In medical terms, the menopause is usually defined as the time reached one year after a woman’s last menstrual period. However, people often refer to the time leading up to as well as the time after a woman’s last period as being the menopause. The years leading up to the menopause are called the peri-menopause or the pre-menopause. The menopause is a normal stage of a woman’s life.

What is the menopause?

Strictly speaking, the menopause is your last menstrual period. However, most women think of the menopause as the time of life leading up to, and after, their last period. In reality, your periods don’t just stop. First they tend to become less frequent. It can take several years for a woman to go through the menopause completely. Women are said to have gone through the menopause (be postmenopausal) when they have not had a period at all for one year.

A natural menopause occurs because as you age your ovaries stop producing eggs and make less oestrogen (the main female hormone). The average age of the menopause in the UK is 51.

Your menopause is said to be early if it occurs before the age of 45.

There are certain things that may cause an early menopause – for example:

• If you have surgery to remove your ovaries for some reason, you are likely to develop menopausal symptoms straightaway.
• If you have radiotherapy to your pelvic area as a treatment for cancer.
• Some chemotherapy medicines that treat cancer may lead to an early menopause.
• If you have had your womb (uterus) removed (hysterectomy) before your menopause. Your ovaries will still make oestrogen. However, it is likely that the level of oestrogen will fall at an earlier age than average. As you do not have periods after a hysterectomy, it may not be clear when you are in ‘the menopause’. However, you may develop some typical symptoms (see below) when your level of oestrogen falls.
• An early menopause can run in some families.
• In many women who have an early menopause, no cause can be found.

If your menopause occurs before you are 40, it is due to premature ovarian insufficiency. Read more about premature ovarian insufficiency.

Menopause symptoms

The menopause is a natural event. Every woman will go through it at some point. You may have no problems. However, it is common to develop one or more symptoms which are due to the dropping level of oestrogen. About 8 out of 10 women will develop menopausal symptoms at some point. Around a quarter of women have very severe symptoms.

Symptoms of the menopause may only last a few months in some women. However, for others symptoms can continue for several years. Some women may have early menopause symptoms that start months or years before their periods stop (peri-menopausal or pre-menopausal symptoms). More than half of women have symptoms for more than seven years:

• Hot flushes occur in about 3 in 4 women. A typical hot flush (or flash) lasts a few minutes and causes flushing of your face, neck and chest. You may also sweat (perspire) during a hot flush. Some women become giddy, weak, or feel sick during a hot flush. Some women also develop a ‘thumping heart’ sensation (palpitations) and feelings of anxiety during the episode. The number of hot flushes can vary from every now and then, to fifteen or more a day. Hot flushes tend to start just before the menopause and can persist for several years.
• Sweats commonly occur when you are in bed at night. In some cases they are so severe that sleep is disturbed and you need to change your bedding and nightclothes.
• Other symptoms may develop, such as:

• • Headaches.
  • Tiredness.
  • Being irritable.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.
  • Palpitations.
  • Aches and pains in your joints.
  • Loss of sex drive (libido).
  • Feelings of not coping as well as you used to.
• Changes to your periods. The time between periods may shorten in some women around the menopause; in others, periods may become further apart, perhaps many months apart. It can also be common for your periods to become a little heavier around the time of the menopause; sometimes periods can become very heavy.

Problems following the menopause

Following the menopause women’s bodies may change in several ways:

• Skin and hair. You tend to lose some skin protein (collagen) after the menopause. This can make your skin drier, thinner and more likely to itch.
• Genital area. Lack of oestrogen tends to cause the tissues in and around your vagina to become thinner and drier. Learn more about vaginal dryness (atrophic vaginitis). These changes can take months or years to develop:

• • Your vagina may shrink a little and expand less easily during sex. You may experience some pain when you have sex.
  • Your vulva (the skin next to your vagina) may become thin, dry and itchy.
  • You may notice that you need to pass urine more frequently and may even leak.
  • Some women develop problems with recurrent urine infections.

• ‘Thinning’ of the bones (osteoporosis). As you become older, you gradually lose bone tissue. Your bones become less dense and less strong. The amount of bone loss can vary. If you have a lot of bone loss then you may develop osteoporosis. If you have osteoporosis, you have bones that will break (fracture) more easily than normal, especially if you have an injury such as a fall. Women lose bone tissue more rapidly than men lose it, especially after the menopause when the level of oestrogen falls. Oestrogen helps to protect against bone loss.
• Cardiovascular disease. Your risk of disease of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), including heart disease and stroke, increases after the menopause. Again, this is because the protective effect of oestrogen is lost. Oestrogen is thought to help protect your blood vessels against atheroma. In atheroma, small fatty lumps develop within the inside lining of blood vessels. Atheroma is involved in the development of heart disease and stroke.

Do I need any tests to see if I am going through the menopause?

Your doctor can usually diagnose the menopause by your typical symptoms. Hormone blood tests are not usually needed to confirm that you are going through the menopause. However, they may be helpful in some cases – for example, in women aged under 45 years.

Other blood tests or scans may be undertaken in some women, especially if they do not have symptoms which are typical of the menopause.

