15 May Acupuncture for Menopause
Acupuncture for Menopause: The complete stoppage of the normal menstrual cycle in women is called menopause. Menopause is a normal part of the aging process that leads to the end of reproductive capabilities. It usually occurs between 40 to 50 years of age. It may happen before 40 years due to underlying abnormalities or external factors e.g medicines. A woman is labeled as in menopause if she has not menstruated for a year.
Women are born with fixed numbers of eggs in their ovaries and release a few of these upon each menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is a complex process controlled by different hormones e.g estrogen and progesterone. When eggs and these hormones are no longer produced by the ovaries then menopause happens.
Although menopause normal part of aging; it is associated with multiple irritable symptoms in most women and affects the quality of life. There are numerous helping options available to combat the troublesome symptoms of menopause e.g acupuncture for menopause. In this article, you will find the benefits of acupuncture to have beneficial effects.
Symptoms of menopause
Natural menopause e.g not caused by surgery or drugs is associated with a set of specific symptoms indicating menopause in a woman. A woman passes through different stages of it e.g perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.
The initial signs or symptoms of menopause may be the following:
- Sweating
- Hot flushes (sudden feeling of warmth)
- Insomnia
- Emotional changes
- Irregular menses
- Vaginal dryness
In later stages of menopause the following symptoms may occur:
- Decreased level of energy
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Dry skin
- Generalized body pains and joint pains
- Hair fall
- Decreased sexual drive
Diagnosis
The onset and symptoms of menopause are different in each woman. Generally, it is difficult to tell the exact stage of menopause. However, the healthcare provider will assess through proper history and order certain hormone levels. Based on the degree of symptoms and hormone levels he may suggest different treatment options e.g acupuncture for menopause.
Treatment options
The symptoms of menopause go away spontaneously as its a natural process. However, treatment options can be considered if they are affecting the quality of life. The most commonly utilized options to treat menopause are the following:
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Topical hormones
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators
- Multivitamins
- Lifestyle modifications e.g smoking, alcohol, and smoking cessation.
- Regular exercise
Hormone replacement therapy and non-hormonal options are associated with multiple side effects and risk factors. These medications may result in gall stone, endometrial cancer, blood clot formation, or stroke. Therefore, we recommend going for options other than these e.g acupuncture for menopause is a harmless procedure that relieves generalized symptoms and improves the overall quality of life.
Acupuncture for menopause
Acupuncture for menopause is inserting microneedles into different strategic points to get rid of menopausal symptoms. A study in 2019 showed that 5 weeks of acupuncture therapy reduces hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep alterations.
Hot flashes and night sweats are the most commonly reported disturbances in menopause. Although some women may transition into menopause asymptomatically. Not all women with menopause need treatment, this intervention is suitable for women with modest to severe menopausal symptoms. It is a good option for those women who can not use hormone replacement therapy.
During this procedure, your acupuncturist will insert microneedles in specific areas and leave them for a few minutes. Keep in mind that it may take several acupuncture therapy sessions to give benefits. Women who have contraindications to use hormonal medications can go for acupuncture. Acupuncture can also be utilized as adjuvant therapy to minimize troublesome symptoms with hormonal and other medical therapies.
We are professionally trained at Peak Life Acupuncture to help you with all your acupuncture needs. Call us at (818) 823-6721
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