Lifestyle Choices

Menopause is not the beginning of the end! It is a time of renewal, a new cycle of your life. It is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 48 and 55, a transition from your childbearing years to a new stage of life in which your own personal needs and desires can take on a more central focus. While it may be a period of disequilibrium and emotional or physical discomfort, it may also facilitate a new state of equilibrium, a period of renewed energy and often a new sense of purpose.You, however, need to make a conscious positive choice to create this reality.

The essential issue in menopause is a deficiency of oestrogen. At this stage your ovarian function declines and oestrogen production diminishes. The symptoms do not suddenly begin at age 50 or with your last menstrual period. They can begin anywhere from two to 10 years before the cessation of periods. You may experience any combination of these symptoms:

1. Hot flushes
2. Night sweats

3. Insomnia

1. Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety
2. Irregular menstrual periods
3. Spotting of blood in between periods
4. Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse
5. Decreased sex drive
6. Vaginal infections

10. Urinary tract infections

1. + Blood and urine tests can be used to measure your hormone levels that may indicate whether you are close to menopause or within it.

In addition to these symptoms which can last anywhere from two to eight years, the long-term effects of menopause include bone loss and possible osteoporosis, as well as changes in cholesterol levels and greater risk of heart disease.

Take charge, take care, take action

Whether you choose hormone replacement therapy (HRT), herbal, homeopathic treatment, or no treatment at all, perhaps the more important issues are what health-enhancing choices and changes you can make through this transition.

i. Empower yourself with knowledge and information. It is the ‘not knowing’ that holds women in the grip of fear. With knowledge comes the power to implement the strategies required to enhance your wellbeing.

ii. Regular exercise increases circulating oestrogen and significantly reduces hot flushes. It increases your energy levels, deepens REM sleep, blunts anxiety and depression and elevates your mood. It decreases your risk of heart disease and increases bone density, preventing osteoporosis.

iii. Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar and salt. Large meals as well as highly spicy foods dilate the blood vessels and exacerbate your hot flushes. Try to eat smaller meals more frequently.

iv. Frequent sex is good for both the relationship and for your health during menopause. Women experiencing intercourse at least once a week have twice as much circulating natural oestrogen than their non-sexually active counterparts. These women have a healthier vaginal mucosa, far fewer hot flushes and a better libido.

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