It is important that you keep up to date with the national cervical screening programme and breast cancer screening programme, if appropriate.

Menopause treatment

Without treatment, the symptoms discussed above last for several years in most women. HRT is a very effective treatment for the symptoms of the menopause. It replaces the oestrogen hormone that your ovaries stop making once you are menopausal. It has benefits and risks. Find out more about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

If your main symptoms are in your vagina and genital area or if you are getting urinary symptoms, you are likely to benefit from using treatment that is inserted into your vagina or just applied to your genital area as a cream. Read about treatment for vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms.

HRT is available as:

• Tablets.
• Skin patches.
• Gels to apply to the skin.
• Nasal spray.
• Tablets to insert into the vagina (pessaries).
• Cream to insert into the vagina or apply to the genital area.
• Vaginal ring.

There are several brands for each of these types of HRT. All deliver a set dose of oestrogen (with or without progestogen) into your bloodstream.

There are treatments other than HRT for menopausal symptoms. As a rule, they are not as effective as HRT but may help relieve some symptoms. Learn about alternatives to HRT.

Fertility and the menopause 

Although women become less fertile as they get older, it is still possible to get pregnant around the time of the menopause. So, if you are sexually active and don’t want to become pregnant, you will need to consider contraception:

• Until a year after your last period if you are 50 or over.
• Until two years after your last period if you are under 50.

The court officer’s victory is one of only a handful where the menopause has been cited in a disability claim, and a very rare instance of someone being reinstated to their job after winning a tribunal. 

She launched her legal claim after being sacked from her job last year, despite an unblemished record of 20 years’ service.

A judgement on the case said that she had begun to suffer substantial medical problems related to the menopause, with symptoms including heavy bleeding – sometimes for several weeks –  along with stress, anxiety, palpitations, memory loss and pins and needles in her hands and feet. 

She also endured tiredness, light-headedness and was at a risk of fainting, but kept working and was prescribed medicine for a bout of cystitis. 

Ms Davies stored the drug – which came in granules that were distilled in liquid – in a pencil case on her desk and added it to her water jug which she drank from during the day.

However, on one occasion when she returned from an adjournment she found two men in the area drinking water from the jug, and became concerned they had consumed her medication. 

Voices were raised, and the judgment noted that one of the men “launched into a rant and made comments to the effect of ‘trying to poison the two old guys in the court’ and asking if he would grow ‘boobs’”. 

The man, who was appearing at court that day, would later lose his case but was granted leave to appeal after arguing the incident had caused him to lose focus. However, the appeal was subsequently dismissed because there was no legal basis for it.

Meanwhile, Ms Davies was asked to attend a Health and Safety (H&S) meeting, where it was decided there was no medication in the water, and that she would have known that.

A report concluded she had not shown the “values and behaviours” expected of SCTS staff, had shown no remorse over the incident, and had brought embarrassment to the organisation. 

She had also breached Health and Safety rules by not securing her medication and knowingly misled officials about it being in the water. Ms Davies was not suspended during this time, and allowed to stay in her job.

The H&S report would later form the basis of the disciplinary procedures against Ms Davies which led to her losing her job for gross misconduct.

However, employment Judge Lucy Wiseman found that the process had been flawed as the H&S investigation had exceeded its remit, while Ms Davies was legitimately confused about whether she had put medicine in the water because of the symptoms she was experiencing.

During the tribunal, the SCTS conceded her disability and that she was disabled at the time of her dismissal, while Ms Davies was found to be “a wholly credible and reliable witness”.

Judge Wiseman ruled that the SCTS had both unfairly dismissed Davies and discriminated against her on grounds of disability, particularly as it had failed to consider her disability’s impact on her conduct.

Ms Davies was awarded £5,000 the injury to her feelings caused by the dismissal, and the SCTS was ordered to pay £14,009.84 for lost pay.

A spokesman for the SCTS said: “The SCTS respects the decision of the Employment Tribunal and is currently considering the judgment.”

Menopause is a natural part of every woman’s life. Some few lucky women breeze through menopause with little or no inconvenience. But for most, it’s a time of hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, and general discomfort. The good news is that safe and effective treatments exist to alleviate these symptoms, so long as we can get past the stigma and misconceptions about menopause and its treatment.

For women who experience problematic menopause symptoms, the negative effects on their quality of life can be severe and far-ranging. “The things that bring most people into the office are the hot flashes and night sweats,” says Dr. Robert Reid, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen’s University. “Though these are the symptoms that bring people in, we also take the opportunity to talk to them about other symptoms that can develop as a result of menopause, particularly vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse. These are symptoms that women might be uncomfortable bringing up on their own, and they’re also treatable with hormone therapy.”

The gold standard

Hormone therapy is the gold standard for treating menopause symptoms. Adjusting a woman’s hormone balance with either estrogen and progesterone or estrogen alone as she transitions through menopause can not only prevent many of the more unpleasant symptoms, it can also provide beneficial protection against other conditions that become more prevalent with age. “When women are appropriately treated, they’ll notice decreased hot flashes and improvements in their sleep quality,” says Dr. Jennifer Blake, CEO of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. “There will be a reduced risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis, as well as a significantly reduced risk of diabetes. What’s perhaps most reassuring, though, is that there looks to be about a 40 percent reduction in heart disease among women on hormone therapy.”

