Nature has a system and a plan for everything. The human body is made up of complex internal systems that keep the body running efficiently. Women have periods in their lives when some of their systems change. With the onset of puberty the body grows and certain physical attributes are formed.

The breasts develop and the girl's overall shape changes. Each month her body goes through a cycle for reproduction. This continues for most of her life. But nature has set safeguards in place to prevent reproduction after a certain age.

At this stage in life a woman goes through menopause. She is no longer able to have children naturally. In this article we will cover the facts about this change in life that occurs to all women.

What is menopause?

Menopause occurs in women when menstruation ceases. There is actually a phase prior to the cessation of reproductive capabilities that is known as perimenopause. These years are the transition years in which the hormones in the female body such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone begin to fluctuate.

It is still possible to be fertile in this stage and there is no set time period for this stage to end. Women will often experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings due to these hormones fluctuating and diminishing. You often hear perimenopause and premenopause interchanged with each other.

The stage postmenopause is the remainder of the woman's life after her period has stopped. In order to be classified as postmenopause the periods must have ceased for twelve months with no flow or spotting.

Do all women experience the same symptoms?

No, not all women experience the same symptoms. Some may have a few mood swings and generally have an easy time during the transition period. Others may have many of the symptoms and be experiencing a much harder transition into menopause.

If you are having a tough time coping with the symptoms and the emotional ups and down's, you need to contact your physician so that he or she can help you find some relief. There are a wide range of products that may be able to help you find the correct balance so that you can function properly.

How can the symptoms be alleviated?

The symptoms of menopause can be relieved in several ways. One of the most common ways of treating the symptoms is to go straight to the source of the problem: the hormone fluctuation and decrease in production. Doctors will prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help the menopausal woman get through.

The hormone replacement therapy is used not only to help alleviate the hot flashes and such but it is also used to help treat osteoporosis. The type of hormones used depends on whether or not there is a uterus present.

If the uterus is present then the hormones used will be estrogen and progesterone. If the uterus has been taken due to a hysterectomy then estrogen alone is usually enough.

What homeopathic remedies or alternative remedies can I use during menopause?

You do not have to use pharmaceutical means to help relieve your menopause symptoms. There are alternatives. If you are seeking a botanical source you can use phytoestrogens or femarelle. These two medicines can be purchased at a local vitamin or health store.

The potency of the phytoestrogens and femarelle are not the same as those found in pharmaceuticals but they do alleviate some of the symptoms. Another treatment many women are turning to is acupuncture. As of yet there have not been adequate studies done to ensure the results but it is a possibility.