Menopause Info Hub

Menopause and Yeast Infections

Goldie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:18:12 +0000

Caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a fungus, yeast infections are the most common of all vaginal infections. Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted and are often caused by menopause. Find out what to do about them.

Of all vaginal infections, yeast infections are one of the main symptoms of menopause, caused by the fluctuating hormones leading to bacteria in the vagina going out of control. Baths, excess moisture in the vagina, or damp or tight clothes may lead to yeast infections. The signs of yeast infection during menopause, as well as otherwise, are: inflammation, continued itching and irritation, pain during intercourse, frequent urination, and a thick, white discharge from your vagina.

With the drop of estrogen levels during menopause, the walls of your vagina become thinner and weak. During intercourse, the walls become irritated, leaving tiny scars and scratches, enabling bacteria to thrive. Higher levels of estrogen, due to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also increase the chance of yeast infections. Damp and moist vagina, due to increased vaginal discharge caused by higher levels of estrogen, is a great breeding ground for yeast and bacteria.

Menopause, Yeast Infections and Treatment

Yeast infections can be treated by OTC (Over-The-Counter) medication in the form of creams and suppositories. Before using these medications, it is always advisable to have a proper diagnosis of yeast infections. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection, and other types of vaginal infections have symptoms similar to yeast infections. This makes it imperative to confirm that you actually have yeast infection before starting medication. Although creams and suppositories are sold as OTC medications, you will need prescription for oral medicines.

Before resorting to strong medications, you could try the following alternate treatments for yeast infections:

Tea Tree Oil: Seek professional advice before trying this treatment. Tea tree oil suppositories kill yeast infections present in the vagina.
Yogurt: Many women suffering from yeast infections apply un-pasteurized yogurt, which contains lactobacillus acidophilus or ‘good’ bacteria, directly into the vagina. You could use a small spoon, a spatula or an old vaginal cream applicator, to apply yogurt at night for three to seven nights to restore the balance of bacteria in your vagina. You may need to put on a sanitary pad to avoid messiness.

Avoiding Yeast Infections

Yeast infections, unfortunately, tend to recur. To prevent recurrence, or to prevent having it in the first place, you could try the following:

During shower, wash the vaginal area to keep it clean, and completely dry it before dressing.
Cotton panties and pantyhose with a cotton crotch are preferable.
Do not share towels.
Undergarments should be washed in hot water and avoid using softeners.
After a swim or a workout, change your clothes immediately.
Do not use scented sanitary pads or tampons, and frequently change them.
Avoid douching, using heavily scented soaps, perfumes and talcum powders.
During sex, ensure your vagina is well lubricated, and use water-soluble lubricating jells.
It is better to avoid sex, if it is painful.

Menopause and Yeast Infections is a post from: Menopause Info Hub

Menopause and Weight Loss

Goldie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:59:38 +0000

Weight gain during menopause can come suddenly and be difficult to change. As we age, our bodies ability to metabolizes changes. Find out what specific things you acn do to balance your hormones again.

During menopause, many women report that the challenge of weight loss becomes even more difficult. The need to lose weight haunts women most of the time, and now more men are reporting the same struggle. When women hit menopause, weight gathers around the waist and hips; despite our best efforts to diet and exercise.

What we know is that this additional body fat is linked to your hormones. Most women follow a conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with lots of processed foods. Eventually this diet creates a condition known as insulin resistance; see Dr. Schwarzbein’s book on the book list. When you are insulin resistant, your body converts calories into fat even when you are dieting. Menopause feels like a losing battle, but it doesn’t have to be.

When you are stressed, as the body typically is during menopause, stress hormones block weight loss. Despite adequate food, the body acts as if it’s in a famine and stores all spare calories as fat. This leads to a metabolic disorder called adrenal fatigue.

Many women combine a high-stress life with a low-fat, high-carb diet which creates a powerful hormonal imbalance which causes us to gain weight. Yo-yo dieting exacerbates the problem.

Also, when a woman is on a high-carb diet she is often barraged with a craving for sweets. The body can’t maintain optimal blood sugar and serotonin levels, so you snack and drink caffeine to feel better. That makes your insulin resistance worse and the vicious cycle of gaining weight is accelerated.

During perimenopause, women lose estrogen which is an added factor to this problem. As estrogen decreases, the body needs extra fat resources. Other factors that play into this problem, are unresolved emotional issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues such as yeast, and even heavy metal toxicity.

So what do we do?

The most important step is to GET HEALTHY!

Follow an eating plan like the one in the Schwarzbein Principle or the Zone Diet.

