As we age, we’re often left trying to understand what is going on when our bodies start to undergo natural transitions, and the transition to menopause is often one of the most puzzling. Women often understand what to expect from menopause itself, but many aren’t as informed regarding the changes that they undergo in the years leading up to it, also known as perimenopause.
Menopause is a natural phenomenon that women experience as they age. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. As your ovaries cease estrogen production, you’ve likely experienced some of your most significant bodily changes since puberty. Hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia, and depression are just the tip of the iceberg for women in the beginning of menopause, and some women deal with these symptoms for years afterward.
Fluctuating hormones can turn your life upside down. If you’re going through menopause or andropause, you’ve probably experienced hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, or other symptoms that can leave you feeling unstable. And change of life isn’t the only condition caused by fluctuating hormones; conditions such as adrenal fatigue and thyroid imbalances can also have a disruptive impact on your physical and emotional well-being. Regardless of the cause, these changes can be uncomfortable and alarming.
With the advent of menopause, women may experience a host of symptoms that can have a profound impact on both physical and emotional well-being. To address these symptoms, a growing number of women are turning to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in order to replenish hormone levels and ease discomfort. While estrogen is often the centerpiece of these hormonal therapies, progesterone can also have a significant impact on functionality and quality of life.
If you’ve ever seen a commercial for a drug on the television, you know that many medications carry a host of potential risks and side effects. At times, the seemingly endless list of possible outcomes can even make some therapies seem worse than the conditions they treat. On the flip side, you’ve probably also taken medications without ever experiencing any side effects at all. So how concerned should you be regarding the risks of hormone replacement therapy?
When you begin taking a new medication, it is common to become acutely aware of unexpected changes in your body. After all, many medications have profound physiological effects that can cause everything from temporary discomfort to dangerous side effects. And despite the efforts of doctors and pharmacists to educate their patients on the side effects of drug therapies, it’s impossible to predict how a medication will interact with each person’s body. As a result, patients are often left wondering whether their side effects are normal or cause for concern.
If you’ve stepped on a scale recently and been unpleasantly surprised by the numbers, you may be searching for a reason behind your unintentional weight gain. If you’ve recently started taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause, you might suspect your new hormone regimen is the culprit. Or is it menopause itself?
If you’re trying to learn more about what to expect when you’re undergoing treatment to correct a hormonal imbalance, you’ve probably read that not all hormone therapies are created equal. More importantly, you’ve likely realized that many of the traditional treatments available to you can carry significant side effects and long-term risks. However, traditional hormones are not your only option. By understanding the benefits of bioidentical hormones, you can make an informed decision that will help you get the most out of hormone therapy while protecting your health and well-being.
Have you ever wished that you were just a little bit taller? Do you have an ideal height that you’re looking for when sizing up potential partners? You’re definitely not alone there. We recently surveyed over 1,000 people with a series of height-centric questions and were able to confirm some long-held beliefs about height, among them being the idea that many men and women would prefer to be a different height. Our study not only found that 60 percent of men and 49 percent of women wished to be taller, but it also found the respondents’ ideal height to be noticeably taller than the national averages. The average ideal height for women in our survey turned out to be 5’6” (2 inches more that the mean average height for American women), while the average ideal height for male participants was 6’0” (up from the mean average height of 5’9” for American men). With so much of our ability to meet new partners tied up in our own self-confidence, how are we supposed to enjoy a healthy love life when so many of us are consumed with changing one of the few aspects of our body image that we can’t even control?
Do you feel that your body may be entering menopause?
Menopause is an entirely normal stage that affects all women as they age. It’s defined as the changes a woman goes through either just before or after she stops menstruating. Generally speaking, women usually begin to experience menopausal symptoms between the ages of 45 and 50.