That reduction in heart disease is noteworthy, not only because heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in post-menopausal women, but also because the inaccurate belief persists among the public — as well as among some health care providers — that hormone therapy is dangerous, even as the science shows the opposite. The result is that many menopausal women are delayed far too long from discovering the benefits of hormone therapy. “By the time a woman works up the courage to talk to her health care provider, she has often tried lots of other things without success,” says Dr. Denise Black, a gynaecologist and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba. “And then, when they do talk to their health care provider, they often encounter a reluctance to prescribe hormone therapy, even though it’s the gold standard for treatment today.”

Building a new narrative

This reluctance can be traced back to a 2002 study on hormone therapy conducted by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The study was widely reported as having demonstrated a link between hormone therapy and both breast cancer and heart disease. Further investigation, however, showed that those links were both tenuous and not representative of the population for whom hormone therapy is recommended. “To summarize in one line the problem with the WHI study, it’s that they extrapolated findings from an older population to a younger population that wasn’t adequately represented in the research trial,” says Dr. Reid. “If you put a bunch of 79-year-old women on treadmills turned up to maximum speed, some of them are going to fall off with a heart attack. But you can’t take that evidence and then conclude that exercise is bad for your health.”

Sixteen years on from that study, our understanding of treatment for menopause symptoms has grown dramatically, even if some misconceptions remain. Hormone therapy is now known to be far safer than we had previously thought or even hoped, and there are reliable methods for mitigating the risks that do exist. The benefits in terms of effective management of difficult symptoms, as well as the potential for cardiovascular-protective effects, have led the medical community to broadly recommend hormone therapy for symptomatic women under the age of 60 and within 10 years of the onset of menopause. And the rise of individualized medicine means that health care providers are taking greater care to find the specific treatment plan best suited to each woman’s needs.

For women whose quality of life is being disrupted by menopause, there are absolutely paths to better living, and hormone therapy is one of them. “The bottom line is that women do have options,” says Dr. Blake. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s a great opportunity to talk to your health care provider about how best to set yourself up for good health in the decades to come.”

If you are experiencing menopause symptoms you should consider speaking with your physician. If you’re looking for additional resources, the SOGC is dedicated to providing the public with trusted information about menopause symptoms and treatment. Please visit www.menopauseandu.ca to learn more.

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When menopause hits, it can feel like you’ve hit a brick wall. Pounds start creeping in and no matter what you do, they won’t go away.

On top of that, you feel sluggish and more exhausted than ever. Good news: There are simple steps you can take to start reversing the effects of menopause and get back to optimal health – if not better! Hormone fluctuations during menopause can bring about a number of unexpected changes, including extra weight. For some women, it gets harder to shed those pounds too.

The good news is that menopause isn’t a sentence to feeling heavier, bloated, or two sizes bigger than you want to be. When you make lifestyle changes that account for your new set of hormones, you can experience vibrant health – and that includes balanced weight.

Struggling to lose weight? Unable to focus? Chances are, your hormones are out of whack.
Grab Our FREE Guide To Fixing Your Hormones By Clicking Here!

4 Reasons Why It Gets Harder to Lose Weight After 50

While the age at which women experience menopause can vary by as much as a decade, the average woman begins to notice hormonal changes around the age of 50. This hormonal shift may feel like an upsetting change, but when you understand the processes happening in your body, you can adjust your lifestyle to end up in better health than you were before. Here are the top changes that may be holding you back.

1. Hormone Fluctuations and Changes

Estrogen balance is one of the primary changes that occurs during perimenopause (the decade before menopause officially sets in) and menopause. The primary form of estrogen during reproductive years takes a backseat to a different form, and some women can either experience too high or too low levels – or both at varying times – during this shift. Estrogen levels that are either too high or too low can lead to increased fat storage in women, making hormone balance one of the crucial ways to regain equilibrium with weight. (1,2)

Estrogen changes can also trigger other symptoms in women, like difficulty sleeping or insomnia. Lack of regular, restful sleep can also contribute to weight gain and a difficulty in losing it. (3)

Other hormones also get off balance after the age 50, including progesterone (which is primarily produced during reproductive years) and stress hormones like cortisol. This collective hormonal chaos can leave you feeling tired, gaining weight, and not feeling like yourself.

2. Sluggish Metabolism

In addition to hormonal changes, the thyroid can become sluggish around menopause. Sometimes, this is a result of the dramatic changes in estrogen and progesterone but in other cases, it’s an autoimmune response to a thyroid problem.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped organ that sits at the base of the neck. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, control energy levels, and have a role in mood balance, sleep, and weight.

