Wednesday, October 15, 2014

OCTOBER 2014 - Myths about Menopause answered

Menopause is a natural part of every woman’s life cycle.  Symptoms can be a gradual effect over two to six years before your last menstrual period.  As all women are different, not all women suffer from signs of menopause, in fact 20% have no symptoms, 60% have mild symptoms while only 20% suffer from  severe symptoms.

Lets look at some physical & emotional

Symptoms that women can experience;
  • Hot Flushes & night sweats
  • Aches & pains
  • Headaches
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Urinary frequency
  • Tiredness
  • Irritability and/or Depression
  • Sleeping difficulty
  • Low self-esteem


The average age for women to reach menopause is between 51-52 years, however most women experience menopause between the ages of 48-55.  ‘Premature’ menopause is when a woman reaches this stage in her life before the age of 40.
Early menopause may occur spontaneously as a result of early failure of the ovaries.  Symptoms for early/premature menopause are basically the same as for natural menopause.

*Please note:  Due to the long-term effects of oestrogen deficiency, the risk of developing osteoporosis or heart disease for women experiencing premature menopause are considerably higher than women experiencing natural menopause.  For this reason, it is important to seek medical advice.

What happens to the body during menopause?
As the production of oestrogen starts to slow down, hormone  levels fluctuate and change hence you may notice;
  • Cycles may become longer, shorter or irregular
  • Bleeding may become lighter

Bleeding may become unpredictable & heavy (see your health practitioner)
Due to the decreasing levels in hormones, eventually menstruation stops altogether and menopause is reached. 

Menopause Management
Decisions about therapies depend on your;
  • Current symptoms and severity
  • Current health status
  • Long-term health risks
  • Personal Life

And there are many ways to manage your life, both physical & psychological.  Here at Calanna Pharmacy, we can assist you and guide you through Menopause.


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