There’s no mystery about menopause or the years that
lead up to it – a period called perimenopause. Both are forms of hormonal imbalance.
Almost all women suffer significant symptoms – an average of nine symptoms each!
But menopause symptoms aren’t inevitable, and you don’t need drugs or hormones to
get relief – no matter what conventional doctors say.
Instead, we’ll show you how to resolve your menopause symptoms and restore energy
naturally. We’ll help you choose foods you love that also feed your health. You’ll
discover which hormone-balancing supplements are right for you. And you’ll create
a fun lifestyle that leads you to more complete wellness.
Your body is reaching out to you right now and that’s a good thing, even if you
don’t feel like yourself right now. We can help you make this time one of the greatest
experiences in your life.
Featured articles on menopause and perimenopause
Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD
Reviewed by Dr. Mary James, ND
Created by Women’s Health Network
See more articles on menopause and perimenopause
How do I know if I’m in menopause?, Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills,
NMD. The symptoms you’re dealing with can be frustrating and confusing
and you want to know what’s causing them. Here’s a look at the progression of the
hormonal changes that take place in the body from around age 35 to 55.
How
long does menopause last? Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD.
Knowing what to expect when it comes to menopause — and that it will end
— makes the transition easier. Our answers to the most common questions we receive
from women are based on years of experience helping women have a better menopause
experience.
Can you relieve
menopause symptoms naturally - without taking hormones?. Here’s
how to balance your hormones with a natural approach based on what hormonal imbalance
symptoms you’re experiencing.
Solutions for menopause
& perimenopause. Millions of women come to our website looking
for relief from their menopause symptoms. All tend to have one thing in common:
they want to know what’s causing their symptoms and what steps they can take for
natural relief.
Demystifying perimenopausal weight gain. Perimenopausal weight
gain is different, and that’s why being able to lose that weight requires something
different too. Here’s what you can do.
Menopause
sex breakthrough — better sex in 4 steps. If low libido or physical
symptoms have become major concerns for you or your partner, you can do something
about it. Here’s how you can recover your sex life in 4 simple steps.
Herbal remedies for menopause symptom relief, Reviewed by Dr.
Mary James, ND. The reason herbal remedies are so effective is because
they work with your body. Here are the 9 herbs for menopause relief and the specific
symptoms each one is helpful for.
Help
for hot flashes and night sweats — causes and natural solutions,
Reviewed by Dr. Mary James, ND. Hot flashes and night sweats are the most
commonly reported symptom in perimenopause and menopause. Here’s what triggers them
and how you can get relief naturally.
Perimenopause
and weight gain — causes and solutions, Dr. Mary James, ND.
The answer to the perennial question — “Why am I gaining this weight?"
— lies in the links between weight and hormonal changes during perimenopause
and menopause. When you understand them it’s much easier to achieve and maintain
your ideal, healthy weight.
5 best
foods for menopause, Dr. Mary James, ND. Getting the right
nutrients in perimenopause and menopause makes you healthier and can also relieve
symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue, irritability, skin and hair changes, depression
and low libido. It also helps lower risk for bone loss and other health issues.
Do you
have menopause brain? Dr. Mary James, ND. Are you a woman
in menopause who’s having trouble concentrating at work or remembering simple, everyday
details? If you’re worried that something serious going on, find out more now.
Crashing
fatigue in menopause, Dr. Mary James, ND. Crashing fatigue
in menopause can come on any time for no apparent reason leaving you exhausted and
drained. Stop crashing fatigue and the sleeplessness that goes with it.
Food
that helps with hot flashes. At Women's Health Network, we’ve
seen that a healthy diet is one of the best ways to relieve symptoms of hormonal
imbalance in women, including hot flashes. Learn more in our article on hot flashes
and nutrition.
Preventing irritability
in perimenopause. If you have ever found yourself snapping at your
partner or kids, this article’s for you! Menopausal women are stereotypically portrayed
as being permanently in a bad mood, but there are very real reasons that this scenario
plays out — and you don’t have to go through
Feel younger
in menopause, Dr. Mary James, ND. For many women, nothing
feels the same during perimenopause and menopause. You can get your body back by
easing joint pain, tamping down hot flashes and putting a halt to excess weight
gain. You’ll feel better — and younger.
What is estrogen
dominance? Dr. John Lee argued that perimenopause symptoms are
caused not by a lack of estrogen but a lack of progesterone. This simplistic idea
has led many to claim that progesterone alone will remedy the symptoms of perimenopause.
