I’d like to tell a true story of how I believe prayer helps to create miracles.

I am so grateful to God for His help He has given to our family, I feel this story must be passed to others. God and the Doctors who used His gift of healing, they too have our thanks.

There are many people in this world who are suffering through the dreaded disease of cancer, I hope this gives them a little hope and help those who are suffering. What our John and family went through has to be past on to others, in order to let them know there is a God above.

We were never church goers, and still we don’t attend, we do however give thanks every day for what God has given us.

My son of 36 fell ill with cancer. He is a redhead with a fair complexion. It all started as a mole on his back. When the Doctor saw the mole, he removed a particle and had it analyzed. He said he believed he had caught it in time.

Six months later John, my son, had pains in his back and visited a Chiropractor for treatment. Eventually the pain grew worse so it was decided he have an x-ray. Nothing was found and the pain continued. The Doctors decided to put a dye in his blood in order to see why he should be in so much pain. When a further x-ray was taken it found that one of his ribs was covered with cancer.

As I do marketing on the internet, I know a lot of people who have become friends over the years. These friends are spread all over the globe. I informed them of my John’s plight.

One friend in particular, Bob and Judy Gill from New Zealand, were going to a gathering of friends where they were offering prayers. I know there were a lot more people there for this meeting. John and our family were so grateful to them for their prayers.

So many good people that day prayed for John, we certainly know with this help we were heard.

There were others in other parts of the world, I will not forget. I thank them also for their help and thoughts. We did not know at the time, but John was in worse trouble than we realized, and we thought he was in enough. For, when the Doctor removed his ribs and all the cancer he could, it was found that a lump of cancer was against his spinal cord and could not be removed.

The doctors felt it would be impossible to remove without causing more damage. They felt that removing it while it was there would be too dangerous. They left it where it was and felt the chances of him surviving was not good at all.

John knew of this but did not tell the family. We knew nothing at all. He was so brave to keep it all to himself. An amazing thing happened, even the Doctors were amazed and had never heard of such a thing happening before. We have had so many discussions later but it really has never been answered. John’s body repaired itself.

I know it sounds something from, well I have to say it was from God. The cancer just disappeared. As I said the Doctors could not get over it. The lump of cancer on his spine, one day when the Doctors gave him a cat scan, it just wasn’t there. As you can imagine, there were many theories, the final analysis was that the mother cancer had been destroyed and the last piece just disintegrated. Our prayers had been answered.

John spent the next 18 months improving every day. He was just at the point of returning to work when he began to feel ill again. We prayed it was not the cancer returning, for we had been informed that it could return, due to the cancer had entered his blood and could show up anywhere in his body.

Eventually, when we were able to see a Doctor, the Doctor was shocked when he saw him. For John was completely white, no color whatsoever. The Doctor said he had lost all his red corpuscles, he immediately arranged for a transfusion. John eventually had 8 transfusions.

He then went for a cat-scan to inspect his stomach, where the pain was. It was found John had 14 tumors in his intestines. 14!. It was late at night but the surgeon was called and they all met. It was decided there an then he was too far advanced they could do nothing. The family were told the news.

Well, I don’t have to tell you how we felt. However, something that can only be called a another miracle, the Surgeon, came to John’s bedside the next morning and informed him he was going to operate. He went on to say, John, I saw your crucifix around your neck and I went home and I talked to the man upstairs and he said I have to give you a chance. Can you believe this, God was once again helping John. They operated that morning, they found one tumor so large that was sure to have busted that very day. They however, found 6 of the tumors were in-operable.

Those 6 tumors were on blood vessels and it was impossible to remove them. Once again John was given the news and was expected not to live. When part of the intestines are cut away, they are joined by stitches. Well, in order to know if the operation has been a success, the patient, after time passes wind. This is how they know everything is fine. Usually this happens after 7 or 8 days. In the meantime the patent receives juice and water. After 10 days John had never passed anything, wind or anything.

