Officially, the Menopause is the time in someone’s life when they stop having periods for at least a year and can no longer get pregnant.
It can affect a person’s physical and emotional health, leaving them with long-term struggles. Yet, it is often spoken about in hushed tones. Without a proper conversation and an increase in Menopause awareness, struggling individuals will remain in the dark.
But more importantly, those around them won’t have a clue how to help or offer support.
As well as offering information through social media and blogs like this one, we are proud to be hosting an event with expert guest speakers, a chance for some free consultations alongside some bubbles and canapes.
The evening will be all about navigating the menopause and celebrating who we are. Not only will our menopause specialist be speaking, but a team from the renowned lingerie brand Bravissimo will be attending to speak and provide a personal service for anyone interested.
If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms, or simply want to learn more about this phase of life, then please join us for an informative evening!
What Is The Menopause?
It typically occurs when we reach 45 to 55, but some people can experience it earlier or even later.
During the menopause, the ovaries stop producing eggs, and your body produces less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Some women sail through the menopause with barely a symptom. Others find it difficult to cope with the changes the menopause brings and can try many different clinical and natural treatments to find some relief.
Many people who do experience changes often report similar feelings. If you’re unsure how your experience may measure up or are worried it may be something else – you can complete our questionnaire. Otherwise, book an appointment to talk to one of our experts.
Talking about our own experiences with different symptoms can help increase menopause awareness and reassure others that they are not alone.
Hot Flushes
This is one of the most common menopausal symptoms you may hear people talking about and trying to deal with day to day.
They can occur day or night and cause a sudden feeling of warmth, which spreads over your upper body and face. You may also sweat more than usual.
Most women have between one and five hot flushes a day, but some have them much more often. They usually last between two and four minutes but can occasionally go on for up to half an hour.
It can also present with heart palpitations as the body’s temperature control becomes erratic. This can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling pretty groggy in the morning.
Low Mood & Anxiety
This can be another symptom that greatly interferes with a person’s life. It can feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster – one minute you could be feeling great, and the next you might feel tearful or anxious for no apparent reason.
A change in sleep pattern may also add to feelings of fatigue and make it hard to concentrate.
Not only might you find it hard to get going each morning, but sudden mood swings can occur when your tolerance dips. You don’t always have control of this – so people around you should be aware that none of these changes are aimed at them.
Better education on the matter and honest conversations can better equip people to not only deal with their own symptoms but supporting those around them.
Thinning Hair & Dry Skin
These are symptoms that can, understandably, cause a lot of anxiety.
You may notice your hair is thinner, drier, and not as easy to style. It might also become more brittle and break more easily.
Dry skin is also common and can feel tight, itchy, or look flaky.
Oestrogen plays a key role in promoting water retention, leaving your skin looking plump, and aids in hair growth. A reduction in this hormone will be a major reason for these symptoms occurring.
There are things you can do to help ease the harshness of these symptoms, including a gentle skin cleanser, a good moisturiser and avoiding harsh or irritable ingredients in any skin or hair care products.
Of course, if you’d like some more thorough and tailored advice you can book an appointment in our clinic or book your space at our October event to learn more!
Reduced Libido
A loss of interest in sex is common and can be caused by a combination of different things. It’s something most people don’t feel confident enough to speak about, but better menopause awareness could begin to reassure others it is a normal part of life.
Reduced libido could be due to the physical changes the menopause brings, such as vaginal dryness or hot flushes. However, it might also be down to psychological factors, like increased anxiety or low mood.
A lack of oestrogen may also play a role and this can be spoken about with our clinicians.
Having a healthy and active sex life is linked with lots of benefits, including reducing stress levels, improving sleep quality, and boosting self-esteem. So, it’s worth considering ways to keep your libido up during the menopause.
There are a range of treatments available that can help with this and we know how difficult personal matters like this can be to discuss. Our specialists treat these matters with sensitivity to help you get to the root of the issue and to get back to more fulfilling sexual activity.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones in your body become weaker and more fragile. It’s most often diagnosed in people over the age of 50.
A loss of oestrogen during the menopause can cause the rate of bone loss to speed up, which is why this is such a common symptom. You might not notice any difference to how you feel day-to-day, but if the condition is left untreated it could lead to an increased risk of fractures.
With Osteoporosis awareness day coming up on October 20th, it’s a perfect time to think about your bone health and how the menopause might be affecting it.
If you’re concerned, please book an appointment with us. We can offer advice on lifestyle changes that might help to prevent the condition or if you have already been diagnosed, we can offer treatments to help manage it.
Other Common Symptoms
- Confusion or brain fog
- Discomfort during sex
- Bladder weakness
- Headaches
- Join or muscle pain
- Weight gain
- Loss of muscle mass
- Vaginal infections
The Importance of Menopause Awareness
As you can see, the menopause can have a big impact on your life. It’s not always easy to deal with the changes but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
There is still a lot of stigma surrounding this topic and many people feel like they can’t speak openly about what they’re going through.
We need to break the taboo and start talking about this time in life more openly. This way, we can offer each other support and advice, normalise the experience, and make sure everyone has access to the information and treatment they need.
Guidance for Employers
While we all know we can take sick days for the flu or a stomach bug, people (especially those that don’t go through it) often forget the extent to which these symptoms affect day-to-day life.
Brain fog, hot flushes and mood swings are just a few of the symptoms that can inhibit your work life as well as personally.
Having an employer that makes sure menopausal staff feel comfortable and supported is vital for opening up the conversation and building menopausal awareness. It can also encourage others to be more open about sharing their experiences and may allow people suffering to continue with their usual roles for much longer than they may have previously felt able.
Awareness and understanding are key. We always suggest starting by ensuring menopausal employees have access to the information they need, as well as being understanding of their extra medical and personal needs.
Sharing blogs like this one, providing resources in the form of leaflets or online courses and building a supportive environment is important in any workplace. But don’t forget about our October event that provides the opportunity for asking questions and seeking advice from specialists in our clinic.
Our specialists are also available to talk to employees and offer support for businesses on how to manage the menopause in the workplace. We know it can be tricky to figure out what you should offer in terms of leniency, benefits and resources. That is why education on the symptoms, changes and needs of employees going through it can be really beneficial.
So, if you are looking for someone in the field to come and educate staff or you think this would benefit your organisation – feel free to reach out to your employer or the clinic directly and speak to one of our team.
Managing Symptoms
Everybody will have a different experience when going through the menopause. The majority of us will notice some kind of change and discomfort but there are ways to minimise this and manage your lifestyle accordingly.
In terms of medical intervention, our clinicians may recommend:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- The Mirena Coil
- Progesterone tablets
- Lubricants or creams for vaginal dryness
- Alternative medications to HRT
If you’re not sure what the next step is in your own journey or if you’re going through symptoms that seem unmanageable by yourself, our team can offer guidance and support. We understand that it’s a difficult time for many people but we want you to know that there is help available.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment. We’ll be more than happy to chat things through with you and offer our professional advice.