You need protein at every meal, low carbs, very little to no processed food, and lots of fruit and vegetables
Drink plenty of water
Take nutritional supplements
Try Supplements Designed for Menopause
Stop weighing yourself, use your clothes as a gauge (focus on your health not your weight)
Start exercising – walk 4-5 times a week for 30 minute (it boosts metabolism)
Get help for emotional eating – you have to face your fears to get through them
Reduce the stress in your life, make time for fun and relaxation – strive for BALANCE

Learn to love yourself during menopause and accept who you are and at what stage in life you find yourself. Menopause can make weight loss even more challenging for both women and men. But with the right knowledge and some hard work, it can be done.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Menopause and Weight Loss is a post from: Menopause Info Hub

Menopause and Urinary Infections

Goldie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:24:02 +0000

The urinary tract is more susceptible to infections during menopause due to reduction in hormonal support. Find out what to do so you don’t get this tract infection.

Urinary infections, also known as infections of the urinary tract, are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. The urinary tract is more susceptible to infections during menopause due to reduction in hormonal support. This tract, being a system for the removal of the body’s fluid wastes, is more vulnerable to multiplication of bacteria, leading to infection. Though not very serious, the urinary infections are painful. The symptoms disappear quickly after treatment with antibiotics.

Most women would experience infections of the urinary tract, at least once in their lifetimes, though many would have them repeatedly. Factors leading to increased risks of urinary infections in women are pregnancy, urinary infections as a child, diabetes and menopause. The bacteria, around the rectum or the vagina, which enter the urinary tract cause urinary infections in women. The female anatomy is prone to urinary infections as the very act, and sexual intercourse massages the bacteria into the urethra.

A weak bladder could be the cause of urinary infections. The bladder stretches to hold urine and relaxes when it is emptied of urine. When, at times, you wait a long time to empty your bladder, the bladder is overstretched and the bladder muscle becomes weak. In this state, it does not completely empty the bladder and retains some urine, which increases the risk of infection.

When you have urinary infections, you have a strong urge to urinate. The act of urination is followed by sharp pain and a burning sensation in the urethra. Sometimes, even when the urge is great, very little urine is released. This frequent urge to urinate is one of the symptoms of urinary infections. It is advisable to have proper diagnosis done, since during menopause similar symptoms could cause vaginal or vulva-related infections.

Ways to Prevent Urinary Infections during Menopause

The usual treatment is a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics need to be taken as prescribed and continued until the full treatment is complete. There are certain ways that you can prevent urinary infections from occurring:

First and foremost is to practice good personal hygiene.
After bowel movement and urination, wash the area around the rectum and the vagina thoroughly and ensure it is dried properly.
Washing before and after sexual intercourse is a way of preventing urinary infections. Some doctors recommend urinating before and after a sexual intercourse to flush out bacteria.
Drink plenty of water to ensure flushing out of bacteria from the urinary tract. Do not accumulate urine in the bladder, and empty it out at the earliest to reduce the risk of infections.
Cotton panties, or panties with a cotton crotch, is recommended as cotton allows moisture to evaporate. Moist environment is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Sexually active women can change sexual positions to cause less friction on the urethra. Women who tend to have frequent urinary infections are advised to take antibiotics after sexual intercourse.

Menopause and Urinary Infections is a post from: Menopause Info Hub

Menopause and Progesterone

Goldie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:50:36 +0000

Do women going through menopause have lowered levels of progesterone? Recent research tells us that women do suffer from decreased levels of progesterone and also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain (particularly in the stomach area), depression, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, mood swings, migraines and loss of libido. A natural cream can balance estrogens without side effects.

PROGESTERONE

Progesterone and estrogen are the two main hormones made by women’s ovaries when they are menstruating. Smaller amounts of these hormones are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It’s necessary for the survival of thae fertilized ovum, its embryo as well as the fetus during gestation.

Progesterone’s primary functions include: acting as a precursor to estrogen and testosterone; it maintains uterine lining and aids in gestation; protects against fibrocystic breasts, endometrial and breast cancer; acts as a natural diuretic, helps use fat for energy; can be a natural antidepressant; aids thyroid hormone action; normalizes blood clotting; restores sex drive; normalizes blood sugar, zinc and copper levels; restores proper cell oxygen levels, has a thermogenic effect; builds bone and helps to protects against osteoporosis.

Some doctors feel that menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and heart disease may not be due to a deficiency of estrogen, but to a relative estrogen excess due to progesterone deficiency.Synthetic progestins, such as an HRT drug called Provera (a synthetic chemical), do not have the same biological effects as natural progesterone and have been known to cause side effects including: fluid retention, depression, breast tenderness, stroke, jaundice, blood clotting and cervical erosions.

On the other hand, natural progesterone has no known side effects and has been found to be helpful in alleviating symptoms such as PMS and hot flashes. It has also been credited with helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Many doctors now prescribe for women in menopause the use of a low-dose, natural progesterone cream during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. (On a personal note, I use the Emerita cream and believe it single-handedly stopped my mood swings and sudden outbursts of crying.) The cream is easily absorbed into thin-skin areas such as the breasts, inner arms, neck or belly by the subcutaneous fat and then released into the bloodstream. You should be careful of the dosage level in these products. Some may have none to very little and others provide 20-30 mg in an average application. It’s always best to first check with a doctor.

Menopause and Progesterone is a post from: Menopause Info Hub