Menopause

The average age of menopause in New Zealand is around 51.

It is the time when the ovaries run out of eggs and no longer produce hormones.  Menopause book-ends a woman’s reproductive years and after you have passed through it you will have no more periods and be unable to have babies naturally.

Around 50% of women will breeze through the menopause with minimal symptoms but the other half may suffer considerably.

The peri-menopause (the time in the lead up to the last period) can be a time of complete hormonal chaos.  Symptoms can include irregular and heavy periods, muscle and joint aches and pains, depression, irritability and changes in libido.

Menopause itself is defined as the last period and the post-menopausal period is defined as being 12 months after the last period.  Menopausal symptoms due to a decline in oestrogen can include severe hot flushes, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating and a decrease in mental acuity as well as depression, vaginal dryness, sexual pain and loss of libido. These symptoms can last up to 10 years post the menopause in some women and can obviously affect relationships, work performance and general quality of life.

Treatment for menopausal symptoms includes Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), drugs used for a variety of different non gynaecological conditions such as Venlafaxine and also “natural” hormonal therapy found in plant extracts.