When the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, a woman will enter menopause. This occurs naturally, usually after the age of 45, but symptoms of menopause can start earlier. Many women suffer with hot flashes and night sweats prior to cessation of their periods. There are multiple medical treatments that can provide you with some relief from these symptoms. Remifemin is an herbal remedy that may alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause.
Phases of Menopause
When menopause occurs naturally, it usually occurs in several phases over a period of time. Perimenopause is considered the beginning of menopause. During this stage, hormones begin to drop, and this decline in estrogen can cause symptoms. The next phase, menopause, is the permanent cessation of menstruation. Medically, menopause is defined as one year without a period. During postmenopause the body becomes used to the decrease in estrogen and menopausal symptoms disappear.
Symptoms of Menopause
A woman's body reacts to the declining amounts of estrogen and progesterone with symptoms such as night sweats, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood swings, trouble focusing and loss of hair. Women also often experience increasing abdominal fat and loss of breast fullness as well.
Treatment of Menopause
The most effective relief of menopausal symptoms comes from hormone replacement therapy in the form of pills containing estrogen and progesterone, according to the Mayo Clinic. But many women are concerned about estrogen's role in breast cancer and are reluctant to take this type of medication. Other treatments include low-dose antidepressants, gabapentin -- a drug that has been used to treat seizures -- and clonidine -- a blood pressure medication. None of these medications come without side effects, causing some women to turn to herbal or "natural" remedies to relieve their symptoms. Remifemin is one of those options.
Remifemin
Remifemin is a considered a herbal treatment or "natural" remedy for menopausal symptoms. The main ingredient is black cohash, a substance that has been widely used in Europe for many years in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Like most herbal supplements, the claims of efficacy of black cohash have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The Mayo Clinic notes that black cohash has a good safety record, but at this time there is little scientific evidence that it is effective. Drugs.com states that it may take as many as 12 weeks before Remifemin takes effect. The only side effect of Remifemin noted is gastric discomfort. Remifemin can be taken with or without food and it is recommended that one tablet be taken in the morning and one be taken in the evening.
