Menopause

Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, defined as occuring 12 months after your last menstruation period.

Peri-menopause:
- By the age of 40 years, women already have changes in their bone density and, at the age of 44 they can experience menstrual changes.
- Peri-menopause can start 2-10 years before the last period.
Bloodtest:
- Elevated FSH levels (60-100 mlU/L)
- LH levels (> 50 mlU/L)
- Estradial (< 50pg/ml)
- Ovulation cycles and menstruation become less regular.

PERIMENOPAUSE IS A NORMAL PROCESS, NOT A DISEASE!
The better the shape you are in (physically, nutritionally, mentally, metabolically, spiritually and situationally) going into menopause, the more enjoyable the journey!!!

"Menopause is not a natural condition, it is an endocrine disorder and should be treated medically with the same seriousness we treat other endocrine disorder." (Mucclough 1996).

Hormone replacement therapy is recommended almost exclusively for younger postmenopausal women, particularly those who have had early onset menopause.

Lower doses of HT are becoming more common. Transdermal preparations of hormones may be at lower risk for blood clots than using oral HT.

PELVIC HEALTH & MENOPAUSE:

• Urogenital complaints: Oestrogen deficiency after menopause cause atrophic changes to the urogenital tract and is associated with urinary symptoms.

- Urinary incontinence
- Lower urinary tract symptoms
- Painful intercourse
- Vaginal discomfort
- Vaginal Organ prolapses
- Bowel dysfunction