Understanding Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural process in your life, defined as the permanent end of menstrual cycles and you can no longer become pregnant. It usually occurs in women between 45 and 55 years of age, as the ovaries produce less estrogen.

Causes of Menopause

Menopause can occur either naturally or can be induced by an injury or a surgery.

Signs & Symptoms

You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:

Hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over your body).
Night sweats and/or cold flashes.
Vaginal dryness that causes discomfort during sex.
Urinary urgency (a pressing need to urinate more frequently).
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings or mild depression).
Dry skin, dry eyes or dry mouth.
Breast tenderness.
Worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Irregular periods or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.

Some women might also experience:

Racing heart.
Headaches.
Joint and muscle aches and pains.
Changes in libido (sex drive).
Difficulty concentrating or memory lapses (often temporary).
Weight gain.
Hair loss or thinning.

Changes in your hormone levels cause these symptoms. Some women may have intense symptoms of menopause, while others have mild symptoms. Not everyone will have the same symptoms as they transition to menopause.

Reference: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause

What is MHT?

Menopausal Hormonal Treatment(MHT) is a treatment that replaces the hormones in your body which decline over the course the menopause. There are many different types of MHT, varying in the hormones they replace, the ways they are taken, and the treatment plans they are given by.

Hormones

Most women are advised to take a combination of oestrogen and progestogen. In most circumstances women who have had their womb removed are advised to take oestrogen only.