Estrogen levels can have a direct impact on thyroid hormone production, typically resulting in a sudden drop in thyroid function when estrogen levels begin to decline. (4) Additionally, when hypothyroidism is present before menopause, symptoms can worsen in response to hormone changes, even if the thyroid condition was managed well by medication before. (5)

3. Loss of Muscle Mass

Both men and women naturally lose muscle mass as they age, but the decrease can be more dramatic in women during the change from perimenopause to menopause. Natural aging and hormonal changes influence this the most, but a tendency to become less active in response to weight gain is also a factor. (6,7,8)

4. Insulin Resistance

Hormonal changes before and during menopause leave women more prone to insulin resistance than before. This is because hormones influence both how much and where fat is stored. Unfortunately, menopause causes more fat to be stored in the midsection, thighs, and buttocks, which can all increase the risk factors for insulin resistance. (9,10)

Bottom line: Women naturally experience hormone changes throughout their lives that can have a significant impact on weight, and the shift from menstruating years to menopause can be a major one. While there are several common factors that can make weight loss more difficult, there are natural ways to address them.

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7 Things You Can Do To Successfully Lose Weight Over 50 (And Keep It Off)

Weight loss after age 50 isn’t impossible – you just need to know how to adjust your lifestyle to offset the hormonal changes.

1. Balance Your Gut

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in almost every body system, including immunity and digestion. The health of your gut can also influence estrogen receptors in the body. (11) When it comes to hormonal changes, and estrogen levels that rapidly decline during hormone transitions, this can further exacerbate symptoms like hot flashes, mood alterations, and weight gain.

The gut also helps regulate mood, with certain “bad” bacteria contributing to depression, anxiety, and mood swings.

Weight loss and gain are also regulated by the gut, so an unbalanced microbiome can also contribute to the inability to shed pounds. The good news is that the bacteria in the gut respond swiftly to changes, so dietary interventions to promote good gut health and beneficial bacteria can work quickly for women struggling to lose weight or to stop gaining. (12)

How do you balance your gut? While the individual elements can vary, the basic principles of gut balance include:

• Skipping all refined carbs and sugars
• Eating plenty of vegetables
• Eating fermented foods and/or taking high-quality probiotic supplements
• Eating prebiotic foods like artichokes, garlic, and onions
• Drinking bone broth or using it in your cooking regularly
• Adding collagen peptides regularly to your diet
• Staying well hydrated
• Eliminating gut irritants like gluten, dairy, soy, corn, fried foods, alcohol, and caffeine

2. Reduce Stress

While we are rarely under control of how hormones change during perimenopause or menopause, we do have a say in how we address those changes. Acupuncture can help to temper symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia and also provide relief and balance to an endocrine system that is temporarily chaotic. (13)

You can also help to manage uncomfortable symptoms by participating in regular yoga or meditation, both of which help to moderate stress and relieve discomfort. (14,15,16)

3. Love Your Liver

Your gut microbiome also affects your liver health, impacting how well the liver can detox and regenerate. When the gut is compromised, the liver is less effective in its tasks, like breaking down hormones and ensuring that the endocrine system isn’t bogged down. (17)

A liver-friendly diet includes eating plenty of cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. It’s also important to stay hydrated.

Green tea, another detox-promoting food, can also help to reduce oxidative stress within the body which can protect the liver and increase the body’s ability to shed toxins that can contribute to hormonal problems. (18)

4. Lift Weights

Women start losing muscle mass naturally after age 35, and unless they specifically work to maintain some muscle tone through regular training, that loss can increase and can contribute to continued weight problems.

Research shows that women who participate in regular strength training have better bone density, and it can work as well as hormone replacement therapy. (19) It can even help to temper other symptoms of menopause, including weight gain around the stomach. (20)

While opinions may vary on how much weight and how often it is needed to notice successful outcomes, even using hand weights at home a few times a week is better than doing nothing at all. However, consider getting involved in a gym program utilizing kettlebells, hand weights, or working directly with a personal trainer who can help to find the ideal balance of weight and frequency for moderating menopausal symptoms.

5. Watch Macronutrients

When women enter menopause, they naturally burn fewer calories. While many women may attempt to reduce weight gain by suppressing their caloric intake, research shows that doing that may actually lead to more weight gain. (21) Muscle mass already naturally declines, but restricting calories can lead to further losses, as well as an increased risk of osteoporosis. (22,23,24,25)

Instead of restricting calories, focus on macronutrients, or the balance of carbs, protein, and fats. Carbohydrates are associated with more weight gain around the middle, so ensuring a regular intake of protein with each meal will help to keep blood sugar stable and reduce insulin resistance, while eating healthy, anti-inflammatory fats will promote better hormone balance.

While you still need some carbs, choose high-fiber options from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and skip grains and refined flours. You don’t have to be zero-carb to experience beneficial results, and many women notice that simply transitioning to a Paleo diet, which naturally avoids refined carbs and grains, is enough to jumpstart some natural weight loss.