The Surgeon came to his room to examine him. He pressed his stomach and the stitches broke and the water and juice he had been taking exploded from his stomach. The liquid, instead of passing into the jar he had attached, remained in his stomach. He was rushed back into the operating room and the cavity of his stomach was cleansed, due to the fear of infection. The surgeon repaired the break in his intestines, stitched him up once again, and started the wait for wind to be passed once again. Another 10 days elapsed, nothing happened, the Surgeons were once again worried. They eventually did another scan and found that the connection from his stomach to the intestines was blocked. The outlet had somehow scarred and there was no outlet. They, the surgeons had go in again and make a completely new connection from his stomach to his intestines. Apparently, where he was been opened was becoming very problematic. They felt this would be quite simple to do, however, their worry was the scar tissue, as the stomach had been opened so many times this would give them trouble. They were pleased to inform us that it was not easy to do, but the operation was successful.

John had gone through this over a 6 week period, and we began to realize the power of prayer. John was loved by everyone in the hospital for his strength. He was wonderful. I believe he knew everyone in the hospital, because he walked the corridors just about every day. The nurses gave him extra care, they were all so wonderful.

Well, in accordance to all the books on cancer, the impossible happened. If you ever questioned if there was a God, this is the proof he is there to help those who believe.

John today, is as fit as anyone can be. John has his own business. He works hard in a busy job, he is happy with what he does, and he is so grateful with his escape from cancer.

Unknown the reason why, but his body once again removed those 6 tumors. Yes, John was saved again, I am sure for a reason.

Putting this in writing like this seems to be inadequate, for the impossible happened. The abscesses that was behind the colon broke off from it’s position and floated next to John’s skin. It now became a simple matter for the Surgeon to make a small incision. Once again God had acted. I assure you the Surgeon was flabbergasted. Removal of those two abysses was a simple procedure.

John now is a volunteer, he talks to many who are suffering with cancer, and who are happy to have someone who knows. He also has taken over the Prostate Cancer group which meets every two weeks for general discussion. John has become very wise, how he endeavors to get the message across. He is happy now to do this, and gets a great kick out of the help he gives to those who need it.

He is now in recession and has been for 5 years, he still gets pain in his stomach but he is completely active and holds down an occupation.

He works hard each day. He owns a one ton truck and he is a courier for Greyhound and is very successful and happy. We, the Mortons, feel we have been given something that is priceless, and we cherish what we have learnt. We bless the day we asked the good Lord for help. Thank you God. Anyone who wishes to discuss this time we have endured, are welcome.

We have just learned something which pertains to this lens, and we want to pass it on.

Cancer has a problem to survive or even to get going in an alkaline body, yet diseases flourish in an acidic body. And now you understand that human pH level is very important.

We all have a slightly acidic bodies, however the more acidic the more illnesses we have. The time for the knowledge is here how much water per day to drink and learn what type of water it should be.

Change your water, change your life.

P.S. For the information about how to improve your immune system, check these publication.

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Many of us today are overweight, and I include myself in this number. I like many others sit at my desk all day working at my computer. Exercise? Nope! I didn’t get much of that, and often my eating habits were not that great. But this year I decided to get healthy, so I started doing some research on products. A couple of months ago, I found a product that really works for me. It’s not a miracle! But it works! It’s called Fat Loss For Idiots.

If you think there is a magic pill here there really isn’t. This is actually a life long weight loss plan with lots of information on how to lose and maintain weight without fad diets, drugs, or starving to death. Fat loss 4 idiots is a great plan that is easy to follow and gets you to losing weight fast.

This is the perfect healthy program I was looking for which would allow me to choose the right foods, not have to spend a lot of time shopping, and start losing weight the right way.

So, you might be wondering whether it worked or not? Well, let me say this I am feeling better, healthier and fitter than I have felt in a very long time. I have more energy for all of my daily activities and I no longer feel tired and lethargic all the time. Isn’t that what losing weight is supposed to be about?

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If you’re thinking about using lotions, drugs or any other product to get rid of acne, I’m extremely relieved that you’ve found my blog because not only will my story shock you, it’ll almost certainly save your health, your money as well as a lot of time and heart ache.

I will tell you exactly why over a 4 month period I tried but was forced to give up with Acneticin, Oxycerin and a range of other cleansing bars and products… and how I finally managed to get rid of my acne completely with a unique product called Acne Free In 3 Days.

