Menopause CouplesWritten by Cathy Taylor
Couples going through menopause often have unique struggles when coping with new changes and challenges it brings to them both as individuals, and as partners. It is an inner battle – mentally and physically – for not just women, but men as well. For women, it may be hard to get a male partner to understand and be able to empathise with her challenges. But both sexes go through a form of menopause, and this transition is disruptive and even scary, and a certain level of understanding and communication is required for any one to have a quality relationship at this stage of life.Nancy Cetel talks about many of changes couples experience in her book Double Menopause, and what often happens is that emotions, including past hurts, hopes, dreams, etc., that may have been buried or unexpressed in past, can no longer hidden. It can’t be helped – truth will not be held back any longer. For some women, that shows up in pent up aggression that is taken out on a male partner by pushing him away and/or making him unable to relate to you on a physical level. Men need to know that loss of desire for sex may be caused from hormonal changes, but there might also be an emotional element that needs to be dealt with. It is advisable that men in menopause couples acquaint themselves with effects of menopause, in themselves and their partners, in order to better understand changes their relationship is going through. Men soon realize that hormonal imbalances are causing unwanted emotional symptoms in women that could lead to verbal spats every now and then. Men need to be aware that emotional changes are likely to occur and that they are not to blame for them but that their partner may require extra attention, love and outward expressions of caring more now than ever before. Men need to understand that their sexual drives could also have changed as they experience a slower loss of testosterone. To keep sexual interest, partners may need to put more time and attention into quality of their sex lives and ‘update’ themselves on what things turn them on at this stag of game. Men need to know that a decrease in estrogen in their lover’s bodies – can significantly alter how she thinks and feels about sex. In addition, vaginal discomfort and thinning of lining of vagina can make sex painful so it will not be enjoyable for either of them until they find a solution for this.
| | Acne ScarsWritten by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
Acne is an inflammation of skin that affects people from every country and every culture around world. In US, acne is predominantly thought of as a teenage dilemma, as more than eighty percent of teens and preteens will develop some form of acne. However, condition certainly affects a large number of adults and even infants. The scientific name for condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as face, neck, chest and back. There are various types of acne that range in annoyance, severity, and healing time. The most severe type of acne may even lead scars that if not treated properly, may be visible for a lifetime. If you or a loved one is troubled by severe acne, here's what you need to know about acne scars and what you need to do to avoid and care for them.How Does Acne Form? Contact with an oily substance such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or petroleum is a potential cause of acne, as is use of certain medication and steroids. However, acne is most often cause by secretion of androgens. Acne is also aggravated by milk or dairy products, red meat and fast food. Androgens are sex hormones that are initially secreted at onset of puberty. They are male hormones but they are secreted by females as well. Androgens stimulate production of oil from skin's oil glands. Acne occurs when these overactive oil glands become blocked, causing oil to build up in gland and swell. A bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes normally colonizes this swollen gland causing development of inflammation and pus. In particularly severe cases, glands may burst into skin and produce cysts. Types Of Acne Acne blemishes are categorized into four grades, ranging from mild to very severe. Grade I: Mild acne falls into this category. People with grade I acne generally have blackheads and whiteheads but pimples are not present. Grade II: The condition is considered moderate acne when blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples are present, but they are confined to face and inflammation they cause is minimal.
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