Menopause

 

The menopause or the ‘change of life’ describes the natural ending of a women’s ability to have children.  During this time the number of eggs released by the ovaries declines and the menstrual periods become more irregular.  Eventually the ovaries stop producing eggs and the periods finish altogether.  It usually occurs between the ages of 45 to 55.  The average age for women to experience the menopause in the UK is 51 years. 

Around a quarter of all women will not notice any symptoms other than the ending of their menstrual periods.  Around a half of women will experience mild symptoms, with the rest suffering marked symptoms and noticeable changes in the way they feel.

Symptoms 

The symptoms experienced around the time of the menopause will vary from woman to woman.  Women experience different severities of symptoms and even how long they last will vary.

The symptoms include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats leading to interrupted sleep
• Irregular periods or spotting
• Vaginal dryness
• Palpitations
• Joint pain

In some cases women can experience non-physical symptoms such as irritability and depression.  Again, the severity of these symptoms varies greatly between women.

Causes

The symptoms of the menopause are caused by the changes in the production of oestrogen, a female sex hormone.  Around the time of the menopause oestrogen production becomes erratic and the levels of oestrogen in the body fall.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

If left untreated, the symptoms of the menopause can last for months or even years.

Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is designed to replace the natural hormones that women stop producing around the time of the menopause.  HRT can help alleviate or control some of the symptoms experienced by women such as hot flushes and sleepless nights.  This can be beneficial for a women’s overall feeling of wellbeing.

However, HRT appears to slightly raise the chances of developing certain conditions such as breast cancer and blood clots, so it may not be the answer for all women.

Updated 18 February 2010