The menopause is sometimes referred to as `the change of life’ and is the name given to the end of menstruation (periods).
In other words, your body stops producing eggs because the rates of the female sex hormone which regulates menstruation (called oestrogen) fall.
There are a couple of stages to the menopause:
• Leading up to the menopause you are `peri-menopausal’ (`peri’ means during) and during this time, you may experience both physical and emotional changes
• When you haven’t had a period for a year, you are what is technically called `post-menopausal’
If the menopause occurs when you are under 45 it is deemed to be premature.
Some women reach the menopause without seeking medical help – but if you have severe or distressing symptoms there are treatments available.
How do you know if you are menopausal?
Eight out of ten women experience symptoms leading up to the menopause and of these about half will find their symptoms difficult to deal with.
The first symptom of the peri-menopause is usually a change to your menstrual pattern – either your period starts to appear every 2-3 weeks or you may not have one for months at a time. You may also experience an increase in menstrual blood loss.
Other common symptoms of the menopause are:
• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Sleep disturbance
• Vaginal dryness, itching or discomfort
• Urinary tract infections, such as cystitis
How can BMI Healthcare help you?
If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms and find them difficult to deal with, you should see your BMI Healthcare GP.
There are now a number of treatments for the menopause with or without hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
There has been a lot written about HRT, its side-effects and links to other diseases – however, it is effective in treating several of the most common menopausal symptoms. It works by replacing oestrogen in the body during the approach to menopause.
HRT can also prevent osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones) and reduce the risk of cancer of the colon and rectum.
If you do not wish to take HRT, or cannot for medical reasons, then there are other treatments which may ease the different symptoms individually. All treatments need to be monitored to make sure that they are having the desired effect.
If your symptoms are mild it may be possible to control them by changing your diet and lifestyle.
BMI Healthcare GPs can advise you about which treatment will suit you best and discuss their benefits and risks.
The BMI Card is a unique credit card that allows you to spread the cost of health care, allowing you or your family to benefit from treatment at your chosen BMI hospital at a time convenient to you.
If you need surgery our Option packages offer you the peace of mind of knowing, in advance, exactly how much your treatment will cost. After seeing your consultant and having had your personal needs identified, you will be given an inclusive, fixed price quotation. This will detail exactly what is, and isn’t, included in the price.
