THE MENOPAUSE

The menopause is a major life transition. How we cope with it will depend to some extent on our mental attitude. Staying in touch with friends and leading an active life can help us to feel positive.

The word menopause derives from the Greek words for month, men, and halt, pausis. It refers to the end of menstruation, when a woman's ovaries no longer produce eggs for fertilization and her periods stop. The accepted average age at which the menopause occurs is 51, with around five per cent of women ceasing their periods before they are 45.

Menopause does not happen overnight. It is gradual process brought about by growing irregularity in, and gradual reduction of, the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is probably the most important hormone concerned with a woman's health: it helps to lower cholesterol levels, protect against heart attack and strokes, to preserve bone tissue and regulate mood and behaviour patterns. Instability occurs in the mental and physical body because of these reduced hormone levels. The early stages of the menopause can present similar emotional imbalances to PMS, and physical symptoms, to varying degrees of severity, may also develop.

As with menstruation, different women will be affected in different ways by the menopause. For women who have had a lifetime of period-associated problems, the menopause may come as a welcome relief. Once a woman's periods have stopped for a year, there is no longer any need to worry about becoming pregnant or, therefore, to practise any form of birth control. Some women experience few or no problems at all with the menopause, yet for others, this can be difficult time as their bodies adjust to a major life change.

Other physical changes may be noticed, affecting the skin and hair, the activity of the thyroid glands and the distribution of body fat. Some women may experience sudden haemorrhaging, headaches, dizzy spells and sleep disturbances.

Osteoporosis
One of the more serious potential side effects of the menopause is the development of osteoporosis, which is caused by lack of oestrogen production. This is when the bones of the body become increasingly fragile and brittle. The bones fracture easily, particularly at the more vulnerable points such as the wrists, ankles or hip joints in the event of physical stress, such as a fall.

Osteoporosis is also responsible for the eventual development of stooping shoulders in older women, often referred to as a "dowager's hump".

With the children grown up, you are likely to have more time for yourself. Now is a good time to catch up with family and friends.

Hormone Replacement Therapy
Advances in medical science now mean that synthetic hormone replacements can offset the symptoms of the menopause. Many women decide to try hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if they find that the discomforts of the menopause are affecting their quality of life. Hrt is not suitable for all women, however, and much will depend on the needs and medical background of the individual. Because HRT is still a relatively new treatment, its long-term effects are not yet fully known. Treatments are now available from your doctor which are made with natural progesterone. These are believed to be safer than treatments using synthetic oestrogen, and this will make them popular with many women.

Some menopausal symptoms can also be helped by aromatherapy. Clary sage is one of several oestrogen-like essential oils. It is worth using essential oils on a regular basis to see how your symptoms are affected before deciding on HRT.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF THE MENOPAUSE

Hot flushes

Night sweats

Depression

Sweating

Fatigue

Water retention

Vaginal dryness





Clary sage and cypress can help with night sweats. Prepare a mix and use it at bedtime.

Some women choose to spend more

time on gardening or other hobbies,
while others may decide to retrain
and embark on a new career.