Menopause, is the term used to describe the end of menstrual cycles (periods) in a woman’s life. It is a natural process that usually represents the end of a woman’s reproductive capacity.
The average age of menopause is around 50. However, menopause is a slow process that starts several years before a women’s last period. The years leading up to menopause are called “perimenopause”. During perimenopause the levels of female hormone fluctuate affecting a woman’s mood, sleep, joints and menstrual cycles. Many women are seen by different professionals during this time without a clear diagnosis. Often, they are mistakenly diagnosed as having a psychiatric condition or rheumatological disorder, when in reality, their symptoms are purely related to the decline in oestrogen levels.
If a woman has menopause before the age of 40 it is called ‘premature menopause’ and before the age of 45 it is called ‘early menopause’.
When should you suspect you are in perimenopause?
You may notice changes in menstrual periods:
Cycle length become irregular (longer, shorter or unpredictable)
bleeding may become lighter or heavier
Mood changes, aches and pains
Occasional hot flushes
How do you know you are in menopause?
Common symptoms are:
hot flushes
night sweats
aches and pains
crawling or itching sensations under the skin
forgetfulness
headaches
irritability, mild depression, anxiety and irritability
lack of self-esteem
reduced sex drive (libido)
tiredness
difficulty sleeping – wakefulness or waking hot and sweaty
urinary frequency
vaginal dryness
discomfort with sexual intercourse
Complications of Menopause:
decline in quality of life that can significantly affect a woman’s personal, sexual and work life.
Weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) with a higher risk of fractures
higher risk of heart problems and stroke
recurrent urinary infections due to vaginal dryness
loss of muscle mass and skin elasticity
Is menopausal treatment safe?
Unfortunately, due to misinterpretation of a couple of studies on menopause hormonal treatment (MHT), women have been led to believe that hormone replacement is dangerous. As a result, many women suffer unnecessarily in a time of their lives when a number of other social stressors may take place, such as:
ageing changes in a woman’s body
lower libido
health problems
family changes (ie children leaving home, or divorce)
caring for ageing parents
career changes
financial strains
The conclusion from national and international experts is that the benefits of MHT far outweigh the risks for healthy women around the time of menopause. We have clear guidelines to identify the minority of women who should not receive menopause treatment.
What treatments are available for menopause?
The most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms is hormone replacement or hormone-like substances. There are different ways to use hormones and your doctor will be able to discuss the most appropriate treatment for you:
patches
gels / creams
pills
Non hormonal Medications
For those women with contra-indication to hormone therapy (past breast/ovarian cancer, heart disease and clots in the veins) there are different medications that can be used, such as:
antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
epilepsy medication, gabapentin
clonidine – a medication that is useful for treating migraine and blood pressure.
What other measures outside medications can I use to help relieve menopausal symptoms?
Regular exercise - at least 30 to 45 minutes on most days of the week
Healthier foods - increase consumption of vegetables, fruits, cereals, whole grains and small portions of lean meat, fish or chicken.
Hydration & adequate calcium intake - dairy products, tofu, sardines, seeds, green vegetables amongst others.
Decrease caffeine and limit alcohol - aim for one to two standard glasses or less per day, and two alcohol-free days each week.
Menopause does not have to be a difficult time of your life. There are effective treatments and a number of trusted sources with plenty of information to help you navigate this time. Some are: