Menstrual Stages - Post Menopause

Post menopause is defined as a condition in which women have not had a menstrual period in a minimum of 12 months period as a result of the inactive ovaries, assuming the women are not pregnant and experience the ease of visible symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats but not the invisible effects of menopause. During post menopause, any bleeding or spotting should be reported to your doctor immediately, it may be caused by tumors rarely but it is possible.
Symptoms

1. Bleeding or spotting
During post menopause, any bleeding or spotting should be report to your doctor immediately, it may be caused by hormonal change in the stage of post menopause or tumors rarely but it is possible.

2. Vagina itching and dryness
It is one of most common system in the post menopause stage as a result of hormone change that cause the acidic levels to rise from 4.0 to 6.o that can lead to vagina dryness and itching. In some cases, it can be caused by infection, sexual transmitting diseases, etc.

3. Hot flash
It is the symptoms commonly happened to women in the menopause stage, but in post meno
pause, the symptoms can only happen at night, leading to night sweat and heart palpitation as a result of hornomal change.

4. Bone pain and fracture
In the post menopause stage, women a prone to have bone pain and fracture, they are due to the affects of low levels of calcium as a result of diminishing levels of estrogen.

5. Bladder infection
Bladder infection is one of common symptom as a result of Urethritis & Cystitis or bacteria that lead to burning sensation while urinating, lower back pain, stress continence, etc.

6. Skin wrinkle
As a result of aging due less and less production of female hormones.

7. Hypertension
According to the article of "Is there a connection between menopause and high blood pressure?" by doctor Sandhya Pruthi, M.D. in anwsering the about question, the doctor stated Blood pressure generally increases after menopause. Some doctors think this increase suggests that the hormonal changes of menopause may play a role in high blood pressure. Others think an increase in body mass index (BMI) in menopausal women may play a greater role than hormonal changes.

8. Bone density loss and fracture
As a result of less estrogen produced by the body.

9. Etc.

Diagnosis
If you have been diagnosed during the year of the years of perimenopause or you are in your 50 years of age. Testing may be unnecessary. But you are in your 30s or 40s and you are experience certain symptoms of post-menopause without surgical removal of some of the reproductive organs, including your uterus, ovaries and have had no period in 12 consecutive months, certain tests should be necessary.

Causes
1. Aging
Post menopause is a biological process, as the ovaries has approached the inactive stage as they are longer produce any sexual hormones, including estrogen and progesterone when the a woman has reached certain age.

2. Surgery
The removal of the ovaries or uterus can be result of post menopause as a result of less estrogen and progesterone produced the woman body.

3. Certain cancer treatments
Cancer treatment including hormone therapy, cemenotherapy. can increase the risk of premature menopause as a result of medication used to inhibit the estrogen produced by the body. In an article of "Drug May Prevent Chemo-Linked Menopause in Breast Cancer Patients" By Amanda Gardner HealthDay Reporter, Amanda indicated that Triptorelin appears to protect the ovaries by halting ovarian function temporarily, although it's not entirely clear why. The authors found that among women who took triptorelin in addition to chemotherapy, more than 63 percent regained the ability to menstruate, compared to about 50 percent of the women who had chemotherapy alone.

4. Etc.

Prevention
No woman can prevent post menopause but reduce the symptoms. Some researchers believe post menopause stage can be delayed by a healthy diet and live style.
A. How to prevent
1. Healthy diet
By providing your body with maximum nutrients is the best way to a optimal health and reducing the symptoms of menopause.

2. Moderate exercise
Frequent moderate exercise can increase the blood flow to the body that can stimulate the production of energy by increase the function in metabolism and get rid of waste. It also tire you out and therefore improve sleep and mood.

3. Avoid Alcohol
Acccording to the article of Alcohol - Menopause- Alcohol's Effect on Menopause by June Russell's Health Facts, the author wrote "Approximately 30 percent of American women are older than age 50, the average age of menopause, and approximately 50 percent of these women consume at least moderate quantities of alcohol. Therefore any adverse effects of alcohol among this population could have a significant effect on public health. Approximately 25 percent of postmenopausal women take supplemental estrogens to alleviate unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Even moderate alcohol consumption may increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women receiving HRT, potentially affecting their risk for various adverse health effects." {Alcohol, Hormones and Postmenopausal Women," NIAAA, 1998}.

