Menopause Matters
Support during the perimenopausal transition.
Many women (especially in the Western World) experience various mental and physical challenges during the perimenopausal years. The symptoms are called menopausal symptoms.
For most Australian and New Zealand women, the average age of menopause (the last menstrual period) is 50. The ten years surrounding that last period is called the perimenopause. Many women can experience a wide range of different physical and mental changes during the transition. Sometimes, those symptoms can adversely impact their life and relationships.
Hormonal medications called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are just one of the possible options for some women, but other measures and lifestyle interventions can be very beneficial.
Unfortunately, there is still a stigma in Western culture around menopause and the symptoms it can cause. Many women feel ashamed to talk about the physical and mental challenges they might experience from the 40s to late 60s that result from hormonal fluctuations during this natural transition. Many women still have little hope for alleviating their physical and mental experiences. There is a big gap in knowledge in the general population, even amongst some health professionals, about helping with unpleasant symptoms and supporting patients during the transition.
According to the latest science of women’s health and healthy aging, we know that:
Menopause is the optimal time in a woman’s life to review their overall health. Depending on their health status and menopausal symptoms, we can help direct the health trajectory towards a better and more vital one.
It is an excellent time to check a woman’s reproductive, hormonal, bone, gut, cardiovascular, metabolic, mental and cognitive health and discuss their concerns and symptoms.
The therapy options are modern types of HRT, other medications, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy(CBT), and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle review and adjustment is almost always essential.
Talking to your doctor is a good starting point towards your healthier future.