Menopause (from the Greek words ‘month’ and ‘halt’) is the final collapse of the female reproductive system long before the end of life. Three turning points follow each other:
Premenopause is the first stage.
Perimenopause (after the Greek term for ‘around’) is a phase of irregular bleeding until the onset of menopause.
After this phase, postmenopause begins. This time can only be determined retrospectively.
In the Western world, the average age at the onset of menopause is fifty-one years. The normal range for most is from forty-four to fifty-two years of age. After many years of irregular cycles the ovaries first stop producing progesterone. Later on, they stop estrogen production and the eggs no longer mature. The woman becomes infertile.
Today’s women usually spend half their lives with the side effects of low estrogen levels when they are past menopause. Common symptoms include:
- Dryness of skin and the regression of some structures.
- Genital tissues shrink and lose elasticity and moisture.
- Itching.
- Skin bleeding.
- Urination disorder (due to instability of nerve vessels)
- Susceptibility to inflammation and infection.
- A general decline of hormones in the blood and tissues.
During this phase of life, gynecological cancer (uterus, breast and ovarian cancer) and dementia cases are not uncommon. After menopause women are at great risk to suffer from dramatic vascular damage, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The decline of estrogen is strongly linked to most cardiovascular diseases, strokes and other circulatory disorders.
Because of all these health risks it is recommended to undergo hormone therapy early on in order to stay healthy and to avoid certain consequences of aging.
A promising modification, alleviation and concurrent improvement of the classic hormone replacement therapy is the substitution with prescription free phytonutrients that have mild hormonal effects. Depending on the individual hormone status, the respective administered hormone balances out deficiencies from the outside through the skin with the lowest dose and from the nutritional supplements. Oftentimes, however, it is not sufficient to just increase one messenger substance. The decisive factor is the overall efficiency. Nowadays, it is possible to determine tiny amounts of hormones in the blood, saliva, urine and other sources. A series of medicinal plants in combination with other ingredients and building components have a surprisingly positive effect on the general hormonal deficit in the female body. These phytonutrients enhance protection from hormone-related diseases.