4. Avoid Smoking
According to Dr. Jeanne Morrison in answering the question of How does smoking affect health during menopause? posted at sharecare, smoking can trigger symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Also, smoking increases your chance of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses.

5. Mediation and yoga
Mediation and yoga can help a woman to calm and relax, thus reducing or lessening the occurrence of the symptoms.

6. Avoid Sugar and artificial sweetener
According to Foods to Avoid or Limit," excerpted from "The Women's Health Companion," Susan Lark, MD, healthy.net - Feb. 2002, the author indicated that alcohol and sugar can actually intensify almost every type of menopause symptom,... No artificial sweetener is without drawbacks or potential health hazards.

7. Intake of Calcium and vitamin D
To void the bone density loss and fracture.

8. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are vital for the immune system fighting against free redical causes of cancer and virus and bacteria invasion. We don't die because of old age but diseases.

9. Etc.

B. Diet
It is important that foods should contains some amounts of phytoestrogen to relive the symptoms of post menopause and enhance the healthy body and logevity.
1. Soy Products
Soy products contain high amount of phytochemicals, that can enhance the needs of the body reduced estrogen stage due to reduced estrogen produced by the ovaries.

2. Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and plenty of antioxidants, that can provide the better protection due to reduced metabolism during the years of menopause.

3. Eat Calcium-Rich Food Every Day
Calcium is essential to a woman's health in the stage of menopause. the amount of calcium lost due to low levels of estrogen produced by the ovaries. Some doctors adviced that menopausal women should get at least 1,000 to 1,500 mg of calcium from food or supplements, taking together with the vitamin D to enhance the absorption.

4. Flaxseed
Flaxseed not only contains high amount of essential fatty acids which are necessary for heart and reproductive health but also is an extraordinary source of the phytoestrogen lignans, containing 75 to 800 times as much as other plant sources, helped to relieve the symptoms of menopause.

5. Beans
Due to high amount of fiber, bean can help to slow the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream, thus reducing the risk of hgih blood sugar for some menopause with disease of diabetes.Beans are also high sources of vitamin and mineral,such as calcium, folic acid and vitamin B-6. And they also contain some sources of phytoestrogen.

6. For more information of healthy foods, visit 100+ Healthy Foods Classification

C. Nutritional supplements
1. Isoflavones
In a study of "Soy isoflavones have a favorable effect on bone loss in Chinese postmenopausal women with lower bone mass: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial." by Chen YM, Ho SC, Lam SS, Ho SS, Woo JL. researchers found that the positive effects of soy isoflavone supplementation were observed only among women with lower initial baseline BMC (median or less). In conclusion, soy isoflavones have a mild, but significant, independent effect on the maintenance of hip BMC in postmenopausal women with low initial bone mass.

2. Soy phytoestrogens
Imn a study of "Design and baseline characteristics of the soy phytoestrogens as replacement estrogen (SPARE) study--a clinical trial of the effects of soy isoflavones in menopausal women." by Levis S, Strickman-Stein N, Doerge DR, Krischer J., researchers found that The SPARE study recruited 283 women, 66.1% were Hispanic white. With a large cohort, long duration, and large isoflavone dose, this trial will provide important, relevant, and currently unavailable information on the benefits of purified soy isoflavones in the prevention of bone loss and menopausal symptoms in the first 5 years of menopause. Given the high proportion of Hispanics participating in the study, the results of this trial will also be applicable to this minority group.

3. Phytoestrogen supplements
In a study of "Phytoestrogen supplements for the treatment of hot flashes: the Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Study: a randomized controlled trial." by Tice JA, Ettinger B, Ensrud K, Wallace R, Blackwell T, Cummings SR. found that Of 252 participants, 246 (98%) completed the 12-week protocol. The reductions in mean daily hot flash count at 12 weeks were similar for the Promensil (5.1), Rimostil (5.4), and placebo (5.0) groups. In comparison with the placebo group, participants in the Promensil group (41%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29%-51%; P =.03), but not in the Rimostil group (34%; 95% CI, 22%-46%; P =.74) reduced hot flashes more rapidly. Quality-of-life improvements and adverse events were comparable in the 3 groups. Although the study provides some evidence for a biological effect of Promensil, neither supplement had a clinically important effect on hot flashes or other symptoms of menopause.

4. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)
In a study of "Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might reduce hot flushes: an indication from two controlled trials on soy isoflavones alone and with a PUFA supplement." by Campagnoli C, Abbà C, Ambroggio S, Peris C, Perona M, Sanseverino P., researchers concluded that The reduction of hot flushes observed in the Study B might be due to the PUFA supplement. PUFAs, particularly Omega (Omega) 3-fatty acids, could reduce hot flushes through their influence on neuronal membranes and/or the modulation of the neurotransmitter function and the serotoninergic system. Studies specifically designed to document the action of PUFAs on hot flushes would be welcome.

5. Magnesium and calcium
According to the study of "The magnesium and calcium content of pre- and postmenopausal myometrium.". researchers found that significant differences of the electrolytic contents of the myometrium. In the premenopausal uteri, the magnesium levels decrease significantly (p < 0.001) from the corpus (mean = 4.14 mmol/kg) to the cervix (mean = 2.14 mmol/kg). The same scenario can be observed for the potassium levels (Corpus mean = 56.2 mmol/kg and cervix mean = 25.4 mmol/kg). In contrary, the calcium levels (Corpus mean = 1.60 mmol/kg and cervix mean = 2.26 mmol/kg) and sodium levels (Corpus mean = 69.3 mmol/kg and cervix mean = 93.0 mmol/kg) increase significantly (p < 0.001). In the postmenopausal group, we found slightly elevated concentrations of magnesium, sodium and potassium. Only the calcium content of the corpus uteri rises up to three times about 20 years after the menopause (from mean = 1.60 mmol/kg) (p < 0.001). The electrolytic contents in the myometrium were shown to be different in the corpus, isthmus and cervix uteri.

6. Soy isoflavone extract tablets
In the study of "asomotor symptom relief by soy isoflavone extract tablets in postmenopausal women: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study." by Upmalis DH, Lobo R, Bradley L, Warren M, Cone FL, Lamia CA., researchers found that Soy isoflavone extract was effective in reducing frequency and severity of flushes and did not stimulate the endometrium. Soy isoflavone extracts provide an attractive addition to the choices available for relief of hot flushes.

7. Etc.

Treatment to relieve the post menopause symptoms
A. In conventional medicine
Hormone replace therapy is one most use treatment to reudce symptoms of post menopause by introducing the synthetic version of estrogen, progesterone, etc. hormones, but with some deadly side effects
According to the study of The Women’s Health Initiative of 16,608 postmenopausal women took either a hormone combination of estrogen and progestin or sugar pills, the study found that This study concluded that the use of estrogen, in combination with a progestin, increases the risk of breast cancer, stroke, blood clots in legs and lungs ( so called life-threatening pulmonary emboli) and heart attacks during their first year of treatment. Maybe most importantly, however, the treatment demonstrated no protective effect whatsoever from heart disease, as had been assumed up to that point.

B. Herbal medicine
1. Red clover (Promensil)
In a study of Isoflavones from red clover (Promensil) significantly reduce menopausal hot flush symptoms compared with placebo. by van de Weijer PH, Barentsen R., researchers found that treatment with 80 mg isoflavones (Promensil) per day resulted in a significant reduction in hot flushes from baseline. At the end of the study there was a significant decrease in hot flushes of 44% between the active and placebo group, demonstrating the effectiveness of Promensil in the management of hot flushes.

2. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Black cohosh, in a study of 629 women, within 6 weeks, 80% women are experience the improvement, compare to only 72% of women in estrogen replacement therapy, the herb has advantaged over the therapy, according tohealthy herb by Woolen, MH., C.Ac and Ted Snider page 15.
In a study of "Review of alternative therapies for treatment of menopausal symptoms." by Amato P, Marcus DM., researcher found that Although phytoestrogens and black cohosh appear to be safe when used for short periods of time, much larger and longer studies are needed to detect infrequent but potentially serious adverse events. Women who do not wish to take hormone therapy to treat menopausal symptoms should be encouraged to consider using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other conventional therapeutic options.