My name is Jenna Lovett and like so many teenagers and young adults, I spent months desperately trying to get rid of my acne.

I never used to have issue with my skin at all. However, in January 2008, after having perfect skin for so many years I began life at a new college. Even though this was fantastic and I was having a great time, the problem was my whole lifestyle was altered. My diet changed, I was sleeping less and because of the work load it actually became quite stressful.

The Inevitable Started To Happen.

My skin slowly started to worsen and probably due to lack of exercise and the poor quality of the food I was eating, within 8 weeks I was covered in zits and things didn’t get any better from there.

After a few months the work eased off slightly and I actually did have the chance to start swimming and made a big effort to get myself healthy again - which I hoped would improve my skin. However, after hoping for the best for a number of weeks, it became obvious that it wasn’t going to work.

And that was the point when I realized I had to do something about it.
I Tried Oxycerin & Failed.

At the time, Oxycerin was the ‘in thing’ to do and after speaking to three of my friends who had had moderate success with it, I decided to give it a go.

At first it worked out reasonably well and my skin did start to improve slightly - and although that wasn’t exactly something to get too excited about, at least it was a start. And any ’start’ was good!

However, after a few weeks, things began to go downhill. One of the major issues was that I was spending so much money on the product. $129.99 for a small bottle was far more than I could afford and it seemed like I was going back to the drug store every two minutes to purchase more bottles. I found that I needed much more than the recommended dosage for it to have any real effect.

I was working my way through hundreds of dollars which was becoming a problem, especially as a student.

Eventually I had to stop.

Then I Tried Acneticin Pills But Was Forced To Give Them Up.

After only 14 days using these pills I began to feel unhealthy and ill. I don’t know why but even with no medical expertise at all, I recognized that my digestive system was running into problems. I was also getting terrible migraines.

The most worrying thing of all was that I got a warning from my doctor and after deciding that the pain and suffering I was experiencing wasn’t worth it compared to the benefit the product was having on my skin, I threw the pills in the bin the very next day.

I then tried a range of scrubs and lotions such as the Asso Gold Cleansing Bar. However, after going through one of the bars within 12 days (it cost $124!) I soon realized that if I was actually going to get rid of my acne for good, this just wasn’t going to work., unless I wanted to go broke of course!

Eventually, I found something that worked.

Having spent so much time, money and energy desperately trying to succeed with products, lotions and pills that ultimately had very little effect on my skin was a big regret. However, the next thing I tried was called Acne Free In 3 Days.

I had never heard of it before and because of my recent experiences, I was initially a little dubious. But after reading some extremely complimentary reviews and learning that the cost was minimal compared to everything else I tried, I decided to give it a shot.

Acne Free In 3 Days

What seemed to be so different with this program was that a major consideration was health although more importantly (obviously!) I discovered an almost unbelievable trick to remove acne permanently using an entirely natural method.

Here’s why I recommend it.

The reason why I recommend Acne Free In 3 Days is because I followed their plan for a matter of days and the results were almost unbelievable.

Although it did take me a few days longer to clear my acne that it says on the website, I did manage to clear most of it up in 6 days, which I’m sure you’ll agree is pretty astonishing. I’m almost at the stage of being able to look at myself in the mirror again!

In my opinion, this is way more superior and far more effective than any of the other products I tried. Obviously everyone is different but it has worked extremely well for me. The genial part is you simply eat normal food that you can buy from your local store. They tell you what to eat. You eat it - and your acne disappears. What could be simpler? You don’t even have to order special pills or drugs from a website or anything like that.

Anyway, I hope you’ve found this information useful whatever your situation because if I had known about Acne Free in 3 Days a few months back, I would have lost my zits long ago without wasting my time and money with all these other things. I wish you every success!

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The benefits of green tea make it one of the three popular Asian teas sold in Western markets today (the other two being black tea and oolong tea). Like all Chinese herbal tea, the tea herb comes from the leaves of a small aromatic plant, Camellia sinensis. However, unlike the other two tea types, herbal green tea is a tea that has undergone minimal oxidation, thereby, leaving the green tea health benefits intact and powerful.

