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Whether it comes naturally or is caused by a hysterectomy, menopause can spark fear in any woman. You may have heard your mother or grandmother refer to this “change” in a negative light, causing you to dread the moment when your “change” comes. Dealing with menopause does not have to be a stressful experience. You should understand that virtually every woman on the planet is going to go through menopause at some point in her lifetime. Learning what menopause is and how to deal with it will help you to meet this “change” head on.
Most women dread menopause simply because they have heard horror stories about the hot flashes that accompany it. Many women actually never have hot flashes and those who do will likely tell you that they are not nearly as bad as they expected them to be. Those women that are bothered with hot flashes and night sweats may have trouble sleeping or being active because of the symptoms. Hot flashes are caused by a change in hormone levels, which is what causes all of the common menopause symptoms.
Learning effective ways of dealing with hot flashes is an excellent way to keep them from interrupting your life. If you are bothered by hot flashes, drink a glass of ice water. You can also turn on a fan to cool the air around you or simply wait for a few moments while the flash passes. During the summer months, try not to wear too many pieces of clothing at once. For instance, short sleeved or sleeveless blouses or light t-shirts are a good idea as they will not trap body heat.
Once you have made the complete transition into menopause, your symptoms should disappear. If not, there are a number of medications that can help you deal with the symptoms if they are bad enough to warrant medication. Herbal supplements and hormone replacement therapy have worked for most women who suffer hot flashes and mood swings. Vaginal dryness is another problem altogether.
Many women suffer from vaginal dryness during and after menopause and unfortunately, this symptom may not go away once you have passed the menopausal threshold. Most women dealing with vaginal dryness are forced to seek medical advice and many take medication to alleviate the discomfort. Dryness can also cause sexual intercourse to be uncomfortable, even to the point of being painful. If you are experiencing this problem, speak with your doctor. There are a number of over-the-counter lotions and gels that can help to alleviate dryness or your doctor may prescribe a medication for you that will control the problem.
What you have to understand is that just because you are going through menopause does not mean that your life is over. Many women find themselves enjoying life even more after the “change”. You have no more worries of your period creeping up on you and many women love the fact that they do not have to worry about becoming pregnant, which can make your sex life very spontaneous and exciting. Hot flashes are just that – flashes. They will eventually fade, normally after just a few minutes. Mood swings are typically not any worse for most women than those that come along with pregnancy or premenstrual syndrome and again, these only last for a little while.
Dealing with menopause may seem frightening, but it does not have to be. Meet your new life head on and embrace the changes that are taking place. If you have symptoms that are making you too uncomfortable to sleep or perform daily activities then by all means you should consult with your doctor about possible hormone replacement therapy.
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Health & Beauty 
