NuFemma

Most women can tell if they are approaching menopause because their menstrual periods start changing, usually becoming more irregular. This period of time is often called "the change of life", "menopause transition" or peri-menopause, and for most women, starts to occur in their late forties. Menopause itself — as defined by health care professionals — is only one day in a woman's life — the day after she has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. After this time, hormone levels may continue to drop and a woman is considered to be post-menopausal.

Although the majority of women experience "natural" menopause, some women may experience menopause due to one of a number of medical interventions. Surgically removing both ovaries will trigger menopause at any age. Induced menopause can also occur if the ovaries are damaged by radiation, chemotherapy or by certain drugs. Certain medical conditions also may cause menopause to occur earlier.

Signs of menopause include:

• hot flashes (sudden warm feeling, sometimes with blushing of the face)
• night sweats (hot flashes that occur at night, often disrupting sleep)
• difficulty sleeping
• fatigue (probably from disrupted sleep patterns)
• mood swings and irritability
• bladder problems
• vaginal dryness
• fluctuations in sexual desire or response

Menopause isn't just about lowering of estrogen, it involves progesterone and other reproductive hormones, as well. Most menopause products on the market today use only estrogenic herbs (e.g. soy, red clover). Study results on these herbs have been mixed on how well these work for menopausal symptoms, e.g. hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, sleeplessness, mood swings. Progesterone has soothing effects on the mind and body, also a balancing effect on mood swings. The chasteberry in NuFemma is one of the few herbs available that is documented to increase low progesterone levels, and lower FSH (follicle stimulating hormone; the hormone used to confirm start of menopause).

Recent scientific study pointing out the risks of synthetic hormone replacement has millions of women rethinking whether they would rather just endure their menopausal symptoms. Many women are looking at natural remedies to help reduce menopause symptoms, without the risk. A plethora of confusing herbal formulas are available for menopause, with inadequate knowledge of their safety and efficacy available. The distinctions between the needs of peri-menopausal women and post-menopausal women are not always clear. Peri-menopause is the transition period when changing hormone levels cause the most bothersome symptoms, e.g. mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, and sleeplessness. After periods cease for 12 months (menopause), the lack of estrogen, vaginal dryness and bone loss become the more predominant concerns.

Most menopausal formulas emphasize estrogenic herbs needed at the post-menopausal stage for certain symptoms (e.g. vaginal dryness, bone loss), but during "the change", more balance, energy and mental support is needed. NuFemma is a unique formula with herbs and other nutrients that help relieve mood swings and other symptoms that start during the transition to menopause, also called peri-menopause. Many of the initial symptoms, e.g. mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, may be caused by hormones that fluctuate wildly, before they drop to low levels later in post-menopause. During the transition to menopause, hormone levels don't always decline uniformly. Production of estrogen and progesterone is erratic and unpredictable at this time. Whereas estrogenic support is needed in post-menopause, herbs that help balance, energize and repair are needed during peri-menopause.

NuFemma contains more antioxidants and non-estrogenic type herbs to help balance hormone swings and improve overall well-being. The herbs, Chasteberry and Black Cohosh, help support normal hormone balance and reduction of many peri-menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Omega 3 oils, such as Flax Seed, help with mood regulation and heart health. The antioxidants, Vitamin C, E, Green tea and Selenium, help reduce cell membrane damage that occurs with age. Ginseng and B-complex vitamins helps with energy, stress and stamina. Ginkgo enhances microcirculation to the brain, thus improving short-term memory and mental function. In addition, the minerals Calcium and Magnesium, along with vitamin D and Soy, will help start protection of bone health, an important preventative process as you age. Red clover and soy extracts used in many other menopause preparations are specifically estrogenic