The main constituent contained in herbal green tea is polyphenol, an antioxidant. Polyphenols work to keep our cells healthy and strong. If you have ever felt completely exhausted or your energy levels are low, it might be because your immune system is overworked. You can combat exhaustion by drinking herbal green tea, which contains high amounts of polyphenol to provide you with energy and keep your immune system from being overworked.

One of the leading green tea benefits making herbal green tea is the hottest-selling tea product today is its ability to burn fat faster. Herbal green tea provides people suffering from obesity the natural way of getting rid of excess body fats. Women and men wishing to keep their bodies trim and strong drink green tea in many forms. You can buy refrigerated green tea in bottles at almost any supermarket or health food store.

Green Tea Health Benefits are obvious. Ask yourself: when are you going to add green tea to your diet?

A natural herbal relief for menopause can provide relief from one of the most embarrassing and difficult challenges of menopause- hot flashes. There is such unpredictability in hot flashes. Some women have them only a couple times a week; others have hot flashes many times a day.

Herbal remedies that include a higher consumption of phytoestrogens such as soy, red clover, ginseng, black cohosh and yam may relieve hot flashes. However, there are reports that using Black Cohosh can cause severe side effects of liver function.

There are very few good quality studies on the effect of using ginseng for herbal relief of menopausal symptoms. However, hundreds of years of anecdotal evidence exists using ginseng as part of tonics made by Chinese herbalists. In a large double-blinded randomized controlled trial, reduction in hot flashes was not statistically significant but showed a strong trend towards improvement.

St. John’s wort has long been used to treat symptoms of depression. There is ample evidence that the mechanism of action of this herb is similar to that of SSRIs. In a research pending publication, physicians presented a report at this year’s American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Annual Clinical Meeting shows that Tao Formulations’s Harmony product relieves hot flashes in 83.5% of women with a 89.4% reduction in hot flash severity. So keep your ears open. The first viable case of menopause herbal remedies may soon be available.

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Married life can be complicated, making a couple want to consider seeking marriage counseling. There are many aspects involved in relationships that can cause couples to imagine that they are “at the end of their ropes”, but marriage counseling can actually do a great deal of good by extracting some clarity from the relationship and asserting the couple on new footing. The object of relationship counseling is to allow the couple to talk about their issues with an objective witness. Because of this, many couples often find that the solutions are right in front of them and that the problems essentially solve themselves.

Many people from all walks of life think that they know what is best for individual marriages and that they are capable of offering advice to any and all couples. The truth of the matter is that each couple is different. The struggles in marriage, while possibly retaining some common ground, are most often categorically unique to the personalities of the couple. While there are some instances in which a little marriage advice from a friend or family member can be extremely helpful, in most cases the notion of anyone being qualified to give marriage advice should be considered suspect.

For this reason, relationship counseling should be taken with a grain of salt. While there are certain cases in which an outside and objective opinion is absolutely detrimental to the prospect of saving a marriage, there are other instances in which the best advice is to learn with one another as to how to solve the problems of a marriage from within.

Many people are far too apt to turn to outside help without actually testing the resolve of their communication first, leading to an inability to discuss and talk out one’s own problems. Talking to your partner should be the first consideration in terms of getting marriage advice, but many people completely discard the partnership aspect and treat their husband or wife more like a silent partner.

The most important thing to remember about marriage is that the foundation is built on communication. Without communication, even the greatest external advice through relationship counseling can end up being futile. Marriages will have conflicts, but it is important to realize that there are healthy ways to escape those conflicts and find the answers. While the foundation of a good relationship needs some conflict to survive, the methods of dealing with those conflicts is more important than anything else.

When considering marriage counseling, there are several questions to be asked about the nature of the relationship on the whole. If there are issues in terms of communication within the confines of a trusted relationship, how many more issues will result from taking an outside party and adding them to the situation? Furthermore, if the parties are closed off to advice on issues such as pride or jealousy, how likely will marriage counseling be to solve any aspect of the relationship or its problems? These questions need answers before marriage counseling is considered by any couple.

