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The Menopause

The menopause is a time in a woman's life when her monthly period eventually stop. The average age of onset is 51 years of age. Every day in the UK, 1000 women reach the menopause, putting the total of menopausal women in the UK at 10 million! As the average female life expectancy is 78 yrs, approximately one third of her life is spent in the post menopausal years. The symptoms of the menopause are a result of low levels of the hormone oestrogen. This hormone has a powerful, widespread effect throughout the body, so when it decreases, major detrimental changes occur.

Symptoms
*Periods become irregular, then stop.
*Hot flushes.
*Sweats, especially at night.
*Vaginal dryness, itchiness and soreness during sex.Loss of interest in sex.
*Loss of memory and concentration.
*Anxiety and depression.
*Insomnia.
*Dry hair, skin and nails.
*Aching joints.
*Urethritis - painful, frequent passing of urine.
*Osteoporosis - brittle bones which break easily.
*Increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The GP can also perform blood tests to investigate certain hormones (Follicle Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing Hormone) which will confirm if a woman has reached menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy
Replacement of the missing hormone, oestrogen, eases many of these symptoms. Oestrogen can be taken as a tablet, skin patch, injection, cream or gel. However, if the woman still has her womb, oestrogen on it's own can increase the chance of developing cancer of the lining of the womb. To prevent this, she must take another hormone called progesterone which will protect against womb cancer. Such treatment is called Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. HRT is best commenced within 5 years of period stoppage, and can be taken as long as neccessary, given that regular check ups are undertaken. If the womb is still present then the recurrence of monthly `bleeds' remains a problem! However, there are now a selection of HRTs, and some produce no periods at all whilst others will produce only four periods a year.

In the UK, only 5% of menopausal women use HRT, whereas in the USA, HRT has been used for 30 years and currently 50% of American menopausal women are being treated this way!

Some women use alternative therapies such as homeopathy and acupunture. Homeopathic medicines such as belladonna, pulsitilla and sepia are said to help some menopausal symptoms. Herbal remedies have also been praised for their beneficial effects, e.g the chinese herb `Dong Quai' as well as licorice, black cohosh, yams, and unicorn root are said to be natural sources of plant derived oestrogens. Soyfoods such as tofu and miso are claimed to help some menopausal symptoms. Before using any complimentary therapy, always check with a recognised qualified alternative therapist, or discuss it further with your own doctor.

Further information can be found at: The Amarant Trust http://www.amarantmenopause.org.uk
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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