How CBD can help with the relief of menopause symptoms

A woman will go through various periods in her life that bring about a number of physiological and psychological changes. One of the most significant periods is menopause, which is a unique journey for every woman.

And it cannot be avoided. It simply comes and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Menopause is therefore understood as a part of every woman’s life and not as a medical condition.

During this period, women face a decline in female sex hormones, which no longer stimulate the reproductive cycle. The decline causes a number of problems that affect the quality of life. The symptoms during this period can be short-term or long-term.

A woman usually enters menopause between the ages of 45-55, but the onset and duration of menopause vary from woman to woman. The statistical research for Slovenia shows that women enter the period of menopause at the age of about 47. However, approximately 1% of women experience menopause before the age of 40.

The onset is largely genetically predetermined. However, the onset of menopause may also be influenced by other processes, such as ovarian removal, chemotherapy, primary ovarian insufficiency (primary ovarian deficiency), etc. Smoking can also have a major impact on the onset of menopause, causing it to occur faster in smokers than in non-smokers.

At the beginning of menopause, menstrual periods are irregular until they disappear completely. That’s why we only start talking about menopause when a woman has gone more than 12 months without menstruation.

Symptoms of menopause

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles or fertile period, and is accompanied by a number of symptoms that affect more or less not only the woman, but also everyone around her.

The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Irregular periods
• Sleep disorders
• Heat flushes
• Sweating
• Mood changes
• Decreased metabolism
• Weight gain
• Dry skin
• Decrease in breast tissue
• Difficulty concentrating

Short-term symptoms may start before the onset of menopause, which is a period known as perimenopause. During this premenopausal period, the level of sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen, varies widely.

At first glance, short-term symptoms seem much more disturbing than long-term ones, as they deteriorate the quality of life, but unlike long-term symptoms, they do not affect the health of the woman. The initial stages are characterized by menstrual cycle disorders, irregular and stronger periods, malaise, nervousness and insomnia.

Even before the onset of menopause, some women report having heat flushes. As estrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones, decline, the symptoms of menopause become more severe. The most famous symptom is heat flushes, an alternating feeling of chills and feverishness.

These flushes can occur several times a day. Women also report increased fatigue, mood swings, headaches, insomnia, low libido, muscle pain and rapid heartbeat.

Long-term symptoms are more life altering than short-term symptoms. Although short-term symptoms may seem more unpleasant, long-term estrogen deficiency can cause serious health problems in the long term.

The reduction of estrogen increases the risk of developing heart disease, dementia and osteoporosis in women.

Lower levels of estrogen increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and the levels of bad cholesterol, which may in turn increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

During the menopause, bone density is also reduced, which increases the risk of bone damage.

Physiological changes occurring inside a woman’s body force her to conserve energy, which in turn means weight loss becomes even more difficult compared to before the menopause period, which is why many women report a weight increase of up to 10 kg.

The long-term symptoms of menopause are also reflected in more frequent inflammations of the urinary tract.

Three periods of menopause

Menopause does not happen all at once, it is a multi-year process that is divided into three periods: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

• Perimenopause occurs about 7-14 years before menopause. This is the period where the ovaries begin to produce less and less estrogen. Perimenopause can occur as early as the 30s, but most often as early as the 40s. This period lasts until the ovaries stop producing eggs and the woman enters menopause. During perimenopause, a woman still has her period and can become pregnant. On average, this period lasts 4 years, however, the specifics vary for each individual. In some women, it may last for several years, while in others only a few months.
• Menopause occurs when a woman stops menstruating and her ovaries stop producing eggs and estrogen. Menopause is said to be full onset when a woman goes an entire 12 months without a menstrual cycle.
• Postmenopause occurs when a woman has gone a full year without her period. This period then lasts for the rest of a woman’s life. During this period, many symptoms that we find characteristic for menopause, usually settle down as well. However, in some cases, symptoms may persist for 10 years or more after the woman’s transition to menopause.

