52 is the average age for women going through the menopause
Going through the menopause can be an emotional and stressful time for many women. With a new herbal supplement now available to support women before, during, and after the menopause, Female First brings you an overview of what many call the “change of life.”
The menopause refers to that stage of a woman’s life when her periods stop. This is due to falling levels of the female sex hormone, oestrogen, which regulates menstruation.
In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 52. A woman is said to have reached the menopause if she hasn’t had a period for one year. In this instance, she is post-menopausal. The time leading up to this stage is known as the peri-menopause.
During the peri-menopause, this is when women experience the symptoms people often hear about; hot flushes, night sweats, sleeping problems, and passing urine more frequently, to name but a few.
Because the levels of oestrogen aren’t as high as they once were, women are more vulnerable to contracting heart disease and osteoporosis (brittle bone disease). To reduce the risk of these conditions, women should ensure they have plenty of calcium and vitamin D – found in foods like fish, beef, liver, and cheese.
As far as emotional symptoms are concerned, some women can experience mood swings, ranging from tearfulness and irritability to depression. The latter is more likely to occur if a woman suffered from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) in the past.
Other emotional symptoms can include panic attacks, lack of concentration – again, due to lower oestrogen levels, and decrease in sexual desire.
It is estimated that eight out of ten women in the UK experience these symptoms leading up to the menopause, and of this number, 45 per cent will find them difficult to live with.
There are certain signs to signal when menopause might be approaching. Periods gradually become further apart and don’t tend to last as long. Depending on the person, some women’s periods may get scantier while others may become much heavier with shorter gaps in between.
For most women, the menopause lasts for no more than two years, although others can experience symptoms for as long as five or six years. It is important to note that even though a woman’s periods have stopped completely, it doesn’t mean to say that she can’t get pregnant in the couple of years following the menopause.
To treat the effects of menopause, many women undergo HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy.) This can be used to help a woman’s body adjust to lower oestrogen levels – combating those hot flushes.
When deciding whether or not a woman is suitable for HRT, she should consult her GP who will assess the situation based on her medical history.
HRT can take numerous forms – tablets, implants, creams, pessaries, and patches. It can have a number of side effects including weight gain, headaches, low backache, irritability, or heavy bleeding.
The latest supplement to ease the symptoms of the menopause, Estroven Nighttime, consists of isoflavones – made up of a combination of soya and Japanese arrowroot. These phytoestrogens – a plant compound, mimic the effect of oestrogen. The average UK diet is known to be low in isoflavones so taking this supplement could help women cope with the changes they experience.
What is also important in tackling the physical symptoms of the menopause is that women drink plenty of water, and exercise on a regular basis.
Dealing with the emotional side of things can often be more difficult, but with the help of family and friends, and organisations such as Women’s Health Concern, women don’t have to face the change alone.
FemaleFirst: Fiona Haran
Tagged in Menopause