The CHANGE By Victoria Wood
Menopause is receiving a lot of noise in the press of late and is fast becoming more of a buzzword than a taboo subject. An influx of information is being made widely available, which can be both helpful and confusing.
What Does Menopause Mean for You? Let’s go back to basics and get a clearer understanding of what our bodies (and minds) are really going through during this milestone in female life.
What Happens During Menopause? As with any stage in life, one comes to a close, and another commences…the menopause is no different. When the menstrual cycle comes to an end, menopause begins; our bodies resist producing as much oestrogen
and we no longer release an egg once a month. Doesn’t that make it sound straightforward?! It is a time of hormonal change which varies from woman to woman. The ‘typical’ age of menopause comes somewhere between 40 and 60, the average in the UK being 51. The statistics are wildly variable as one per cent experienced it before the age of 40. Medical conditions or treatments can also cause early-onset, e.g. hysterectomy, removal of the ovaries, breast cancer treatments, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Down’s Syndrome, and Addison’s Disease. 28