Mood swings and menopause

Menopause is accompanied by many symptoms, the most common of which are heat flushes and mood swings. These are all expected processes for this period, as the female body undergoes major changes and hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances can also lead to depression, insomnia or anxiety.

Other health risks

Menopause may also lead to bone density loss, leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Estrogen plays a very important role in maintaining strong and firm bones, so it is not unusual for women to lose as much as 25% of bone mass due to estrogen deficiency during menopause.

Menopause can still be a lovely period despite unpleasant symptoms. How can we naturally relieve the symptoms of menopause?

A common way to deal with symptoms of menopause is through hormonal therapy, which also has its disadvantages. The treatment involves adding a lower dose of estrogen, which only partially alleviates the above-mentioned symptoms.

As a result, more and more women are resorting to natural ways to relieve mild menopausal symptoms, namely by changing their lifestyle. During menopause, nutrition and physical activity take on a huge role.

Experts recommend a balanced diet, especially fruits and vegetables, limiting the intake of processed foods and reducing caffeine consumption. It is also recommended to avoid spicy foods in order to alleviate heat flushes. Foods containing vegetable estrogen such as soybeans, hops, rhubarb, dried fruits, linseeds, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, currants, etc. can also be included in your diet.

A healthy mind in a healthy body is a Slovene saying that becomes even more important during menopause. Physical activity not only helps improve your well-being, but is also shown to improve sleep patterns and prevents a decrease in bone density.

Let’s also not forget about smoking and excess weight, which can make menopause more difficult. It is recommended to avoid tobacco and to mind your weight gain, thus allowing the body to go through menopause as easily as possible. Regular physical activity and meditation primarily help reduce mood swings and improve concentration.

The potential benefits of CBD for Menopause

Painful periods, mood swings, joint pain and difficulty sleeping – does that sound familiar?

Symptoms accompanying menopause vary immensely for each woman. Not only during menopause – even at a younger age, during menstrual cycles, women often face difficulties that can make them want to curl up in a corner until it passes.

More and more women have been using CBD to potentially support hormonal balances. Women with painful menstruations and endometriosis have reported using CBD for potential relief from pain and inflammation.

CBD has been studied for potential effects on the following menopause symptoms:

1. 1. Joint pain is a common companion in menopause. Most often, pain is experienced due to inflammation and CBD has been studied for its potential anti-inflammatory properties with promising results.
   2. Mood swings often occur due to a lack of estrogen, which has a significant effect on the production of serotonin or “the happiness hormone”. CBD has been studied for its potential effects on serotonin receptors, which are involved in mood regulation. The results have been optimistic about its capabilities.
   3. Heat flushes and night sweats– a fan isn’t the only solution! Heat flushes occur when our temperature control center located in the hypothalamus is affected. CBD has been studied for its potential effects on serotonin production, which is involved in regulating body temperature. Some studies suggest that CBD may have the potential to help alleviate heat flushes.
   4. Obesity and diabetes may occur during menopause due to estrogen deficiency. As a result, the body burns fewer calories and fats, consequently increasing body weight and the possibility of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Research has shown that CBD may have an effect on insulin levels and metabolism.
   5. Have you ever heard of the so-called genitourinary syndrome? Dry vagina and bladder control problems are combined into a single syndrome, which occurs due to lack of estrogen. Estrogen helps drive blood into the pelvic area and delivers fresh oxygen to the urinary tract and genital organs, leaving this zone flexible and healthy. There are studies that suggest CBD may improve blood flow. As a result, some women use CBD as a topical ointment in the pelvic area to potentially support blood flow in the vaginal area during menopause.
   6. Insomnia and anxiety are also common in menopause. Lack of sleep significantly reduces the quality of life leading to anxiety and depression, so it is important to get a good night’s sleep even during menopause. Some studies suggest that CBD may help improve sleep quality by calming the nervous system.