Tuesday 18th October 2022 is World Menopause Day.
Around the globe women will be helping to raise awareness for the often-misunderstood, but devastating symptoms of this hormone deficiency that affects 40 per cent of the population.
There was a time when if you mentioned menopause, people would think it meant a couple of years of hot flushes and mood swings, whilst women went through ‘the change’.
Long-term debilitating, and in some cases, life-threatening symptoms
Thankfully, in 2022 many women (and some parts of the medical profession) have become far more informed and recognise that, in fact, when a women’s body starts producing less hormones – estrogen, progesterone or testosterone – they can suffer with many long-term debilitating, and in some cases, life-threatening symptoms.
More than 45 symptoms
When you understand that estrogen alone plays a function in every organ in a woman’s body, it’s no surprise to learn that the impact of menopause – which ‘generally’ begins at around the age of 45 (earlier in many cases) – can lead to up to 48 different symptoms.
These range from brain fog, swollen joints and joint pain, muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety and skin conditions to night sweats, tinnitus, palpitations, urinary tract infections, migraines, thinning hair, increase in facial hair, painful discomfort during sex, loss of self-confidence, thoughts of suicide and many more.
Suffering in silence
A very lucky 20 per cent of women go through the menopause with no symptoms at all.
However, of the 80 per cent of women who do experience symptoms (that’s 40 per cent of the population), many suffer in silence, without support from their employers or families, or without the prescriptions they need to improve the quality of their lives.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
The symptoms that peri-menopausal and menopausal women experience are a result of the body producing less hormones and for many, but not all women, they can be reversed for the rest of someone’s life by prescribing HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy.
These days, the type of HRT prescribed – which returns the lost hormones back into a woman’s body, as the hormone insulin is returned into the bodies of those with Type 1 diabetes – is far safer and can be used for as long as a woman needs it.
As an example, the beauty, health and wellbeing entrepreneur, Liz Earle, who has been a pioneer in spreading the word of menopause, arranged for her 80-year-old mother to go back onto HRT to help alleviate certain symptoms she was experiencing and reported a life-changing result.
Benefits of HRT
In the past HRT carried a higher risk of breast cancer, but through the use of gels and transdermal patches, more recently this risk is far reduced and it’s now known that taking HRT can reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease – the biggest killer among women over fifty – by 40 per cent.
Among other things, it can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 40 per cent and more importantly can also prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Anti-HRT media coverage
We all remember the study that was carried out in the 1990s that focused on HRT and the risk of breast cancer. Even though the type of HRT that is prescribed today is far safer, you will often see the old study cited in the media to this day.
It is probable that the lack of menopause education and anti-HRT media coverage over the last 20 years is what has led to only around 14 per cent of women using HRT to alleviate their symptoms and protect themselves from future health risks.
A menopause revolution
However, we are now in the dawn of a menopause revolution.
Many health professionals, women who have suffered hormone deficiency and more, have been lobbying government and health chiefs for better menopause education and support.
Menopause heroes include those such as Dr Louise Newson (Newson Clinic and Balance App) and Diane Danzebrink (Menopause Support charity), as well as more well-known women such as Liz Earle and Davina McCall who have used their platforms to help raise awareness.
Sign the petition
Four years ago Diane launched a petition to Government with three very clear aims.
- Mandatory menopause training for all GPs and medical students
- Menopause awareness and support in every workplace
- Menopause to be included in the RSE curriculum in schools
More than 180,000 people have signed the petition, and you can add your name to it by heading over to the Change.org Website.
Arm yourself with information
Any women experiencing symptoms of hormone deficiency can arm themselves with information by visiting trusted sites such as Dr Louise Newson’s Balance Website, or My Menopause Centre. Both offer a huge range of information.
There is one private Menopause clinic on the Isle of Wight, run by Dr Jane Peckham. Visit the Wight Menopause Website for more information.
Support groups
There have been two menopause meetings held this year at the Better Days Cafe in Ventnor, providing a safe space for women to learn more about the menopause. We’ll let you know when the next one is arranged.
On social media, there are several excellent menopause related groups such as Menopause Support Network and Totes Merry Peri.
Look out for more menopause-related features in News OnTheWight’s Menopause Revolution series.
Article edit
12.30pm 18th Oct 2022 – Link to petition added
2.45pm 18th Oct 2022 – Number of Symptoms increased from 31 to 48 as per Dr Nighat Arif
Image: firmbee com under CC BY 2.0
