BY DR ORLA BARRY, MANLY VILLAGE MEDICAL
Menopause is the spectre that hangs over women of a certain age. On one hand, it’s a relief – no more periods! On the other, it’s a minefield of unexpected symptoms. Brain fog, hot flushes, joint aches, night sweats, mood changes, loss of libido, dryness…any and all of them could happen.
Many women don’t even realise when menopause starts – all they know is one day they’re sitting at work, covered in sweat, angry for no reason and unable to concentrate, and they have no idea how they got there.
Menopause is defined as the last menstrual cycle, and most people know they’ve reached it when they have no periods for 12 months. Perimenopause is the time prior to that, where menstrual cycles can become irregular and women can suffer the same symptoms of menopause.
The average age of menopause is 50, but can occur any time after 40. The symptoms of menopause can be debilitating, and unfortunately, many women don’t know that they can be treatable, leaving them suffering unnecessarily. On top of that, there can be benefits for long-term health, particularly for women who go through early menopause.
If you notice your periods have become irregular, or you are suffering any symptoms like the ones above or any others you think may be menopause, you should talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