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Can Yeastrol truly help men and women manage multiple yeast infection symptoms quickly and without using harsh drugs?

Close Up On A Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are one of the most frequent infections affecting over 75% of the women population. From the total, at least 50% will suffer from two or more infection in their lives.

Although yeast infections rarely bear dangerous consequences, they can be extremely bothersome, uncomfortable and accompanied by an array of awful symptoms. Yeast infections in men appear to be on the rise, yet keep their rate of incidence below the one women experience.

Yeastrol

Yeast infections develop colonies from an overgrowth of the fungus called Candida albicans. The fungus is naturally present in various parts of the body such as the vagina, the digestive system, in the skin folds where moisture prevails. If favorable conditions exist in the body to upset its ecosystem balance, Candida growth usually begins to take over causing multiple yeast infection symptoms.

Vaginal yeast infections can be easily mistaken for a bacterial vaginosis (has a fishy odor instead of the one of yeast). A non-infectious vaginitis is another example along with trichomoniasis.
Out of the three, trichomoniasis is the only one belonging to the group of sexually transmitted diseases or STD.

What Helps Candida Grow?

Take a look at the list…
• Antibiotics
• Steroid drugs (contraceptives and hormone replacement)
• Douches
• Pregnancy
• Stress
• Poor diet
• Diabetes
• Run down immune system
• Tight synthetic clothing

These are just a few examples of conditions that favor the growth of Candida leading to Candidiasis infection outbreaks either localized or systemic causing a number of symptoms.

Examples Of Yeast Infection Symptoms

• Genital itching and burning (men and women)
• Redness and irritation
• Foul-smelling discharge with a curd-like appearance
• Fatigue
• Sugar cravings
• Increased anxiety and irritability
• Abdominal bloating with irritable bowel symptoms
• Depression
• Heartburn
• Skin rashes
• Food sensitivities

The most common treatment for vaginal yeast infections are antifungal medications administered directly into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments or suppositories.

Yeastrol To The Rescue?

The homeopathic Yeastrol formula combines expertly chosen 12 ingredients to fight multiple yeast infection symptoms by supporting the body systems and helping it greatly to win over the unpleasant outbreaks and heal itself.

Homeopathy, an over 200-year old science, has helped develop natural preparations to fight many ills men and women face in their lives.

Yeastrol belongs to the group of these powerful formulas offering a non-drowsy, non-addictive way to quickly and effectively halt yeast infection symptoms.
Yeastrol

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The Aloe Vera Plant has been a well known and popular means of healing infections and skin burns for a long time now. Its healing properties are safe to use because they are natural.

The gel is used on the skin safely to heal wounds and as a first aid for other skin issues such as acne and yeast infection. Many manufacturers use Aloe vera in their skin care products and in topical creams that are used for cuts, burns, insect bites and eczema.

By drinking the Aloe Vera Juice with its detoxifying process and using it on your skin, it clean out your internal system and also when used externally, you will see changes in your skin and energize you. Take a look at the studies done at Benefit of aloe Vera juice drink.

You can even rub the aloe vera leaf on your skin and it will also heal your skin. This is how powerful the ingredients are. It acts as a band aid to your skin or as an antibiotic for the skin.
It is because of that why people grow aloe vera plant indoors and keep them as potted plants close to a window. It can also be grown outdoors, but cannot withstand cold climates.
You can also use the plant to make aloe vera juice, which you can drink on a daily basis to improve your overall health and this includes, but not limited to constipation, digestive problems, congestion of the bronchial tract, bowel irritability, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, colon problems, stomach ulcers, diabetes and intestinal problems.

The antifungal properties within the plant help to heal any fungal infections such as yeast infection, mouth sores, tonsillitis and even athletes foot. It has natural moisturizing agents and along with the healing properties, an infection will heal faster. It is safe to use on the face, hair and skin because of its moisturizing agents.

The detoxifying nature of Aloe Vera is what helps people to be healthier when they drink the juice. It cleans out all the toxins in the body and strengthens the immune system while improving your health.

If you would like to know more about Aloe Vera and its benefits, I highly recommend this website at Benefit of aloe Vera juice drink.

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Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer. Only 5 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old. However, breast cancer can strike at any age, and all women should be aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer.

There are several factors that put a woman at high risk for developing breast cancer, including:

• A personal history of breast cancer or non-cancerous breast disease.
• A family history of breast cancer, particularly in a mother, daughter or sister.
• History of radiation therapy Evidence of a specific genetic defect (BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation). Women who carry defects on either of these genes are at greater risk for developing breast cancer.
• A Gail Index score of at least 1.7% (The Gail Index uses risk factors such as age, family history of breast cancer, age of first menstrual period and first pregnancy, and number of breast biopsies to calculate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer within the next five years.)
• An extended use of oral contraceptives (the Pill) later in life is also sometimes considered a factor for developing breast cancer. However, this is still subject to much debate in the medical community.

While breast cancer may not be prevented, early detection and prompt treatment can significantly improve a woman’s chances of surviving breast cancer. More than 90% of women whose breast cancer is found in an early stage will survive.

When women learn at a young age about the risks and benefits of detecting breast cancer early, they are more likely to following the recommendations regarding clinical exams and mammograms . Young women also need to understand their risk factors and be able to discuss breast health with their health care providers.

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Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Perimenopause means “the time around menopause” and is often used to refer to the menopausal transitional period. It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to explain certain aspects of the menopause transition in lay terms. Postmenopause is the entire period of time that comes after the last menstrual period.

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones such as estrogen. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a Fallopian tube to the uterus.

The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Estrogens also protect the bone. Therefore, a woman can develop osteoporosis (thinning of bone) later in life when her ovaries do not produce adequate estrogen.

Clinically, the signs of menopause are not diagnosed as menopause until a woman has gone at least 12 months without a menstrual period. The time leading up to the 12 month mark is referred to “perimenopause” and the time following menopause is called “postmenopause”

In terms of symptoms. it is important to remember that each woman’s experience is highly individual. Some women may experience few or no symptoms of menopause, while others experience multiple physical and psychological symptoms. The extent and severity of symptoms varies significantly among women. These symptoms of menopause and perimenopause are discussed in detail below.

Irregular vaginal bleeding

Irregular vaginal bleeding may occur during menopause. Some women have minimal problems with abnormal bleeding during perimenopause whereas others have unpredictable, excessive bleeding. Menstrual periods (menses) may occur more frequently (meaning the cycle shortens in duration), or they may get farther and farther apart (meaning the cycle lengthens in duration) before stopping. There is no “normal” pattern of bleeding during the perimenopause, and patterns vary from woman to woman. It is common for women in perimenopause to get a period after going for several months without one. There is also no set length of time it takes for a woman to complete the menopausal transition. It is important to remember that all women who develop irregular menses should be evaluated by her doctor to confirm that the irregular menses are due to perimenopause and not as a sign of another medical condition.

The menstrual abnormalities that begin in the perimenopause are also associated with a decrease in fertility, since ovulation has become irregular. However, women who are in perimenopause may still become pregnant until they have reached true menopause (the absence of periods for one year).

Hot flashes & night sweats

Hot flashes are common among women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body and is often most pronounced in the head and chest A hot flash is sometimes associated with flushing and is sometimes followed by perspiration. Hot flashes usually last from 30 seconds to several minutes. Although the exact cause of hot flashes is not fully understood, hot flashes are likely due to a combination of hormonal and biochemical fluctuations brought on by declining estrogen levels.

There is currently no method to predict when hot flashes will begin and how long they will last. Hot flashes occur in up to 40% of regularly menstruating women in their forties, so they may begin before the menstrual irregularities characteristic of menopause even begin. About 80% of women will be finished having hot flashes after five years. Sometimes (in about 10% of women), hot flashes can last as long as 10 years. There is no way to predict when hot flashes will cease, though they tend to decrease in frequency over time. The average woman who has hot flashes will have them for about five years.

Sometimes hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats (episodes of drenching sweats at nighttime). This may lead to awakening and difficulty falling asleep again, resulting in unrefreshing sleep and daytime tiredness.

