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What is the menopause?

What is the menopause?

The word ‘menopause’ comes from ‘meno’, meaning your menstrual cycle, and ‘pause’, meaning to stop. The medical definition of menopause is when you have not had your period for at least 12 months.

However, menopause is commonly used as a catch-all term to encompass perimenopause and the symptoms that come from the changes in hormone levels, whether this comes naturally or through illness or treatment.

Key menopause facts

  • The average age of a person going through a natural menopause is 51-years-old
  • If you’re younger than 45, it is called an early menopause
  • Before the age of 40, it is known as a premature menopause, or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
  • By the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods

There are many menopause resources now available, including ‘RockMyMenopause’ which aims to: ’empower you with the information you need to become menopause aware to talk to your GP and loved ones with confidence.’

See our ‘Helpful resources’ section below for other sites that may help you to understand your symptoms more so you can manage your menopause with confidence.

 

What is Perimenopause?

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause. Perimenopause starts when the amount of oestrogen made by the ovaries begins to decline. It usually begins in your 40s, although it can start earlier and lasts an average of four years to seven years, although this can vary.

Perimenopause extends until after your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and you have your final period. The medical definition of menopause is when you haven’t had a period for at least a year. However, by the time of their menopause, many people will have experienced symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms

There are many symptoms associated with the menopause. The 10 most common are:

  • Hot flushes and night sweats
  • Insomnia
  • Aching joints
  • Weight gain
  • Psychological symptoms
  • Sexual and other health considerations
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Irregular periods
  • Memory loss

Every person experiences menopause in different ways. You can find out more about menopause symptoms here, including a useful  symptom tracker to keep a check on what you are experiencing.

Helpful resources

Helpful resources

Rockmymenopause is a great resource for all things menopause and has provided much of the information for this web page. It has a wealth of menopause information, including  straightforward factsheets that can help to organise your thoughts to talk through your experiences with a clinician.

Other sites that you may find helpful for general menopause information and advice include:

Women’s Health Concern has menopause factsheets and other helpful resources.

Menopause Matters is an award winning, independent website providing up-to-date, accurate information about the menopause, menopausal symptoms and treatment options.

NHS Menopause information

Premature menopause or POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) is typically used to mean menopause that comes well before the average age of normal menopause — when you’re still in your teens, 20s, 30s, or early 40s. Early menopause is used to describe menopause before the age of 45 and POI when it occurs below the age of 40.

The Daisy Network, is a supportive POI resource.

Treatment

Treatment

There are a number of treatments available that can help to alleviate your menopause symptoms depending on how severe they are. We would recommend that your starting point should be a conversation with your GP.

The ‘Get informed’ section of the rockmymenopause site will give you all the information you need to to talk to your GP with confidence about how the menopause is affecting you.

Types of treatment available are:

Devon Sexual Health can offer fits or refits for people who want a hormonal coil as part of their HRT regimen (if you are unable to get this done by your GP or your GP’s waiting list is too full).

If you are currently buying more than three HRT prescriptions a year, then it is recommended that you register for a HRT prepayment certificate which offers unlimited prescriptions of specified HRT over one year for a fixed price.

For anyone experiencing emotional effects of the menopause, Cognitive Behavourial Therapy (CBT) can be helpful. TALKWORKS can help.  Devon’s NHS talking therapies service offers a range of support options to help with the physical and emotional side effects of menopause, including one-to-one sessions with a therapist, a free six week TALKWORKS for Menopause group course and online self-help (excluding Plymouth).

For Plymouth options see Livewell South West.

Remember that not all symptoms will necessarily be linked to the menopause, so if you’re in any doubt, check with your GP and ask about the best course of action for you.

Menopause & contraception

Menopause & contraception

It’s important to remember that HRT does not act as a contraceptive.

In general you can stop contraception either:

  • 1 year after your last period – if over 50 years old,
  • 2 years after your last period – if under 50 years old, or
  • when you reach 55 years of age.

And remember, contraception will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so if you  have changed partners it is advisable to wear condoms or have an STI test.

You can find out more about contraception options for people aged over 40 here.

Your Guide to Menopause

Your Guide to Menopause

FPA-Your-Guide-to-Menopause

Rock My Menopause
Rock My Menopause

Rock My Menopause

Advice and guidance on the menopause.

Primary Care Women’s Health Forum
Primary Care Women’s Health Forum

Primary Care Women’s Health Forum

What to expect when visiting a clinic

This video shows what to expect when visiting one of our sexual health clinics.

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