3. Chaste tree berry
Chaste tree berry is considered as the queen herb in herbal medicine, it have been used over thousand year since the ancient time in treating the women reproductive problems by restoring and regulating rhe balance of estrogen and progesterone.

4. Licorice
Ofir R, Tamir S, Khatib S, Vaya J., Hatzeva Research and Development Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel, researchers found that the licorice root derivatives glabridin and glabrene inhibited serotonin re-uptake by 60% and 47%, respectively. The ability for these licorice root constituents to reduce serotonin re-uptake demonstrates their benefits in treating mild to moderate depression in menopausal women.

5. Asian ginseng
Asian ginseng may be used by menopausal women to reduce stress, improve general well-being, decrease feelings of depression, and enhance memory. In 37 clinical studies published between 1968 and 1990, ginseng improved physical and cognitive performance, mood, or metabolism. Still other studies suggest a plethora of ginseng actions, according to the article Ginseng, Asian posted in drug area.

6. Etc.

D. Chinese herbs
In Chinese Medicine, the symptoms associated with menopause and postmenopause are considered to be a result of a decline in the yin energy of the body. In other word, it is caused by the slow depletion of kidney essence which governs the women reproductive cycle.
1. According to the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, In a section 4 of Chinese herbs and application, Yin tonifying formulas. In one clinical study, 23 patients with menopausal symptoms were treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and experienced marked improvement in 9 patients (39.1%), and moderate improvement in 14 patients (60.9%). The treatment protocol was to administer this formula in pills, 9 grams twice daily, in the morning and at night, for 3 months. Clinical improvements included relief of hot flashes, tidal fever, perspiration, palpitations, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, forgetfulness, and others. In addition, after taking the herbs continuously for one year, it was noted that there was a decrease in FSH and an increase of estradiol. The mechanism of action was attributed to the formula’s stimulating effect on the endocrine system.
2. Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, also known as Eight Flavor Rehmannia Teapills, is a Traditional Chinese Medicine whose formula was 1st listed in "Pattern, Cause, Pulse, and Treatment" (Zheng Yin Mai Zhi) by Dr. Qin Jing-Ming in 1702 AD. You can find information of the above formula in the PHARMACOPOEIA OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (English Edition) The English edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia compiled by the Pharmacopoeia Commission of the Ministry of Public Health, is an official andauthoritative compendium of drugs. It covers almost traditional Chinese medicines, most of west medicines and preparations, giving information on the standards of purity, description, test, dosage, precaution, storage, and the strength for the drug.
Ingredients
1. Anemarrhena Asphodeloides (Zhi Mu)
Main use; Clears Heat, Disperses Fire, Nourishes Yin, Moistens Dryness.
2. Phellodendron (Huang Bai)
Main use; Clears Heat, Dries Dampness, Disperses Fire, Expels toxins.
3. Rehmannia Glutinosa (Shu Di Huang)
Main use; Nourishes Yin and Blood, Tonifies the Essence, Strengthens the Marrow.
4. Cornus Officinalis(Shan Zhu Yu)
Main use; Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, Benefits the Liver and Kidneys.
5. Paeonia Suffruticosa (Mu Dan Pi)
Main use; Clears Heat and Blood Stasis, Cools Blood, Clears Fire of Yin Deficiency.
6. Discorea Opposita (Shan Yao)
Main use; Tonifies Qi, Lung, Spleen and Kidneys and Nourishes Yin.
7. Poria Cocos (Fu Ling)
Main use; Eliminates Water, Strengthens the Spleen, Calms the Mind.
8. Alisma Orientale (Ze Xie)
Main use; Eliminates fluid, Clears Heat and Diuretic.

According to the study of The effects of Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan and Jian Pi tang to release the symptoms of menopause by Shun Bin, posted at JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE, researcher found that the formulas have been effectively releasing the symptoms of menopause with great success.

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