Definition of menopause

Menopause is characterized by a disruption of physiological menstrual cycles, due to the cessation of ovarian hormone secretion (estrogen and progesterone).

Age of menopause
Menopause usually occurs between 50 and 52 years, however this can sometimes happen between 40 and 55 years.

Menopause occurs in 2 stages (together called perimenopause) is:
> The premenopausal (which can last several months, even years)
> Menopause (which lasts between 6 months and 1 year). The following period is described as post-menopause.

Note that menopause represents almost half the life of a Western woman considering a life expectancy of about 80 years.

Causes of menopause
Menopause affects all women and is a natural hormonal process, there is a physiological disruption of menstrual cycles, due to the cessation of hormonal secretion from the ovaries (estrogen and progesterone).

Symptoms of menopause
1. Possible symptoms of pre-menopausal (before menopause)

> Rules generally irregular (too heavy or rather less so), too short rules with possible bleeding between periods.
> Mental disorders: irritability, anxiety, sadness.
> Physical disorders: breast tenderness, headaches, migraines, weight gain, hot flashes or irregular cystitis frequently
> Sometimes problems identical to those of menopause (see below).

2. Possible symptoms of menopause (duration of 6 months to 1 year, statistically averaged around 52 years)

> Amenorrhea (missed periods or cessation of menstruation)
> Hot flashes (due to disruption of the secretion of hormones catecholamines [adrenaline ...], it is cold sweats that usually occur at night which sometimes entire bed can be soaked)
> Signs mucocutaneous (allergies ,…)
> Genital atrophy
> Cystitis, urinary infections or urinary incontinence frequently
> Mental disorders: irritability, anxiety, sadness and depression
> Physical disorders: breast tenderness, headaches, migraines
> Increased cardiovascular risk (myocardial ,…)
> Weight gain
> Dry skin (reduced-sebaceous glands)
> Osteoporosis (longer term). For information, this disease can not be treated (>> see under treatment) with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), cons by taking bisphosphonates would have a positive effect (70% improvement in calcification and bone density ).

Herbal remedies for monopause
Depending on the symptoms of menopause, different plants can be used.

Black cohosh – Cimicifuga
Medicinal plant shown to reduce symptoms of pre-menopause and menopause, including hot flashes, often occurs in the form of tablets or capsules standardized.

Soybeans
Plant which can be used against the symptoms of menopause with its content of phytohormones, often presents in capsule form.