how bad can menopause be?
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
15 years ago- 15 years ago
Related Discussions
How can you tell bad herb seeds from good?
Comments (9)I looked each up and I have an herb book, several, but they give the same directions mostly accept a few, there are 5 on the list I understand in every way they couldn't have sprouted. I cold treated the hops, as was noted on the package. I really liked the smell of them too, almost like anise. I would have tried them sooner if I had known what they smelled like. The milk thistle ones say it's easy to grow them, but you describe them as picky as they seemed to be. I direct sowed them in the ground, maybe too early, but I really got nothing accept poppies, fennel, castor bean, mullein, and borage from everything I planted herb wise. The borage got top heavy and died. The poppies didn't make many seeds, and I let them drop. I was really hoping to get mint plants growing, I know spearmint sprouted in a planter, but died due to neglect of it sprouting way too late once most of everything else had been taken out of the planter, not knowing anything would still grow. I'm looking for hints like maifleur gave, that is going to help. Direct sunlight is what most of them needed because they all said the same thing on the package. I'm afraid to plant anything in fall, my garden is under leaves right now, about 67 of them I counted now, but then there were more. I still have about 30 to dump and have to clear some areas of old stalks and the privot that keeps growing wild every where. Between privot and the onslaught of walnut seedlings I'm finding, I'm getting scared. Fall planting may make the onions rot, so I'll have to start them out in flats. The lavender sounds tricky, so they sent a big package of those, I'll try again under lamp just to get some sprouted. I'll do the same for the milk thistle under lamp then put in a cool damp, but warm enough spot to get them growing. The hops and cilantro, I've read to score the seed after soaking them 24 hours, then plant, the seed is a hull of 2 seeds, so it makes sense. I'll be looking each plant and reading blogs on each until I can see proven 100 percent method. I appreciate this and I hope next year I'll be in check, have a few of each plant at least....See MoreHow do I know if I am in menopause if I am still on the pill?
Comments (7)Birth control pills may help mask menopause symptoms By TOM VALEO Published March 28, 2006 All women can expect to enter menopause sooner or later, but women taking birth control pills may not notice, at least for a while. In the meantime, they can expect several benefits from the pill beside avoiding an unwanted pregnancy: They will avoid some of the most conspicuous signs of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and irritability. "A woman on the birth control pill is getting hormones at a level above what her ovaries would produce,'' said Dr. Catherine Lynch, director of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa. "When a woman goes into menopause, the ovaries basically shut down and no longer produce estrogen or progesterone in any significant amounts, so a woman taking the birth control pill in the standard fashion of three weeks on active pills, followed by one week of inactive pills, often won't have any symptoms of menopause until that pill-free week. She may not even realize she's in menopause because she's getting adequate estrogen and still cycling.'' During the week when she is not taking active birth control pills, the woman may even have a "withdrawal bleed" caused by the sudden drop in estrogen. A withdrawal bleed is easily mistaken for a normal period. And if the woman is taking continuous-use birth control pills, she will take inactive pills only one week out of every 12 instead of every four, so she will have a withdrawal bleed no more than once every four months. "So a woman who's, say, 51 and taking Seasonale one of the continuous-use birth control pills isn't going to have hot flashes or night sweats for 12 weeks, because she's having estrogen provided for her by the pills,'' Dr. Lynch said. "She may experience symptoms during the week she takes inactive pills, but just as symptoms start to climb, she starts taking active pills again, and she won't appreciate that these are symptoms of menopause.'' But that's not all. Taking birth control pills also seems to reduce bone loss. In fact, if the woman is also doing weight-bearing exercises and getting plenty of calcium, low-dose birth control pills may even help build bone density. Women on the pill also experience less iron deficiency anemia, and some studies suggest that the pill protects against benign breast disease, endometrial cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer. The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, the largest to investigate this last issue, found a 40 percent decrease on average of ovarian cancer in women who had taken oral contraceptives. The risk decreased as the amount of time on the pill increased, so women who had taken the pill for seven years or longer experienced a reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer of 60 to 80 percent. Some Women on the pill also experience less iron deficiency anemia, and some studies suggest that the pill protects against benign breast disease, endometrial cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer. studies suggest that oral contraceptives might even protect against colorectal cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, Alzheimer's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Taking the pill has always meant an increase in the risk of blood clots, which can cause a stroke. But a woman who does not smoke, does not have high blood pressure, and takes a low-dose oral contraceptive can almost eliminate that additional risk. So why not just stay on the pill and enjoy all the benefits of hormone-replacement therapy, known as HRT? Because even low-dose birth-control pills deliver five to seven times as much estrogen as HRT. HRT simply gives the body back what the ovaries were producing before they were shut down by menopause. The birth control pill delivers a dose of hormones large enough to shut down the ovaries, and it's pointless for a woman to keep taking hormones after menopause has begun and she has stopped ovulating. She would be better off with hormone-replacement therapy, which would provide her with the same benefits but a lower dose of hormone. "The trick is figuring out when she is in menopause,'' Dr. Lynch said. "There are a couple of ways to test this, but they're not 100 percent reliable. She can go off the pill and see if she's still cycling, but if she's sexually active, there's an outside chance she could get pregnant. "While it's rare for pregnancy to occur at the age of 50 or 51, it can happen if you're still ovulating.'' Tom Valeo is a freelance writer specializing in medical and health issues. Contact him c/o Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail features at sptimes dot com. [Last modified March 28, 2006, 08:52:07] Here is a link that might be useful: from a Florida online newspaper...See MoreCan Peri-Menopause Reverse?
