Charities offering further support include:
- Women’s Health Concern
- Menopause Matters
- Daisy Network for premature menopause
- Menopause Café
- Queermenopause for people who identify as LGBT+
Menopause is when your periods stop permanently due to lower hormone levels. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can occur earlier.
Some people have symptoms like hot flushes or irregular periods for several years before their periods stop; this is called the perimenopause.
Menopause is a natural process, but it can be triggered by surgery to remove the ovaries or cancer treatments like chemotherapy. While it can be challenging, there are things you can do and treatments available to help relieve your symptoms.
Almost a third of the UK female population are currently perimenopausal or menopausal, with a significant number experiencing moderate to severe symptoms.
Symptoms
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your daily life, including relationships, social and family life, and work.
Some common symptoms include:
- hot flushes and night sweats
- sleep disturbances
- weight changes
- mood changes, like irritability, anxiety or depression
- difficulty concentrating, memory lapses or ‘brain fog’
- vaginal dryness
- painful intercourse and reduced libido
Visit the NHS website for more details.
Things you can do
There are several lifestyle changes you can make to help with symptoms during perimenopause and menopause, such as:
- regular exercise, especially weight-bearing activities and pelvic floor exercises to improve strength and bone health
- balanced diet rich in various nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D
- stress management through yoga, meditation, or mindfulness
- using lightweight bedding and keeping your bedroom cool for better sleep
- using vaginal moisturisers regularly
- reducing alcohol and caffeine intake
- stopping smoking
Read more on the NHS website.
Getting support
Talk to your GP if you think you may be going through the menopause and you have any concerns – they can:
- give you advice on how to manage your symptoms. You can also find support on the NHS website
- prescribe medications which can alleviate your symptoms, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or specific treatments for vaginal symptoms
- refer you to our Lambeth Women’s and Girls’ Health Hub for advice and support (for residents living in Lambeth)
- refer you to a gynaecology or other specialist clinic if you need further treatment – you can find your nearest NHS clinic on the British Menopause Society website
Residents in Greenwich and Bexley can get advice and support via their local health hub.
Talking therapies like counselling or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can help you manage menopause and perimenopause symptoms, without seeing a GP first.