Understanding natural developments

What is the Menopause?
The Menopause or “the change of life” as it is often called, means the end of a woman's monthly periods. The menopause is a natural part of every woman's life. The normal age range for your last period is somewhere between age 45 to 55. The average age of the menopause is about 50.

Many women will have symptoms of the menopause before their periods finally stop. What Causes the Menopause? A natural menopause happens when the ovaries which have produced an egg every month during the woman's adult life stop working. A surgical or artificial menopause occurs if a woman has had her ovaries removed as part of a hysterectomy.

During the menopause the amount of female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone made by the ovary drops and this results in menopausal symptoms. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or concern, your doctor can help you to make wise treatment choices.

What symptoms might I expect?

• Before your periods finally stop they can become irregular or heavier
• Hot flushes are one of the commonest symptoms of the menopause. They are a sudden hot feeling with reddening of the face, neck and upper body
• Night sweats can also occur and these can be particularly annoying as they can disturb sleep
• Sex can become difficult or sore.
• Sometimes the urethra (the passage through which you pass urine) may also become dry and sore and this may cause burning and frequency (you may need to 'go' more often). It is important to drink plenty of fluids and cranberry juice often helps with this problem.
• Some women feel unusually tired
• Women can sometimes feel more emotional than usual. They may find their concentration is poor and they are more forgetful. They may feel anxious or develop panic attacks

Not all women experience the same symptoms during menopause, one in three women pass through it without having any problems.

Experiencing severe mood swings and irritability can make you feel lonely and distant from your partner, family and friends. Therefore it is important that you share your concerns and feelings with them. Joining a self-help group is a great way to share your problems with other women who know exactly what you are going through. Talking through concerns and sharing tips for coping with the menopause significantly reduces the risk of becoming depressed.

What can I do about unpleasant symptoms?
As all of the symptoms of the menopause are caused by the drop in the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone they can be relieved by taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

How do I take HRT?
HRT is available in tablet form, as patches or as a skin cream. It is also sometimes given as an implant under the skin. It is important to discuss HRT options with your GP.

What are the advantages of HRT?

• It relieves the menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats very quickly
• It restores moisture to the vagina and may improve your sex life
• It protects against osteoporosis
• It may help urinary symptoms like wanting to go to the toilet very often
• It reduces the risk of heart disease
• It may help with anxiety and depression

Complementary therapy can also help to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Evening primrose oil alleviates feelings of fatigue, anxiety, tearfulness and irritability.

Aromatherapy essential oils added to a warm bath or used in a massage are ideal for lifting depression. Lavender is calming and relaxing, bergamot, camomile and rose help to reduce depression, anxiety and irritability, while sandalwood and ylang-ylang help combat insomnia and reduce stress levels.