The Menopause

Menopause is a normal change that occurs in every woman's body which causes her periods to stop, usually between 45 and 55. Leading up to menopause, a woman's body slowly makes less and less of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Around 75 percent of women describe bothersome symptoms during menopause. Low estrogen levels are linked to some uncomfortable symptoms in many women. The most commonly reported symptom is hot flashes. Other symptoms may include irregular periods, vaginal or urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence and dryness or inflammation of the vagina.

Hiding Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the classic sign of menopause, as well as the most common reason for seeking treatment. A hot flash brings on a sensation of warmth that quickly spreads throughout the body and particularly affects the face, neck and chest. It is often accompanied by rapid or irregular heat beat and sometimes also feelings of anxiety. Flashes can last just a few seconds or several minutes and vary in intensity and in how often they occur. You can disguise hot flushes by using an olive toned foundation cream.

The hot flashes that often occur before or during menopause have brought on rosacea's first appearance in some women. Rosacea is a skin condition that causes skin redness and pimples on the nose, cheeks chin and forehead. A concealing foundation is the best choice for hiding the redness and dilated blood vessels of rosacea. Alight base with an SPF o f at least 20 sun protections and a gentle polyhydroxy (PHA) to help prevent and correct photo-damage are important factors in rosacea.

Hiding Incontinence

If you are suffering from an inability to control your bladder due to menopause your health practitioner may recommend any one or more of a number of alternatives including:

• Kegel exercises - to strengthen or retrain you pelvic floor muscles.
• Electrical stimulation- brief doses can help to strengthen muscles in the lower pelvis similar to exercises.
• Biofeedback - this can help you become aware of your body's functioning by using electronic devices to let you know when your bladder and urethral muscles contract, to help you regain control.
• Timed voiding - Timed urinating techniques can be learned using biofeedback methods, you will also fill out a time chart to show times of emptying the bladder and times of leaking. The pattern shown in your chart will help you plan when you need to go to the bathroom.
• Medications - Some medications can prevent contractions of an overactive bladder. Others are designed to relax the muscles, enabling you to completely empty your bladder when you urinate.

Until you have regained full control of your bladder you will probably need the security of incontinence products. Discrete and comfortable pads are available in light, regular and extra absorbency so that you don't have to suffer the embarrassment or discomfort of loss of bladder control.