Vaginal symptoms

Vaginal symptoms occur as a result of the lining tissues of the vagina becoming thinner, drier, and less elastic as estrogen levels fall. Symptoms may include vaginal dryness, itching, or irritation and/or pain with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). The vaginal changes also lead to an increased risk of vaginal infections.

Urinary symptoms

The lining of the urethra (the transport tube leading from the bladder to discharge urine outside the body) also undergoes changes similar to the tissues of the vagina, and becomes dryer, thinner, and less elastic with declining estrogen levels. This can lead to an increased risk of urinary tract infection , feeling the need to urinate more frequently, or leakage of urine (urinary incontinence). The incontinence can result from a strong, sudden urge to urinate or may occur during straining when coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects.

Emotional and cognitive symptoms

Women in perimenopause often report a variety of thinking (cognitive) and/or emotional symptoms, including fatigue, memory problems, irritability, and rapid changes in mood. It is difficult to precisely determine exactly which behavioral symptoms are due directly to the hormonal changes of menopause. Research in this area has been difficult for many reasons. Emotional and cognitive symptoms are so common that it is sometimes difficult in a given woman to know if they are due to menopause. The night sweats that may occur during perimenopause can also contribute to feelings of tiredness and fatigue, which can have an effect on mood and cognitive performance. Finally, many women may be experiencing other life changes during the time of perimenopause or after menopause, such as stressful life events, that may also cause emotional symptoms.

Other physical changes

Many women report some degree of weight gain along with menopause. The distribution of body fat may change, with body fat being deposited more in the waist and abdominal area than in the hips and thighs. Changes in skin texture, including wrinkles, may develop along with worsening of adult acne in those affected by this condition. Since the body continues to produce small levels of the male hormone testosterone, some women may experience some hair growth on the chin, upper lip, chest, or abdomen.

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If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile and physically able to become pregnant she needs to ask herself, “Do I want to become pregnant now?” If her answer is “No,” she must use some method of birth control (contraception).

If a woman does not want to get pregnant at this point in her life, when does she plan to become pregnant? Soon? Much later? Never? Her answers to these questions can determine the method of birth control that she and her male sexual partner use now and in the future.

It is estimated that there are 3.6 million unplanned pregnancies every year in the United States. Half of these unplanned pregnancies happen because a couple does not use any birth control at all, and the other half occur because the couple uses birth control, but not correctly.

In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man’s sperm from reaching and entering a woman’s egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman’s uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.

Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. Reversible birth control means that the method can be stopped at essentially any time without long-term effects on fertility (the ability to become pregnant). Permanent birth control usually means that the method cannot be undone or reversed, most likely because it involved surgery. Examples of permanent methods include vasectomy for the man or tubal ligation for the woman.

Birth control methods can also be classified according to whether they are a barrier method (for example, a condom) that blocks sperm, a mechanical method (for example, an intrauterine device), or a hormonal method (for example, the “pill”).

“Natural” methods do not rely on devices or hormones but on observing some aspect of a woman’s body physiology in order to prevent fertilization.

The direct responsibility for most of the methods of birth control that are currently available rests with the woman. The input of a health care provider may sometimes be essential in choosing appropriate birth control. New methods of birth control are being developed and tested all the time. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may change with time and circumstances.

Unfortunately, no birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective and most of these choices offer little or no protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, STDs), especially against HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.

For some individuals, economic considerations dictate their choice of contraceptive method. Abstinence is 100% effective and costs nothing, but may not always be a popular choice. “Natural” methods cost essentially nothing (if one does not use test kits or electronic monitors) but they require considerable discipline to be effective. Barrier methods, such as spermicides and condoms, are affordable to most people and can be effective if they are used consistently and correctly. The hormonal methods, such as “the pill,” are highly effective but their cost can add up if they must be purchased and regularly repeated.

The choice of a particular method of contraceptive also depends on a person’s age, health, and personal situation. For example, behavioral methods (fertility awareness or withdrawal), IUDs, and tubal ligation are not methods recommended for teenagers. A vasectomy or tubal ligation are not appropriate for a man or woman who wishes to have children in the future because surgical reversal is not guaranteed. Certain medical conditions can rule out a woman using a hormone-based method of birth control.

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