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Page 59
| completed their reproductive role and no longer have an important place in society. Women often feel that their very important nurturing role as mother has also been completed, leading them to wonder what use they are to their families, as well. The accompanying emotional considerations with this societal image are enormous and play a major role in determining how a woman experiences the menopausal period. With so much of her identity wrapped up in her reproductive cycle it is no wonder that the prospect of the cessation of that cycle can send a woman onto an emotional rollercoaster. |
| Some women can take their menopausal changes in stride while others are deeply affected by the severity of their symptoms. Sleep disturbances, temperature intolerance, mood swings and the like make some women's daily lives nearly unbearable. It is then that relief is often sought. In addition, there is the expectation for some women that they will experience a miserable decade or so as they undergo these profound changes. Friends have been through it, horror stories have been told and fear of the unknown begins to develop. Symptom relief may be a necessary pursuit in many of these cases. |
| Conventional Medical Treatment |
| As stated earlier, hormones responsible for the continuing cycle of changes in a woman's reproductive system also have their effects on other parts of the body. In recent years much has been said about these effects as they relate to estrogen. Estrogen has been shown to have effects on bone metabolism, vascular health and mental alertness. Interestingly, studies on these physiological changes focus on estrogen |
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