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What is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal part of the ageing process, it is not an illness or a disease and all women will go through it at some point in their lives. Yet it still remains a taboo subject, surrounded by mystery and secrecy.

Peri-menopause 

Peri-menopause is the time where our ovaries begin to slow down and periods may become irregular and menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and poor sleep begin. After you have gone a whole year without a period, you can say you have reached the menopause. This means you can no longer become pregnant naturally. 

When and how long are you menopausal?

The average age of the menopause is 51 years, and with life expectancy currently being 83 years, this means that  many women may potentially spend a third of their life post menopausal.

Treatment options

HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy and is prescribed to women who are peri-menopausal to replace the hormones that their ovaries are no longer producing to elevate any symptoms they may be experiencing. However  HRT also offers long term health benefits if taken for a minimum of 5 years including reducing the risks of osteoporosis, heart disease, dementia, bowel cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Some women are fortunate enough to fly through their peri-menopause without any symptoms, or have symptoms so mild that they do not affect their quality of life. There is also a group of women who do not take HRT because they feel they should just simply manage their symptoms their selves.  There is also a small group of women who are unable to take HRT due to other medical conditions. 

There are a number of ways you can alleviate symptoms of the hormonal imbalance that goes on in your body, be it using HRT, lifestyle adjustments, diet, fitness and more. This is why we offer clinics in Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire and beyond. The demand is getting bigger for women who are now realising, they don’t have to live in discomfort, upset or a ‘dark cloud’ over them due to their hormones decreasing.

Common menopausal symptoms

  • Hot Flushes
  • Night Sweats
  • Joint Pain / Stiffness
  • Dry Skin / Hair
  • Pain with Intercourse
  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Tiredness
  • Irregular Periods
  • Mood Swings
  • Poor Concetration/Brain Fog
  • Low Mood
  • Irritability
  • Panic Attacks
  • Anxiety
  • Itchy Skin
  • Vaginal Laxity
  • Vaginal Dryness
  • Headaches/ Migraines
  • Weight Gain
  • Low Libido
  • Urinary Incontience
  • Recurrent UTI's

FAQ

Many women ask for a blood test to diagnose if they are menopausal. For the majority of women over the age of 45 years, the latest NICE guidelines state that this is not necessary because they can show false negative or positive results.  Therefore, blood tests  are a waste of time and resources for the NHS. The blood test measures follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen. Therefore, HRT can safely be prescribed to the majority of women over the age of 45, based on symptoms alone. 

Some women are fortunate enough to fly through their peri- menopause without any symptoms, or have symptoms so mild that they do not affect their quality of life. There is also a group of women who do not take HRT because they feel they should just simply manage their symptoms their selves.  There is also a small group of women who are unable to take HRT due to other medical conditions. However, menopause care is not just about prescribing medication. It is important to discuss the physical symptoms and alternative approaches to manage these. Diet, exercise, lifestyle advice as well as coping strategies to use in the home and in the workplace to enable you to have the best possible menopause are also a very large part of a menopause consultation.

The Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) is a Menopause Symptom Scale to help you identify where you are on your menopause journey and can be handy to print out, fill in and take to your GP when you go to see them about your symptoms

  • Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. It is the time where hormones start to decline and you may notice a change in your menstrual cycles. Some symptoms such as hot flushes or vaginal dryness may be present at this stage. 

  • Menopause occurs when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. 

  • Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred and you may find lingering symptoms remain here where treatments like HRT may be useful to combat the loss of hormones.