Health, Menopause
If the figures are correct there are 13 million women currently going through the menopause in the UK. As disruptive as puberty, menopause affects each woman differently and finding reliable advice can be difficult.
Eileen Durward, A.Vogel’s menopause expert, says ‘we’re finding that women don’t know where to turn or who to talk to when they’re going through the menopause. For many women finding out if they are actually in the menopause is the first question and they need clear advice whether their symptoms are normal’.
Folklore has made the menopause something for women to dread, whereas the reality is often very much better. This situation has also ked women to overlook some serious medical conditions, believing they are part and parcel of the menopause.
Each woman going through menopause is likely to have different experience. Some symptoms are more common than others. Hot flushes, changing periods and weight gain and also some you may not immediately associate with the menopause such as itchy skin, joint pain and anxiety.
Having an understanding doctor can make all the difference and looking closely at all options including HRT will keep you better informed.
A. Vogel has made it their mission to keep women better informed and well equipped to go through this transition smoothly. A. Vogel have a Menopause Health Hub which hosts an array of advice for women including weekly Menopause Monday videos from Eileen. Your questions can be answered directly by Eileen who wants to help remove the fear surrounding menopause. As Eileen says ‘there are so many myths and old wives tales surrounding the menopause which are just scare mongering and can make women fear it’, she goes on to say ‘but it doesn’t have to be a bad experience and there is a whole new lease of life to look forward to once you’re through it’.
Eileen Durward, debunks common myths and reminds us why we shouldn’t fear the menopause.
Myth 1 – You will start the menopause at 50
This just isn’t the case. Every single woman will have an individual menopause and the average age is between 45 and 55. There are certain things that can bring on an early menopause such as smoking, certain chronic health conditions and being very overweight.
Myth 2 – You’re going to put on weight during the menopause
It’s true that hormonal changes can affect your metabolism but lifestyle changes also occur during our 40s and 50s. We’re not as active as before and the stress of change can lead to overeating. Weight gain can be a combination of hormones, lifestyle and diet, so tweak your diet to help avoid this. Cutting down carbohydrates, adding wholegrains and increasing protein will really help during the menopause.
Myth 3 – Your sex drive is going to get up and go
Falling hormones can lower your libido, but again it’s to do with lifestyle. The menopause puts tremendous pressure on your body which can cause fatigue. You might have a busy job and a family and some women in the menopause can get low mood too. All this combined can lower libido. Tackle the root cause, for example, getting more sleep, to address this problem.
Myth 4 – The first symptom you are going to get is the hot flush
Not true! 75% of women will get flushes but the other 25% don’t get them at all. A lot of women get symptoms while they are still getting periods, such as fatigue, low mood, joint pain, bloating, breast tenderness and irritability. Often, because they are still getting periods, they don’t associate these symptoms with the menopause.
Myth 5 – If you have your periods earlier, you’re going to have an early menopause
It actually depends on how many eggs you are born with. If you’re born with fewer eggs, you will have an earlier menopause and if you are born with more eggs, you will tend to have a later menopause.
Myth 6 – You’re only going to get physical symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats
You can get a combination of symptoms which are both physical and emotional. It’s important to remember you are an individual going through the menopause and you’re not the same as everyone else.
Myth 7 – By the time you get through the menopause life is never going to be the same again
A lot of women think this is going to happen. For the majority, once you have been through the menopause and not had a period for a couple of years, your symptoms should start to tail off. Look after yourself with a good diet, sensible exercise and plenty of rest to feel just as good, if not better, after the menopause.
Myth 8 – Every woman will get symptoms and it will be awful
The majority of women get through the menopause with minor symptoms. We have noticed that women who eat right, exercise and sleep well tend to have an easier time through the menopause. The less stressed you are, the smoother the process will be.
If you have a question about the menopause visit A. Vogel Menopause Health Hub
