Shutterstock/SpeedKingz Despite decades of research, navigating menopause seems to have become harder – with conflicting information on the internet, in the media, and from health care providers and researchers. Adding to the uncertainty, a recent series in the Lancet medical journal challenged some beliefs about the symptoms of menopause and which ones menopausal hormone therapy (also known as hormone replacement therapy) can realistically alleviate. So what symptoms reliably indicate the start of perimenopause or menopause? And which symptoms can menopause hormone therapy help with? Here’s ..read more

Ground Picture/Shutterstock “I have to be hard on myself,” Sarah told me in a recent telehealth psychology session. “I would never reach my potential if I was kind and let myself off the hook.” I could empathise with this fear of self-compassion from clients such as Sarah (not her real name). From a young age, we are taught to be kind to others, but self-kindness is never mentioned. Instead, we are taught success hinges on self-sacrifice. And we need a healthy inner critic to bully us forward into becoming increasingly better versions of ourselves. But research shows there doesn’t have to be a ..read more

metamorworks/Shutterstock How menopause affects women’s working lives has been shrouded by stigma for decades. But this is starting to change. Australian journalist Imogen Crump’s recent on-air hot flush and her remark “I don’t think hormones respect national television” drew applause for its candour. The federal parliament has menopause firmly on its radar with an inquiry set to explore the economic, physical, mental and emotional effects of this typically natural transition. The inquiry will also investigate why awareness, availability and usage of workplace supports remains low. It’s not e ..read more

CBT may help some women cope better with debilitating menopause symptoms. wavebreakmedia/ Shutterstock There are at least 40 symptoms of the menopause and perimenopause. These symptoms can have a serious affect on a woman’s day-to-day life and wellbeing, which is why having access to timely and effective treatment is so important. Menopause symptoms can be described in categories such as vasomotor, physical and psychological. All happen as a result of declining hormone levels – primarily oestrogen and progesterone. Vasomotor describes hot flushes and night sweats. Physical includes brain fog ..read more

Rattana/Shutterstock All human beings age. It is part of our biology and limits our lifespan to slightly over 120 years. Not all animals experience ageing during their lives. Some animals’ bodies do not gradually degenerate as they get older the way our bodies do. But for humans once they reach about age 30 their chance of dying doubles roughly every eight years. So even if you are fortunate enough to become a centenarian, your chance of dying each year will be high. This high mortality reflects numerous other health problems, such as loss of muscle mass and general frailty, cognitive decline ..read more

Unsplash/Christina @wocintechchat.com More than half our population (50.7%) are born with ovaries and will experience perimenopause in midlife. This occurs as hormone levels decrease and ovaries slow their release of eggs. Perimenopause usually begins in the early to mid-40s. Some people even begin perimenopause earlier, due to premature ovarian insufficiency or medical treatments such as chemotherapy or surgical oophorectomy (ovary removal). Menopause is technically the single day 12 months after your last period. It usually occurs five to ten years after perimenopause begins, between ages 45 ..read more

Shutterstock You’ve finished a workout, so you’re hot and drenched with perspiration – but soon you begin to feel cool again. Later, it’s a sweltering summer evening and you’re finding it hard to sleep, so you kick off the covers. Sweating is a normal part of the body’s cooling system, helping to release heat and maintain optimal body temperature. But regularly waking up during the night, soaked through from excessive sweating is not. Night sweats are repeated episodes of excessive or intense sweating at night. They are an unpleasant part of life for many people. Many conditions and factors ca ..read more

Shutterstock Menopause is the stage of life where the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstrual periods cease. Most Australian women go through menopause between 45 and 55 years of age, with the average age being 51 years, although some women may be younger. Hot flushes and night sweats are typical symptoms of menopause, with vaginal dryness, muscle and joint pains, mood changes and sleep disturbance also commonly reported. Up to 75% of women experience menopausal symptoms, with nearly 30% severely affected. These symptoms can negatively impact day-to-day life and wellbeing. The main therapie ..read more

Ground Picture/Shutterstock More than 15 million women are in employment in the UK right now, which means menopause is undoubtedly a workplace issue. And while there has been enormous progress made in the UK at workplace level in this area, many women still experience a lack of support when trying to manage symptoms such as fatigue, hot flushes, loss of focus and concentration, anxiety and worry and insomnia at work. We have already written about the government’s woeful response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s (WEC) hard-hitting and wide-ranging 2022 report and recommendations on meno ..read more

Menopause typically occurs at some period between the ages of 46 and 52. Preceding this transition, hormonal changes can cause a myriad of physical and psychological symptoms, such as hot flushes, brain fog, mood swings and a loss of libido. These symptoms not only affect the wellbeing of women, but also take a toll on the economy – costing millions in lost productivity each year. Yet, despite its widespread impact, many medical professionals lack adequate education on menopause, leaving them ill-prepared to guide women through this transitional, important phase. Even though 51% of the populat ..read more