The menopause is something that no woman can avoid. It most often occurs when a woman reaches her late forties or early fifties but for some it can occur in the thirties or even earlier. The menopause simply means the end of menstruation or the end of monthly periods. It officially starts when a woman has had 12 consecutive months with no period and is made up of three stages. These are perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.

The transitional stage of the menopause is known as perimenopause and it usually begins a few years before the actual start of the menopause. The ovaries start to produce less estrogen when a woman reaches her forties and is in the perimenopause stage. This stage lasts about four years on average but can be as little as a few months or as long as ten years. Near the end of this stage when the estrogen levels start decreasing rapidly you start to see menopausal symptoms. These range from hot flashes and irregular periods to loss of sexual appetite and mood swings plus a whole host of others. When this stage is over the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and the menopause begins.

When you first visit your doctor about the menopause make sure you discuss your symptoms fully as there is a condition called hypothyroidism, the symptoms which can be easily mistaken for menopausal symptoms. If there is any doubt your doctor can order a thyroid screening process which is very simple and will determine what your condition is. Once the menopause symptoms have passed there is a risk of other health problems which could come about as a result of low estrogen levels. It is a good idea to speak to your doctor about the best way to manage hormone levels in the future.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is used widely is a treatment for menopause. One of the benefits of HRT is that it is also very good for the prevention of osteoporosis and heart disease. However some women do not like the idea of taking it because of the increased risk of Endometrial cancer, blood clots and strokes associated with it and so these women are looking for more natural remedies. There are various herbs which are good for treating many of the symptoms. One popular natural botanical remedy is Menozac.

Some of the ingredients which Menozac incorporates include Black Cohosh which has long been known for it's ability to alleviate, symptoms related to the menopause, Soy which contains natural plant estrogens and Damaiana for relieving anxiety and helping to induce a state of relaxation. Damiana is believed to be very helpful to those women who are suffering from sexual anxieties and problems related to the menopause.

One last thing to consider is that just because you may be experiencing symptoms of the menopause, it does not mean that you cannot become pregnant. So if you are sexually active do continue with your birth control methods for at least twelve months after the menopause has started.