6. Prioritize Sleep

Hormone changes and other stressors can affect sleep quality, making it more difficult to get a solid night’s slumber. Sleep deficits can lead to difficulty losing weight, regardless of age, but in women over 50 it can lead to more fat storage in the midsection. (26,27)

To combat this increased risk of poor sleep quality, it’s important to create and maintain a healthy sleep routine. This means setting an established bedtime, limiting technology exposure for at least an hour before bedtime (there’s never been a better time to pick up a regular old paperback!), and finding other ways to minimize stress and unpleasant symptoms.

One way to promote more relaxing sleep and lower stress levels is to utilize aromatherapy. Lavender, specifically, can help to reduce menopausal symptoms. (28)

If hot flashes are an issue that impacts sleep, try sleeping with a fan next to the bed, and use several light layers of sheets and blankets instead of anything heavy. When a hot flash strikes, it’s easier to regulate body temperature by having layers of options instead of being confined to one extreme or the other.

7. Quit Sugar and Limit Stimulants

Stimulants like caffeine and sugar can have a dehydrating effect on the body as well as a destabilizing impact on blood sugar and hormones. In addition to causing feelings of anxiety and increased stress, caffeine can also worsen typical menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. (29) If that’s not enough reason to quit, it can also contribute to bone density problems. (30)

Alcohol can also worsen hot flashes, night sweats, mood disruptions, and other menopause symptoms. (31) While moderate consumption, such as less than one drink per day, may not have this effect, certain individuals are more sensitive than others. This is largely dependent on genetic individuality, liver health, and the gut microbiome.

While caffeine, alcohol, and even sugar in moderation may not be deal breakers, it’s best to avoid these for the most part, especially if symptoms of menopause are problematic or if you’re having trouble losing weight. Instead, focus on nourishing beverages like water, bone broth, herbal tea, and green tea, and avoid foods that are overly stuffed with sugar.

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Bottom line: Losing weight – and keeping it off – after age 50 is not impossible and with the right strategy it can be easy to do. Sticking to these seven steps above can bring about faster success and help you to feel more at home in your own skin, in spite of changing hormones.

 

(Read This Next: Paleo and Hormone Balancing)

Menopause is one of the most dramatic changes a woman’s body will undertake in her lifetime. Not since puberty has the reproductive system gone through such a shift, and the experience is not altogether pleasant. Luckily, hot flashes, mood swings, pain, insomnia, and other symptoms of menopause don’t have to be fought alone, and—as it turns out—an extremely helpful ally can come in the form of cannabis.

To understand why cannabis can help treat the symptoms of menopause, it’s helpful to understand exactly what menopause is and how it affects the body.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is the period of time (usually yearlong) when a woman’s menstrual cycle comes to an end. This occurs most frequently between a person’s mid 40s–50s. The most common age for women to begin menopause is 51.

Menopause itself occurs in three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause:

• Perimenopause occurs when the body begins to exhibit subtle changes, such as the slowdown of estrogen production, in preparation for menopause to begin.
• Menopause is the 12-month stretch of time after a woman’s last period, when ovulation stops completely, and estrogen levels drop significantly.
• Post-menopause is the period of time after menopause ends when menopausal symptoms subside and a woman enters a new homeostasis.

What Are The Symptoms of Menopause?

Menopause can produce a litany of side effects, including hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, pain, low libido, weight gain, fatigue, and osteoporosis. In addition, the onset of these side effects can cause anxiety or depression in some women.

The Endocannabinoid System & Menopause

The endocannabinoid system is a network of cell receptors whose role is to maintain homeostasis in the body. It is because of the endocannabinoid receptors that cannabis molecules (cannabinoids like THC and CBD) bind and create the familiar effects we all know and love. However, the endocannabinoid system does not exist exclusively for cannabis—it also interacts with endocannabinoids, the body’s natural cannabinoids.

Estrogen is linked to the endocannabinoid system by regulating the fatty acid hydrolase enzyme (or FAAH) that breaks down certain endocannabinoids. When estrogen levels peak, so do endocannabinoid levels and vice versa. There exists some preliminary research that suggests early onset menopause may be linked to endocannabinoid deficiencies.

Evidence suggests that estrogen utilizes endocannabinoids to regulate mood and emotional response—this could explain why mood swings are more common during menopause, when estrogen levels plummet.

As a result, one can theorize that the use of cannabis during menopause may help bolster the endocannabinoid system’s necessary functions that are struggling to work without high levels of estrogen.

How Can Cannabis Help Soothe Menopause Symptoms?

Due to the federal prohibition of cannabis, research on the subject of cannabis for menopause is scarce. However, a look back in history shows us that this concept is nothing new. In the 1924 text, Sajous and Sajous, cannabis is cited as an analgesic for menopause.

In addition to these historical references, we have a modern scientific understanding of the way our bodies work and the many ailments in which cannabis has proven useful.

Hot Flashes

The natural cannabinoid, anandamide, is chemically similar to THC and can bestow a “high” sensation (think “runner’s high”), but they also share another effect: regulating body temperature.

Thus, THC may be a key cannabinoid when mitigating the effects of hot flashes. Studies suggest that consuming higher doses of THC has a cooling effect on the system and can lower body temperature. Conversely, consuming small amounts may actually raise body temperature, so finding the right dose for each person is a crucial step.