We sort out the truth from the fiction.
How to
look great in menopause — our best tips. To have a healthy menopause
experience, you need to feel good about the way you look. Common issues include
dry skin, thinning hair, brittle fingernails and stubborn weight gain. Our natural
tips can help you overcome these symptoms to look — and feel — the way you want
in menopause.
Reduce early menopause symptoms, reviewed by Dr. Sarika Arora, MD.
If you’re in your 40s and notice unexpected menopause symptoms, it can be confusing.
Isn’t it too early for menopause? Here’s our guide to 14 symptoms of early menopause,
the difference between perimenopause and early menopause and what you can do to
feel better.
New research on hot flashes, brain fog & exercise in menopause,
Dr. Mary James, ND. The latest findings tell us a lot about hot flashes,
memory problems and exercise, including information you can use to reduce troubling
symptoms and feel better.
Ending the confusion, fear and worry about menopause. There’s
a great deal of confusion and concern among women about the most basic aspects of
menopause — and what will happen to them during it. But it’s not to
be dreaded or feared. Here’s an overview of what is happening and how to make
menopause a wonderful transition to the way you want your life to be.
Talking to your doctor about menopause. Get the help you want and
deserve from your doctor at this important time in your life. Here’s advice
and background information on how to schedule, prepare for, set the overall tone,
and guide a positive interaction with your healthcare provider in perimenopause
and menopause.
Top 10 menopause
myths — busted! Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD. Women
hear so many stories about menopause, it’s hard to tell truth from fiction. In this
Top 10 list, we highlight some common menopause myths and give you the real story.
Rekindling desire — the soul of your libido. Rekindling desire
in perimenopause and menopause means redefining cultural stereotypes, reclaiming
your sexual identity, cultivating intimacy, and learning to truly love yourself
so that you can love sex again.
Vaginal dryness
— you have options, by Dr. Sharon Stills. Vaginal
dryness is experienced by so many more women than is generally realized, whether
in perimenopause, menopause, or at other times of hormonal change. But you can resolve
this uncomfortable, at times embarassing problem by uncovering its root causes and
exploring the natural treatment options that work best for you.
Quick relief tips for these 5 top menopause symptoms, reviewed
by Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD. Here are our tips to help you find immediate
relief for these top menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, weight gain and
more.
Post-menopause —
what happens after the change? Being post-menopausal means different
things to different women. Here is our perspective on what it means to be post-menopausal,
and how to discover the joys of this stage in life.
What is post
menopause? Helpful relief tips and guidance for women in postmenopause
suffering through the most common symptoms: Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, fuzzy
thinking and more…
Menopause in different cultures. Why do the women of some cultures
experience significant problems in menopause, while others barely have (or need)
language for such symptoms? Here’s a cross-cultural look at the menopausal
experience, some theories on the true “purpose” of menopause, and insight
into how expectations can mold our realities.
Birth control pills in perimenopause, by Dr. Sarika Arora, MD.
Whether you have been on birth control pills for many years or just a few and are
now in perimenopause, or your doctor is now suggesting BCP’s for symptom management,
there are things you should know about taking hormonal birth control during this
stage of your life — and about other birth control options that are available.
FAQ’s on menopause, perimenopause,
and post-menopause. We hear so many interesting questions from
women about menopause that we’ve essentially geared our website toward answering
as many of these as possible. But there are always more! Here are a few answers
to those we hear frequently.
Urinary incontinence – help for female bladder problems in menopause,
Dr. Mary James, ND. Urinary incontinence, or bladder control issues, can
take us by surprise, changing from moderate (or nonexistent) to severe when menopause
starts. Here are some changes you can try to feel a great improvement.
Stop suffering
from urinary tract infections, by Dr. Sarika Arora, MD.
There are reasons why women are more prone to UTIs than men, but there are
also many simple ways to boost immunity and nip them in the bud. With a better understanding
of how UTIs gain a toehold, you’ll be better equipped to prevent that
from happening — naturally. (We also provide a page on what you need to know
about UTI testing and urgent treatment, preventing antibiotic side-effects, and
avoiding antibiotic resistance.)
Phytotherapy
- A doctor's view on plant-based medicine, Reviewed by Dr. Mary James,
ND. Learn more about the benefits of using herbs in medicine and find
helpful tips on how to get the most out of your herbal products.