Menopause

• Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
• It affects anyone who has periods.
• Menopause can happen naturally, or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
• Perimenopause is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped. Perimenopause ends and you reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
• Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
• Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
• There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.

Physical symptoms

Common physical symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include:

• hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can make you dizzy
• difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day
• palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more noticeable
• headaches and migraines that are worse than usual
• muscle aches and joint pains
• changed body shape and weight gain
• skin changes including dry and itchy skin
• reduced sex drive
• vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
• recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• sensitive teeth, painful gums or other mouth problems

Treatment:

If you need help with your symptoms please request to speak to your GP in the first instance to see how we can help.

The main medicine treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.

There are other treatments if you cannot, or choose not to have HRT, please see the NHS website for more information: Menopause – Treatment – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you do decide to try HRT you will need to have regular reviews with either a Nurse or GP, our team can advise on who you need to see and offer you a suitable appointment. These reviews can be done on the telephone as long as we have an up to date Blood Pressure (BP) reading and your current weight. During the review the Nurse or GP will ask you multiple questions around your symptoms, any side effects and review the treatment before we can issue the next batch of HRT.

Balance Menopause App:  https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

Women's health concern fact sheets on many gynae health topics, including menopause:  https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/

Patient information video - Menopause management and treatment choices:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zfdCNdtSio

Do you feel stressed, worried, anxious, depressed? Are you experiencing unhelpful thoughts and worries? Are you struggling to manage the physical symptoms and changes?  

Join our online, 6-week group which will cover the physical, psychological and social impact that menopause can have, and provide you with strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We focus on managing low mood, worries and negative thoughts, as well as techniques to help with difficulty sleeping and relaxation. Our Health & Wellbeing guest speaker also provides practical information and invaluable tips.

Our popular group courses run throughout the year. If there are no forthcoming dates provided above you can register your interest in joining a course by filling in the self-referral form or calling us on 01483 906392.

Live Well Navigating and Coping With Menopause Course 

Read more about how CBT can help with menopause and perimenopause

Common thoughts and feelings during the menopause…

• These symptoms are embarrassing
• When will this end?
• I can’t cope
• This is all too much
• How will I manage?
• I’m exhausted