Insomnia

Insomnia goes hand-in-hand with hot flashes for menopausal women. It can be difficult to sleep when night sweats strike. However, in addition to lowering body temperature, many strains are also excellent sleep aids. A relaxing strain or a long-lasting edible will help keep you asleep all night long.

Pain

During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can create a slew of painful side effects. Migraines, breast tenderness, joint pain, bruising, intercourse discomfort, and even increased menstrual cramping (oh the irony!) can all sweep in and make life a bit more difficult.

Cannabis is a renowned pain reliever that helps patients get back on their feet, and there are tons of great strains for pain relief. What’s more, unlike opioids, cannabis offers relief without severe side effects or addictive properties.

Mood Swings

As established earlier, estrogen plays a part in utilizing endocannabinoids for the stabilizing of mood and emotional response. This same drop in endocannabinoid levels can contribute to anxiety or even depression.

Fortunately, many are finding that CBD and THC can step in to help. Studies show that cannabis can be used to regulate mood and mitigate feelings of depression or anxiety.

Low Libido

One of the more frustrating side effects of menopause can be low libido and vaginal dryness. Especially for women who have a high sex drive, watching your libido plummet during a time when your body is already undergoing drastic changes can make you feel personally out of touch.

However, some women may be able to find relief by using cannabis. While the debate is still ongoing, 67% of respondents in a Psychology Today poll reported that they believe cannabis has improved their sex lives.

Finding the right strain may be the simple answer. For some, the mind-buzzing effects of THC may allow them to reconnect with their libido, while for others, a solution may lie in the clear-headed relaxation of CBD.

Bone Loss

Estrogen regulates the process of cell regeneration in the bones, so a dramatic drop in estrogen can sometimes lead to conditions such as osteoporosis.

Studies suggest an association between the genes that code cannabinoid receptors and post-menopausal osteoporosis. For those who have received an ovariectomy, there was also evidence of cannabinoid treatment reducing bone loss.

Other studies report that cannabinoids CBG, CBD, CBC, and THCV “stimulate bone growth and may be able to prevent osteoporosis after menopause.”

Weight Gain

Gaining weight during menopause is common. This is due to age, lifestyle changes, and other unavoidable factors. But hormones also play a role. With a healthy diet and regular exercise, cannabis can be used in some instances to help maintain a person’s weight.

In fact, some studies have found that cannabis consumers have lower BMIs than non-consumers, and while THC is famous for the munchies, other cannabinoids don’t play those games. Opt instead for a high-CBD strain, or a high-THCV variety.

Further research will solidify and unveil the many ways in which cannabis can be an effective menopause treatment. With time, and the reform of antiquated laws, scientists will be able to answer these questions in greater depth and clarity. Until then, the evidence at hand already hints at how cannabis can bring millions of cis-gender women relief as they go through this life-changing event.

Editor’s note: We have omitted the classification “cis-gender” from the original article.

Menopause can be a tricky period in a woman’s life. Many women begin to experience menopause symptoms in their mid-40s, and while these symptoms may be unpleasant, they are not as unmanagable as many believe. With that being said, here are the ten most common symptoms that will tell you that you’re approaching menopause. 

 

1. Hot Flashes 

 

Hot flashes are sudden sensations of heat that spreads throughout your entire body. They can range in severity from feeling like a minor flush to feeling like you’re on fire. Hot flashes are caused by decreased estrogen levels and affect 75 to 85 percent of menopausal women. 

 

 

2. Night Sweats 

 

Night sweats might happen if a hot flash happens while you’re asleep. It’s not a sleep disorder, but it can be very uncomfortable and keep you awake at night. Lower the temperature in your bedroom and sleep with fewer blankets if you want to keep yourself reasonably comfortable while you sleep. 

 

 

3. Irregular Periods 

 

Most women experience irregular periods at some time or another, but they are far more common during menopause due to the hormone imbalance. Your periods may come earlier or later than you expect, and you may occasionally skip your period altogether. 
 

 

4. Vaginal Dryness 

 

As the estrogen in your body decreases, your vaginal tissue may become drier and less elastic. This can cause itching and pain during intercourse, but it can be treated with medication or mitigated by a personal lubricant. 

 

 

5. Mood Swings 

 

You may experience significant mood swings as your hormones become increasingly imbalanced. You might go from feeling perfectly happy one moment to unreasonably upset the next. These mood swings will vary from woman to woman. 

 

 

6. Hair Loss 

 

You may also notice that your hair is thinning as you get older. Like many of the other symptoms of menopause, this is due to a lack of estrogen. Hair loss due to menopause may be gradual or sudden, but it can usually be lessened if your hormone imbalance is treated. 

 

 

7. Fatigue 

 

Your fluctuating hormones could also cause you to feel more fatigued than you have been before. This may also be accompanied by irritability or apathy.

 

 

8. Insomnia 

 

The discomfort that comes with hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and everything else that accompanies menopause might make sleep more difficult than it was when you are younger. 

