Menopause is the condition in which the reproductive period in a female's life has come to a close. Normally, throughout the lifespan of a female, ovaries specialize in producing an egg each month. This is what causes menstruation in the woman. In addition to this, the ovaries play an active role in the production of important hormones in the female body. This includes the hormone of progesterone and that which is called estrogen. When changes begin to take place that result in the lack of menstruation and the productivity of the female hormones are thereby affected, this is what is referred to as "menopause".

There are a number of symptoms that are associated with the onset of menopause. Nearly all women who are approaching menopause, or experiencing menopause, will experience common symptoms associated with this change in life. Some of the symptoms of menopause include:

* Many women will experience menstrual cycles that are irregular, or complete cessation of the menstrual cycle.

* Hot flashes are extremely common when a female at the onset of menopause.

* A common complaint is the experiencing of a variety of moods (mood swings), which include quick irritability when menopause begins.

* Loss of libido is common among females in menopause.

* Many women may discover that they have complications sleeping. This is quite often the result of night sweats, another common symptom - however, it can also be related to the physiological changes that the body is experiencing.

* Migraines and other types of pain are quite common during menopause.

As you can see, there are a number of symptoms that are common to the onset of menopause. The list above contains only a few of the symptoms that can be experienced during this time in life. While menopause is normal, and there is no treatment available to stop this from occurring, there are a number of treatments that can help in soothing the many symptoms that are common to this condition.

One of the most common treatments for menopause is the prescription of hormone replacements. This type of menopause treatment focuses on replenishing the hormones that are normally no longer produced once the body starts to process this change in life. There are many benefits associated with this form of treatment. The ultimate benefit is that it helps to alleviate the symptoms that are associated with menopause. It may also reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

The risks that are associated with hormone replacement drug treatment include:

* Increased opportunity for stroke

* Experiencing clotting of the blood

* Increased chance of developing uterine cancer

* The possibility of developing breast cancer is increased

There are a number of natural treatments for menopause. These have proven effective for millions of women. Increasing the amount of natural calcium can help soothe the symptoms of menopause. Black Cohosh Root has also been deemed as an appropriate treatment. These natural treatments taken in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle that includes diet and exercise can greatly benefit those that are experiencing menopause.

Whatever the symptoms one happens to experience, it is advisable to seek competent medical advice when searching for an appropriate remedy, whether it be hormonal replacement therapy or one of the many natural supplements now available.