Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the the end of a woman's reproductive period - the time when the ovaries stop producing eggs and menstruation stops permanently.
It is a natural part of ageingnot a disease, but it can cause a variety of physical and emotional changes.
Symptoms vary from woman to woman, but the most common are.regional patches and night sweats, sleep disturbances, irregular menstrual periods which eventually disappear, dry vagina and discomfort with sexual intercourse, reduced libido, fatigueheadaches, joint pain and weight gainespecially around the abdomen, mood swings, irritability, anxiety or sadness, problems with memory and concentration, feelings of loss of femininity or sexual attraction.
A healthy lifestyle, enough sleep, smoking cessation, a balanced diet, eating foods containing plant estrogens, sufficient vitamins and minerals, regular exercise, herbal remedies and a supportive environment can help prevent problems.
In the case of pronounced symptoms that persist despite preventive procedures and impaired quality of life, premature menopause (menopause before age 40), early menopause (menopause before age 45), and t.i. treatment-induced or iatrogens menopause (permanent loss of menstruation due to genital surgery, radiation or chemotherapy), hormone therapy is warranted, based on supplementation of the missing sex hormones, or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The HNZ is individually tailored - there are different different forms and combinations (estrogen only, estrogen + progesterone combination, in the form of pills, patches, gels or sprays, vaginal forms).