During menopause, bloating is typically not a problem. Researchers have studied many different symptoms that are often associated with menopause, bloating is more commonly associated with pre-menstrual syndrome and occurs more often during pre or peri menopause. Numerous efforts have been made to stop or reverse menopause effects, with little success.
Despite claims by users and promoters of bio-identical hormones, this therapy does not reverse menopause. Menopause is a natural part of a woman?s life. Many experts believe that a woman?s attitude towards aging significantly affects the number of symptoms that she has. Others claim that it is strictly hormonal and that attitude has nothing to do with it, but they cannot explain why many menopausal symptoms respond to placebo.
According to surveys, the most common symptoms associated with menopause are hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. In women who had not been using hormone replacement therapy, the most common reason for seeking treatment and beginning hormone use was to relieve these symptoms. About 50% of all women experience hot flashes during menopause or the years following menopause. About 10% of all women suffer from them for three or more years before menopause. Unlike other menopausal symptoms, no one is sure what causes hot flashes or night sweats.
Vaginal dryness is directly related to decreased estrogen production. Dryness and decreased elasticity of the skin are also associated with decreased estrogen levels. These symptoms typically respond well to creams containing estrogen or a combination of ingredients. There are several moisturizing lubricants specifically designed to reverse menopause vaginal dryness. Some research has been conducting concerning the effectiveness of red clover, which contains a plant estrogen, in relieving dry skin and improving skin elasticity.
About 3% of all women surveyed in recent menopause research experience a weight gain of 3 or more pounds during menopause. This is a small percentage and is not believed to be directly related to changing hormonal levels. A person?s caloric needs change as part of the aging process. Those people who continue to eat follow the same diet in their 40s and 50s that they used in their 20s and 30s will likely gain weight.
Estrogen does have an affect on bowel motility and when menopause bloating is a problem it may be related to constipation. Increasing fiber in the diet should relieve or reverse menopause bloating. Dietary supplements containing estrogen-like plant components may be helpful, as well.
