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.

Menopause, Yeast Infections and Treatment

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The most important step is to GET HEALTHY! 

• 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

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

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.

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.

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.

PROGESTERONE

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.

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.