As a woman’s estrogen levels begin to decrease, usually during her mid- to late-forties, she may start to experience many uncomfortable symptoms. Most women complain of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, poor concentration, weight gain and changes in skin and hair texture. Some of these symptoms may disappear late into menopause but there is always an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. These can be severe medical problems for most newly menopausal women.
Seventy-five percent of all peri-menopausal, menopausal, and late menopausal women suffer from hot flashes. A hot flash is a sudden shock of warmth followed by perspiration and sometimes heart palpitations. For some women, these sudden jolts of heat are minor, but for others they can be debilitating. We're not exactly sure of the mechanism behind this surge of heat, but we are positive it is directly linked to the sudden shortage of estrogen. Women comment that hot flashes strike without warning and are gone before they know it. Although they may be quick, they can be wreak havoc on everyday life.
Estrogen replacement therapy originally began to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. By replacing estrogen, women found immediate relief. Estrogen replacement can eliminate these annoying flare-ups in a matter of days, restoring a woman's self-confidence and composure in everyday situations. Many women used estrogen as a temporary fix for menopause, rather than a long-term avenue to increase their quality of life. The advantages of the health benefits far outweigh the convenient quick-fix estrogen offers during early menopause.
Along with hot flashes and night sweats come menstrual irregularities. For most women their period is a sign of being healthy, but during perimenopause the monthly cycle begins to diminish. Monthly cycles can range from twenty five to sixty days apart. Some periods are light, others are heavy. This is a signal that body is adjusting to the sudden lack of hormones. During this phase of life abnormal or irregular periods are considered normal.
Mood swings seem to receive more press than any other trait of the menopausal process. Since estrogen interacts with beta-endorphins in the brain (the neuropeptides that curtail pain while enhancing a sense of well-being), the levels in the body influence how a woman will view and react to her surroundings. Good moods and balanced emotions in the beginning of the menstrual cycle are attributed to estrogen's high levels. Loss of estrogen causes unprovoked episodes of crying even at a minor irritation.
As a woman gets older and estrogen levels begin to decline, it's no surprise moods deteriorate. With the erratic aspect of a woman's hormones during perimenopause and the intersection of these crazed hormones with the ongoing process of life, some women become overwhelmed and depressed.
Estrogen has proven itself to be a solution to the menopausal blues. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, women supplemented with estrogen and progesterone demonstrated an increase of well-being via their results on the Profile of Adaptation to Life test and a decrease in depression measured via their results on the Beck Depression Inventory.
