I work for a company that makes a natural herbal based menopause relief formula. It's got ashwagandha (sensoril), HMRlignan, vitamins, and minerals. I'm around a 30 year old male so I haven't tried it, but what I'm reading makes it seem pretty good because it's non-hormone based and ashwagandha seems like a pretty good adaptogen to use overall. My personal feeling, again as a man, is that menopause should not be painful and difficult and my mother said that she didn't have a bad time other than night sweats but she doesn't really associate that with menopause. She was a very healthy eater though and always had a rich garden of greens she'd eat from and was active and not overweight. As a nutritionist, I believe that most problems people are facing are from general lifestyle mis-steps such as not eating enough fruits and vegetables, not sleeping enough, not exercising enough, and being stressed. I would look at those areas before self-diagnosing myself as suffering from any malady because those are much more impactful than anything else. I hope that helps, David

I have been having hormonal related migraines for years and in recent months it has become almost unbearable. Like many of you, I found no relief from my doctor. All the prescription meds, worked for a short time but lost their effectiveness. About a month ago on this site I saw the suggestion of natural progesterone cream and I bought some that day. I will tell you that I haven't have a headache since! I think it's a miracle. I found the cream at a health food store and it was $15. Not only have my headaches ceased, I feel so much better. My mood is improved and my sex drive has returned. I'm only 45 and I have not started menopause yet so I didn't think I needed hormones but I guess I was wrong. I don't know if this will work for all of you, but I am a believer!

pleblanc, I know you posted this a while ago but I have just read it and wondered if you got the itching and skin dryness sorted. I have had exactly the same symptoms as you only on the soles of my feet which makes even standing up some days excrutiating. I have been near to tears on a couple of occassions recently. Mine started two years ago out of the blue and I thought it might be menopause related as I had some severe hot flashes start at the same time. My doctor doesn't think so and has been prescribing creams for Pompholyx excema. I am finally seeing a dermatologist next month so we shall see what happens. I also for a few months have had the vaginal and rectal itching. I thought it was thrush but I have no other symptoms. I have been using canesten cream which gives me relief. I find it worse during the night which could be related to feeling hot. Finally, I also get the joint pain deep in my right hip if I lie on it too long and it also wakes me during the night. I would say all my menopause symptoms started about 8 years ago but in the last 2 years it has been constant and I have been trying everything I possibly can to help myself. I am of the belief that if these problems happened to men there would be specialists in every major city in every part of the world. Unfortunately because it is the other half of the population, Drs with a special interest are few and far between. P.S I tried HRT but had a horrendous migraine which was really scary-thought I was having a stroke-and my doc took me off them immediately. My BP and cholesterol were also sky high. Sorry this is so long but wanted to let you know you're not alone.

I started Ortho Prefest about 2 1/2 weeks ago. My GYN told me that I would most likely experience some spotting for a while. I have not had a period in over 2 years (yeah - it took me a while to decide on HRT). Well guess what. Today I have started spotting. Not bad, but it's definately there. This is the only problem I have had and as long as it doesn't get any worse or last too long, I think I can take it. But I don't really want to! The only good thing about menopause was to have no period anymore. Now that's gone - just like the memory, the energy, the tight skin, the perky boobs! Isn't it wonderful to be a woman?