 

 

9. Difficulty Concentrating 

 

Some women report having trouble concentrating and staying focused once they reach menopause. Whether this is caused by a lack of estrogen or a lack of sleep will vary from one woman to the next, and some women may not have this problem at all. In any case, this can have a big impact on your daily life if it happens to you. 

 

 

10. Osteoporosis 

 

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone strength and density, and it happens to a lot of women during menopause. Estrogen plays a major role in calcium absorption, and lower estrogen levels can make it harder for your bones to repair and replace damaged cells. This could make you much more susceptible to fractures, so be careful as you get older. 

As unpleasant as these symptoms can be, most of them can be controlled. Speak with your doctor about how to manage the worst of these symptoms, and remember that what you are going through is completely normal as you age. Stay positive, and don’t hesitate to find support from others who may be going through the same thing. 
 

Let’s remove the stigma about menopause and spread the word about these common manageable symptoms. 

 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!

by Dr. Anna Cabeca

For many of my patients, menopause spells absolute misery. Hot flashes cut into their sleep and create heart palpitations; they frequently feel irritated or “off;” and they often sacrifice their sex life during the transition. Hormonal imbalances like estrogen, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which decline around middle age, contribute to these and other issues. (1) Altogether, these imbalances create a perfect storm for problems with weight gain, mood swings and a crashing libido.

Many patients are surprised to learn that diet and lifestyle choices can dramatically impact menopausal symptoms. (2) Even if a patient is watching calories, a high-sugar diet (and remember: all carbohydrates break down into sugar) can spike and crash insulin levels, which then leads to the storing of fat, exacerbation of inflammation, and the creation of a hormonal-imbalance domino effect.

These hormonal imbalances, coupled with the chronic stress and anxiety that nearly every patient experiences, contribute to hot flashes, while also setting the stage for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (3, 4)

Altogether, it can be a dismal picture. Yet after working with hundreds of women going through menopause, I’ve found a solution. It’s a perfect plan I developed to help my patients feel better, reduce their disease risk and help them become the most fabulous version of themselves overall.

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5 Ways the Keto-Alkaline™ Diet Can Alleviate Menopause

From my clinical plan came my Keto-Alkaline™ Diet, which juxtaposes all the benefits of a high-fat keto diet, while keeping the body alkaline to minimize the potential drawbacks of the keto diet.

Among its benefits, during menopause a Keto-Alkaline™ Diet can help:

• Balance hormones. A Keto-Alkaline™ Diet optimizes insulin, cortisol and other hormone levels so you experience fewer symptoms like hot flashes. If they do occur, they’re usually shorter and less misery-inducing.
• Improve brain function. Maria Emmerich, author of Keto-Adapted, says a hot flash is your brain trying to protect itself from starving. One of estrogen’s jobs is to get glucose into your brain for fuel, yet during menopause when estrogen drops, so does its ability to get glucose to your brain. When glucose can’t get into the brain, hot flashes increase while brain health declines. The good news is that ketones can replace the glucose in your brain and other tissues. (5)

A Keto-Alkaline ™ Diet eliminates that glucose problem, reducing or eliminating miserable menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. (6) Here’s how it can work:

1. Burn fat. As many patients can attest, weight loss can become a serious challenge during menopause. I’ve found that a Keto-Alkaline™ Diet optimizes hunger-regulating hormones like insulin and leptin, reduces the hunger-growling hormone ghrelin, and eliminates cravings so you can lose weight and keep it off.

2. Boost sex drive. The Keto-Alkaline™ Diet is rich in healthy fats, which improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. This is especially true with vitamin D, a precursor for your sex hormones. (7) A Keto-Alkaline ™ Diet actually improves my patients’ lipid profile, while helping balance testosterone and the other hormones menopause can knock out of whack. Results: Increased libido and more spark between the sheets.

3. Stabilize energy. Menopause can often leave you feeling fatigued and wiped out. A Keto-Alkaline™ Diet helps maintain steady energy levels because healthy fats provide a clean, efficient energy source to maintain healthy hormone levels, especially when combined with an alkaline diet. (8)

4. Improve sleep. When your diet is filled with sugar and carbohydrates, even those seemingly innocent 100-calorie snack packs can spike and crash your blood sugar, which ultimately impacts sleep levels. Combined with hot flashes, heart palpitations and other menopausal symptoms, your sleep can really start to suffer. A Keto-Alkaline™ Diet balances blood sugar levels and optimizes hormones like cortisol, serotonin and melatonin to improve sleep and reset your circadian rhythm. (9)

5. Lower inflammation. Chronic inflammation can increase during menopause, sparking unpleasant symptoms like chronic pain and playing a significant role in nearly every disease on earth. My Keto-Alkaline ™ Diet, which combines healthy anti-inflammatory fats with alkaline-rich foods, reduces joint pain, back pain and other inflammatory conditions.

My Keto-Alkaline™ Diet is a two-step process: Before you go keto, I want you to get alkaline. My favorite way to get alkaline is with Mighty Maca™ Plus, which contains the perfect balance of maca, turmeric, mangosteen, cat’s claw, resveratrol and other nutrients to control inflammation and maintain alkaline balance.

