Last week at college I was set the homework task of finding out about the menopause. It's something we've all heard of, but I personally didn't know very much about it other than it causes hot flushes and signals an end to periods!
It's something all women will inevitably go through, but - similarly to the after-effects of childbirth - is rarely discussed! Perhaps women are embarrassed to admit they've reached that certain stage of life and don't want to highlight that they're ageing, but I think it's important to speak up about it and reach out for help if needed. Even if you're lucky enough to be able to avoid it for many more years, it's good to be aware and sympathetic and help our mums, aunties, sisters and friends go through 'the change'...
It's something all women will inevitably go through, but - similarly to the after-effects of childbirth - is rarely discussed! Perhaps women are embarrassed to admit they've reached that certain stage of life and don't want to highlight that they're ageing, but I think it's important to speak up about it and reach out for help if needed. Even if you're lucky enough to be able to avoid it for many more years, it's good to be aware and sympathetic and help our mums, aunties, sisters and friends go through 'the change'...
What is the Menopause?
The menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive life when her ovaries stop producing an egg every four weeks, resulting in an end to monthly periods and the inability to get pregnant.
The average age for a woman in the UK to reach the menopause is 51, but usually women experience irregular menstruation anywhere between 40-50 years old in the lead-up to the menopause (also known as the perimenopause, which can last for years!) when oestrogen levels begin to decrease. Some 90% of women will finally stop having periods between the ages of 45 and 55 years, and once a woman has not had a period for 12 or more months then that's when you've finally hit the menopause!!
Some women can experience the menopause in their 30s and 40s, and sometimes even younger – notably if they haven’t had a period for over 24 months which therefore, sadly, leads to infertility. This is known as premature menopause. Premature menopause can also be brought on by surgical removal of the ovaries and womb, known as a hysterectomy.
What are the signs and Symptoms?
Women, especially, don't want to admit that they're ageing and there is one sure-fire marker that their bodies aren't as young as they once were, and that's the menopause! Symptoms can appear in many physical and emotional guises and can have a huge impact on a woman’s overall quality of life. But women shouldn't feel like they have to go it alone; go to your doctor to chat about any of the following symptoms and the treatments available:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Palpitations
- Depression
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Osteoporosis
- Loss of libido
- Lack of concentration
- Bladder irritations
- Hair loss or unwanted hair growth
- Changes to your vagina, such as dryness, discomfort, itching and pain during sex.
- Insomnia
- Loss of confidence
- Anxiety
- Signs of ageing
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Dry skin
During the menopause it is possible that hair growth will both increase and decrease on different parts of the body due to hormone imbalance. Many women can suffer from hair loss, with noticeable areas of baldness and thinning on the scalp, with clumps of hair falling out when washing or brushing it.
However, some follicles become sensitive to these circulating hormones in the blood, and hair growth is stimulated. This unwanted hair can, and does, cause embarrassment. Up to three-quarters of older women may have slightly increased facial hair, mainly on the upper lip and chin, but also on the cheeks and sideburn areas. This once downy hair can become thicker and darker (or translucent/white in some cases) and it can be a pain to control. Waxing, plucking, shaving, etc are all acceptable removal methods, but I would advise laser or electrolysis (see my last blog post for more information).
***I am currently looking for models for electrolysis, so if you're experiencing this type of hair growth and want to get rid of it for good, then let me know! It only costs £2 per treatment at college!***
However, some follicles become sensitive to these circulating hormones in the blood, and hair growth is stimulated. This unwanted hair can, and does, cause embarrassment. Up to three-quarters of older women may have slightly increased facial hair, mainly on the upper lip and chin, but also on the cheeks and sideburn areas. This once downy hair can become thicker and darker (or translucent/white in some cases) and it can be a pain to control. Waxing, plucking, shaving, etc are all acceptable removal methods, but I would advise laser or electrolysis (see my last blog post for more information).
***I am currently looking for models for electrolysis, so if you're experiencing this type of hair growth and want to get rid of it for good, then let me know! It only costs £2 per treatment at college!***
Is there anything I can do to avoid it?
Sadly, it's part of the female life cycle and we will all have to endure it - but I know many women who went through it seemingly easily, and there is no point fearing it! Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the main treatments used to relieve the symptoms of the menopause; however it has been surrounded by controversy ever since it was introduced in the 1940s! It helps relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen and progesterone, and is available in many forms including tablets, cream or gel, a skin patch or an implant; however, it has been blamed for increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes...so it's a very individual choice. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for signs of depression or anxiety, and for treating hot flushes, and there are lots of lubes available to treat vaginal dryness. Making simple dietary and lifestyle changes can often improve menopausal symptoms, e,g. eating a healthy, balanced diet and taking plenty of regular exercise can help you avoid putting on extra weight.
However, it's worth also remembering that it's not all doom and gloom. On the plus side, there's no more periods, cramps, PMS or the need for birth control - and you can hopefully continue life on a more even keel...knowing you'll never have to go through all of it again!!
However, it's worth also remembering that it's not all doom and gloom. On the plus side, there's no more periods, cramps, PMS or the need for birth control - and you can hopefully continue life on a more even keel...knowing you'll never have to go through all of it again!!
It's time to stop burying our heads in the sand and start talking about it! Have a think about women in your life who might be going through the menopause, or chat to women who have gone through it, and be more aware of the signs and symptoms.
I wish I have been more aware of it when my mum was going through it, because I personally think it sounds like a pretty hard and emotional stage of life, and would hope that I have someone to help me through it when the time comes!
Laura x
I wish I have been more aware of it when my mum was going through it, because I personally think it sounds like a pretty hard and emotional stage of life, and would hope that I have someone to help me through it when the time comes!
Laura x
