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Menopause is the day when your periods have stopped for 1 year due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 but can start even earlier, and end even later. It is a really unique experience for every woman.
Early menopause can be a natural, normal occurrence; or for reasons such as surgery to remove ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or genetics. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
There are things you can do to help with symptoms, like change your nutrition and modify your lifestyle. Hormone replacement therapy is used to replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms. Nutrition therapy can help maintain optimum cellular nutrition during HRT.
(adapted from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/)
I think this is the hardest part for many. Midlife women grew up believing menopause was a sign of old age; but really it is a new beginning. It’s not fair society has not prepared women well enough for this life transition!
Yes!! Time to demystify menopause!!!