You needn’t accept hot flashes, low libido, hormonal imbalances and other menopausal miseries. As many patients can attest, my Keto-Alkaline™ Diet can help you live a healthy, lean, sexually fulfilling and vibrant life.

I’d love to share more about this plan. Whether you’re new to keto or want to give your ketogenic diet an upgrade, my Keto-Alkaline ™ Diet can transform your weight and your health. You can learn more about it in my new ebook “The Secret Science of Staying, Slim, Sane & Sexy After 40”.

Dr. Anna Cabeca is an Emory University trained gynecologist and obstetrician, a menopause and sexual health expert and international speaker and educator.  She created the top selling products Julva® (an anti-aging feminine cream for women), MightyMaca™ Plus (a superfood hormone balancing health drink), and online programs Magic Menopause, Women’s Restorative Health and SexualCPR.  Read her blog at DrAnnaCabeca.com, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Read Next: Keto Diet for Women

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For women of a certain age, hot flushes and night sweats are another life challenge to navigate.

And for many, even discussing the menopause can be an uncomfortable experience.

But there is some help on hand in Swansea this week for those who are undergoing the change.

A group of women set-up the first Menopause Cafe in Scotland, which has since seen the idea expand not just in the UK, but internationally.

And taking inspiration from the concept, a similar event will be launched in the city centre.

Period Dramas takes place at Cinema & Co, providing a space for people to eat, drink – and discuss the menopause.

Organiser Hazel Israel said: “There is a paucity of information about the menopause, and it never seems to be the right time to discuss it.

“Every woman has their own individual experience and it is different for different people, but we thought it would help to be able to meet other and discuss their experiences.

“It is about getting together and sharing information and advice.

“But it is also about having fun.”

In addition to meeting other women, Period Dramas will see the screening of documentary Hot Flash Havoc, a documentary about the menopause narrated by Hollywood star Goldie Hawn; a talk by an expert on the menopause, and even a menopause bingo – and it is not limited to women.

Anna Redfern, of Cinema & Co, said: “Every woman goes through the menopause at some time, and many feel almost a bit embarrassed to discuss it.

“I was approached with the idea, and it seemed like a good one, and hopefully as well as providing information, we might be able social aspect for people coming along.

“We are hoping we might be able to hold it quarterly.”

Period Dramas takes place at Cinema & Co on Tuesday, May 15, from 6.30pm.

Image copyrightReuters

The Bank of England’s deputy governor has admitted his comments that the UK economy is entering a “menopausal” era “conveyed ageist and sexist overtones”.

Ben Broadbent used the phrase in a Daily Telegraph interview about economies that were, he said, “past their peak, and no longer so potent”.

But in an internal message seen by the BBC he said he knew some bank staff had been offended and he was “truly sorry”.

He told colleagues he should not have used the word.

“I recognise that while these are economic terms that have been used in the past, my use of the word “menopausal” conveyed ageist and sexist overtones and I should not have used it”, he wrote on the Bank’s internal website.

“I was attempting to explain the meaning of the world “climacteric”. As the journalist who was interviewing me has subsequently tweeted, I made it clear in the interview that this is a term which applies to both genders.

He said he wanted to “emphasise how sorry I am for the offence my interview this morning has caused to Bank colleagues”.

Earlier he had issued a public apology.

In it he said he was sorry for his “poor choice of language” and the “offence caused”.

He said productivity affected “every one of us, of all ages and genders”.

But his comments have sparked a backlash.

Sarah Smith, professor of economics at Bristol University, told the BBC they were “not useful”.

Image copyrightGetty Images

“It conveys a rather derogatory view of women. I’ve never thought of the menopause as not productive,” she said.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, called it a “poor choice of words” that distracted from the real issue at hand.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, boss of Virgin Money UK, said: “When I read this I thought about my own menopause and was sure he meant that the future is hard work, challenging, renewing, worth fighting for, 100% positive and constantly HOT!”

And TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “There’s no need to resort to lazy, sexist comments to describe problems in the economy.”

Mr Broadbent sits on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which has been criticised for having only one female member on its nine-strong board.

The economist is also thought to be to among a number of potential successors to the Bank’s governor, Mark Carney.

Image copyrightGetty Images

Artificial intelligence

In his interview, Mr Broadbent compared a recent slowdown in UK productivity to a similar lull at the end of the 1800s, which has been described as a “climacteric” period.

The term, which is borrowed from biology and is used for both sexes, means “you’ve passed your productive peak”, the deputy governor said.

He suggested that the UK may be seeing a “pause” between two technological leaps forward – akin to one experienced by late-Victorian industrialists from steam to electricity.

However, he said the economy could be awaiting its next big breakthrough, possibly as a result of Artificial Intelligence.

Mr Broadbent later stressed that his use of the word menopausal had only applied to the 19th Century.

The Bank’s attitude towards women has been questioned in the past.

In 2013 the Bank announced a plan to phase out £5 notes featuring social reformer Elizabeth Fry, without plans to put a woman on any other bank notes.

After pressure from campaigners the Bank announced it would make Jane Austen the face of the new £10 note.