Menopause is a natural stage in life and part of the ageing process. It marks the time when a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end and her periods stop as her ovaries run out of eggs or stop producing eggs. Every woman’s experience of menopause is different together with the range of symptoms.
Leicester Gynaecology Clinic can provide women with positive management for menopause including advice on the best treatment for symptoms.
Read more about the management of menopause below:
What is the Menopause?
The menopause is the brief time when a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end. The ovaries stop producing eggs, the hormone “oestrogen” is no longer secreted and the menstrual periods end.
The average age of menopause in developed countries is around 51, with many women beginning to have symptoms from their mid-to-late 40s.
Some women may face the menopause earlier either physiologically or as a consequence of medical treatment or surgery. Women who smoke seem to reach the menopause earlier than non-smokers.
The symptoms of menopause are primarily a result of oestrogen deficiency; they may be physical but may also affect different organs and systems. They may be temporary (for example, night sweats and hot flushes) or long-term (for example, bone-thinning disease known as osteoporosis).
What are the common signs and symptoms of the menopause?
The initial signs of the menopause are erratic menstrual periods, with the monthly cycle becoming shorter and the bleeding heavier.
Changes to the skin and the urinary system may occur. The sex drive (libido) may change and other psychological changes such as mood swings, depression and anxiety may also be experienced. You can read more about other symptoms below:
Also known as vasomotor symptoms, these symptoms are the result of the body’s inability to control its temperature due to the lack of oestrogen.
Hot flushes and night sweats tend to come mostly in the year following the last period. They can be very uncomfortable, embarrassing and can affect sleep.
Apart from self-help (wear cotton, take plenty of cool showers, avoid hot drinks and spicy food) there are several medical alternatives to minimise the vasomotor symptoms.
A decrease in bone density is a natural part of ageing but occurs more rapidly during and after the menopause, progressively continuing throughout this part of life. A decrease in bone density (osteoporosis) puts women at a higher risk of fractures and related long-term consequences. Therefore, post-menopausal women should supplement their healthy diet with extra calcium and Vitamin D in addition to regular weight-bearing exercise. It is important to check the bone density of post-menopausal women every three years.
The use of hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate in certain cases; however specialist opinion has to be sought.
It can be caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. Incontinence is usually characterised by a leak of urine after coughing, sneezing and/or taking physical exercise. During the menopause, the chances of incontinence increase because the tissues supporting the bladder are further weakened due to oestrogen deficiency.
Hormone replacement therapy, bladder self-retraining and regular pelvic floor exercises have been shown to help incontinence, reduce urinary tract infections (water infections) and strengthen the muscles that support the bladder.
A drop in sex drive often goes hand-in-hand with other symptoms during and after the menopause. This can be influenced by a variety of factors. The psychological symptoms of menopause — mood swings, depression, sleeplessness and vasomotor symptoms — weigh negatively on sex life. Oestrogen deficiency can also cause vaginal dryness and thinned vaginal walls, which can cause soreness and burning during intercourse, hence in turn affecting sex drive. These problems are often helped by talking them through. A sympathetic partner (or husband) may be very useful. However, as hormone imbalance and deficiencies are at the root of this symptom, the use of topical hormone therapy (vaginal cream) may be very effective to restore a normal sex life.
It is common to experience mood swings, anxiety, depression and irritability.
External stimuli due to changes in career and marriage, children growing up and leaving home, loss of parents and relatives, and fatigue from other menopause symptoms (for example, sleeplessness) may play a role in the onset of psychological symptoms. Relaxation therapy, stress reducing measures and regular physical exercise often buffer these and other menopause symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy should not be considered as a first line therapy.
To book an appointment or find out more about our world-class Gynaecology & Fertility Care, please get in touch.
Dear Mr Gelbaya, I am shocked and delighted all at once. This may seem insane but I have taken 6 pregnancy tests, yes six!, yesterday and today and they are all positive. I nearly fainted when i did a test. I just didn’t believe it after I had spent the weekend grieving that I may never have a baby if ICSI was not successful