Comments (3)Boy, can I relate to this post. I could of wrote this myself. I had an FSH of 29 two years ago, along with horrible symptoms of irregular heartbeats , extreme anxiety, Insomnia...on and on. The Doc said early Menopause, I had it retested last month, it was 4 !!!!! I had the same reaction as you... I am expecting the worst, as some of my symptoms have lessened , now I am thinking it will all start over full force. I had waited to re-test the FSH , and thought that maybe I was Post , as I have felt somewhat better with some of the symptoms... I had my Uterus removed 15 years ago, so no periods to help establish where I am in all this. I am confused as to what this all means just like you, You are the first one I have found to have the same issue, sorry for you, but a relief for me to have someone to talk to !! I am wondering if it has something to do with he Thyroid.. as I am Hypothyroid, with Hashimotos Disease. I was curious before, but now I see you have Thyroid issues also, wondering if there is a connection... the Thyroid is part of the Endocrine system like the Ovaries ... Anyways, I feel like I am rambling.. just know that you are not alone, and I hope you fee better knowing that someone else is dealing with the same craziness, I know I sure do. Peace, Rebecca...See Morehow to know menopause after hysterectomy
Comments (2)Hi ive had a full hysterectomy at 30 now only have 1 ovary after suffering from a range of perimenopasaul symptoms i went and had a blood test to check if i was in fact perimenopausal the bloods came back normal WHAT how can this be , apparently unless your hormones are going crazy at a particular time of the month it wont show up even tho u r peri so just go off your symptoms and how u feel make a record of how u feel at particular times of the month this for me is the best indicator, trusting my own body and instincts and more importantly the symptoms i get, palpatations hot sweats panic attacks crashing fatigue some days especially when i am having palpatations ,running to the loo with weak bladder al these are indicators of perimenopause hope this helps sum ladies out there ok...See More- 15 years ago
- 15 years ago
- 12 years ago
- 10 years ago
Related Stories
BEDROOMSThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Master Bedroom Touches Anyone Can Do
Make your bedroom a serene dream with easy moves that won’t give your bank account nightmares
Full Story
WINDOW TREATMENTS6 Ways to Deal With a Bad View Out the Window
You can come out from behind the closed curtains now. These strategies let in the light while blocking the ugly
Full Story
HOUSEKEEPINGCan-Do Cleaning Strategies for Busy People
While you dream of having a maid (to go with the cook and chauffer), this simplified cleaning routine can keep your real-world home tidy
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNSmall Garden? You Can Still Do Bamboo
Forget luck. Having bamboo that thrives on a wee plot just takes planning, picking the right variety, and keeping runners in check
Full Story
MORE ROOMSHome Tech: Speakers Matter (and Can Look Good, Too)
See why high style and high fidelity needn't be mutually exclusive
Full Story
ARCHITECTUREDesign Workshop: How a Site Can Shape a Home
Create architectural poetry by looking to a site's topography, climate, trees and more to inform the home's design
Full Story
PETS5 Finishes Pets and Kids Can’t Destroy — and 5 to Avoid
Save your sanity and your decorating budget by choosing materials and surfaces that can stand up to abuse
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDES5 Ways Art Can Improve Your Room Design
Artwork can bring together the elements of a room by being a focal point, a color inspiration, a harmonizer and more
Full Story
COMMUNITYCommunity Building Just About Anyone Can Do
Strengthen neighborhoods and pride of place by setting up more public spaces — even small, temporary ones can make a big difference
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGNYes, You Can Go Bold With Wallpaper in a Powder Room
The smallest room in the house can make the biggest design impact. Here are 10 of our favorite papered powder rooms
Full Story
Franzi