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If you are wondering how acupuncture and alternative medicine practices can help you cope with the symptoms of menopause, contact the professionals at the Pacific Wellness Institute. They will help enlighten you as to what options are available.
Menopause is the cessation of menses, or when a woman no longer has a period. It is the result of loss of ovarian follicular function. That is, when a woman gets older, the body no longer induces ovulation of eggs from the ovaries. Production of the reproductive hormones declines and a number of symptoms can appear.
About one third of Canadian women have experienced menopause. With today's greater life expectancies, women on average can expect to live about one-third of their lives in postmenopause. The average age for menopause is 51, but early or premature menopause can result from surgery, chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer, and certain medications.
Symptoms of Menopause
- Hot flashes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Poor concentration
- Vaginal dryness
- Bladder infections
- Frequent urination
- Decreased sexual interest
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Bloatedness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Reduction in bone density
- Skin clamminess
The number, type and severity of symptoms a woman experiences can depend on a number of factors including overall health, the availability of support from family and friends, and financial stability, for example. They are not, however, dependent on race, class, the birth control pill, pregnancy, or the age of a woman's first period. Symptoms can last anywhere from 6 months to over two years. Approximately 10-15% of women will not experience any symptoms of menopause. However, another 10-15% will experience symptoms so severe they are intolerable.
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