopause when they stop this treatment.

Common post menopausal problems can be experienced any time from the onset of the menopause onwards. After the menopause, women never really stop being post menopausal. Most of the physical and emotional problems that women encounter after the menopause are caused by decreasing hormone levels, particularly estrogen.

Conditions relating to the vagina and bladder are often experienced post menopause because these parts of the body require estrogen to remain healthy. Thinning of the tissue in these areas can cause incontinence, bladder infections, growths or polyps in the uterus, and vaginal dryness, as well as an increased risk of uterine cancer.

Other serious physical conditions linked to post menopausal women are osteoporosis and heart disease. Osteoporosis is common as women begin to lose bone density more rapidly due to reduction in estrogen. Risk of heart disease is increased due to atherosclerosis, or the hardening of their arteries.

Emotionally, post menopausal women may experience depression, fatigue due to insomnia, hot flashes and night sweats, and a reduction in self confidence and libido. Although these emotional responses can be triggered by hormonal changes, they may also be related to other factors. Reaching the menopause, and the changes happening in her body, may make a woman feel old, unattractive and worthless and these feelings can trigger depression and lack of sex drive.

So what can post menopausal women do to limit these common problems? Exercise is one crucial way to control these conditions. While we are not talking about running marathons, some exercise such as walking, gardening and light aerobics can have a wide range of benefits.

Exercise keeps bones, joints and cartilage healthy, guarding against osteoporosis as well as arthritis. It reduces the risk of heart disease by stimulating circulation, controls weight, and enhances emotional wellbeing.

Maintaining a healthy diet is another way for post menopausal women to remain problem free. They may want to think about supplements such as vitamin D and calcium to guard against osteoporosis. Not smoking may not only put off the menopause by a couple of years, it will also reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Using progesterone creams may keep the vagina and bladder area healthier, and make intercourse more comfortable and therefore more appealing.

There are many problems associated with post menopausal women, but by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle they don't have to mean a huge decrease in quality of life.

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Both John Russell & Rebecca Prescott are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

John Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Aging, Fitness and Wrinkles. John Russell of IH Distribution, LLC brings you health, anti-aging and skin care products from around the world. Find fabulous skin care tips and great articles on a wide range of topics for women at our. John Russell's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Rebecca Prescott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Yoga Practice and Woman Menopause. If you'd like to learn more about , click here. Rebecca has many articles on. Rebecca Prescott's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.