Menopause is a natural process that every woman experiences. It is a period in life when menstrual bleeding stops, marking the end of the female reproductive period. The consensus among professionals is that menopause occurs when a woman has been without her period for at least a year. The onset of menopause is slow, with the first signs emerging as far as 13 years before the actual onset of menopause.
Women are born with a lifetime’s supply of eggs in their body, holding as many as 1-3 million egg cells at birth. The number of eggs decreases every year, and their decline further accelerates when a woman reaches her 40s. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 58, starting for most women somewhere around the age of 50. For women in Slovenia their menopause on average starts around year 47.
Climacteric or perimenopause
The onset of menopause almost never occurs unexpectedly and without a transition period. Signs usually start appearing much earlier, sometimes even 13 years before the actual end of menstruation and the onset of menopause. The time during which a body transitions into menopause is called the climacteric or perimenopause. This is a time when most women deal with typical climacteric symptoms that can be extremely pronounced or very mild. These symptoms are:
Irregular periods
Women can face longer or shorter menstrual bleeding during climacteric, and the flow can also become weaker or stronger. Even the time in between the bleedings can become shorter or longer. If the time between menstrual periods varies by 7 days or more, this may indicate the period of early climacteric. If your period occurs more than 60 days apart, this may indicate the period of late climacteric.
Nights sweats and hot flashes
Hot flashes are the most well-known and most common sign of menopause. The frequency, length, and duration of hot flashes may vary, but they become more frequent and intense the closer a woman gets to menopause. Hormonal imbalances during this time also cause night sweats that can again be mild or more pronounced and can be coupled with irregular sleep patterns.
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Estrogen also affects brain cell functions, so changes in estrogen levels in the body, which are typical during menopause, can cause mood swings, high irritability, anxiety, fear and depression.
A decrease in sex drive
The period of menopause can bring changes in relation to sexuality and usually reduces a woman’s sex drive. However, the relationship a woman has with her partner and how satisfied she is with her sex life are also factors that affect her sex drive, and these can grow even after menopause.
Menopause and climacteric symptoms relief
Usually, a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and regular physical exercise greatly relieve the symptoms of menopause. However, since the changes a woman’s body goes through are still relatively big, additional help alleviating these symptoms is more than welcome. A popular natural option for relieving menopause symptoms is the maca plant. Because of its many positive effects on health, the plant, which enjoys a great reputation in Peru, has been a valued remedy since the time of the Incas. However, it had only recently become of interest here too. In its essence, maca is a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli or cauliflower and it thrives in mineral-rich soil, high in the mountains of the Andes. It is resilient even to extreme weather conditions. Its most important nutrients are stored underground, in the root. While maca is associated with many beneficial effects on health, our focus is on the benefits its preparations have on women entering the period of menopause. In addition to maca, there is an abundance of other plant extracts and herbs that can also relieve the symptoms of menopause and a lot has been said about the positive effects of CBD drops on menopausal symptoms in recent years as well. In addition to an increasing number of satisfied users, CBD’s effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of menopause is also reflected in an increasing number of studies. We investigated what symptoms of menopause are affected by the CBD cannabinoid, how CBD affects them, and have recorded our findings below.
CBD cannabinoid has a positive effect on the hormonal balance in the body
The CBD cannabinoid functions by binding itself to the endocannabinoid receptors in our body. These receptors are an integral part of the endocannabinoid system, which has an important function in our body. Sleep, memory, appetite, pain, inflammation, mood and even reproduction are among the body functions that the endocannabinoid system regulates. It could be said that the endocannabinoid system is the conductor of our organism, ensuring that all the elements of the orchestra work harmoniously. Find out more about the functions of the endocannabinoid system in our article: 6 interesting facts about the endocannabinoid system in our body. In 2007, a Polish university study showed that the CBD cannabinoid also plays an important role in regulating the hormonal balance in our bodies. Menopause is a period in a woman’s life when her body experiences major hormonal imbalances, and it also affects the workings of the endocannabinoid system. CBD drops improve how the system performs and help control the hormonal imbalance in the body that occurs as a result of menopause or perimenopause.
CBD has been proven to relieve anxiety and depression, two common symptoms of menopause
During their transition into menopause, many women are affected with mood swings, anxiety and depression. An increasing number of studies show the positive effects CBD cannabinoid has on such feelings. A 2019 study confirmed a success rate of over 78% in alleviating anxiety-related problems, and a 66% success rate alleviating signs of depression. The great advantage of CBD drops is that there is no risk of addiction, nor do they have negative side effects on the organism. More about CBD oil for Anxiety.
Insomnia, another symptom of menopause that CBD drops can help
Most adults will experience some problems with their sleep patterns. It is estimated that half of the general population has experienced insomnia more than once, while about 10% of us battle with chronic insomnia. Severe or mild insomnia can also occur as a result of hormonal changes during menopause. CBD drops effectively improve sleep due to their calming activity and positive effects on feelings of anxiety. An increasing number of studies also show the direct impact CBD cannabinoid has on better sleep patterns. Read more about CBD for Insomnia.
Reduced sex drive and vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is another inconvenience that women experience during menopause. It can lead to unpleasant sensations as well as pain during sexual intercourse. The dryness occurs when estrogen levels that are responsible for good blood circulation in the vagina, decrease. When estrogen levels are too low, the vagina has poor blood circulation, which can lead to inadequate amounts of cervical mucus. The mucus is secreted into the vagina through the walls of veins, so insufficient blood flow will directly affect the amount of mucus in the vagina. CBD cannabinoid increases the blood circulation and so indirectly reduces vaginal dryness. Additionally, CBD will also help you feel more relaxed, and can also help reduce feelings of discomfort.
