Menopause
Menopause is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently. Menopause is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen levels decline.
In the lead-up to menopause, your ovaries may not produce an egg each month. This can lead to changes in the hormones circulating in your body. Specifically, oestrogen levels may be increased, and progesterone levels may be lower. After menopause, oestrogen levels also fall considerably. Women are considered ‘postmenopausal’ one year after their final menstrual period.
Symptoms of the menopause
Most women will experience menopausal symptoms. Some of these can be quite severe and have a significant impact on your everyday activities.
Common symptoms include:
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
- difficulty sleeping
- low mood or anxiety
- reduced sex drive
- problems with memory and concentration
Menopausal symptoms can begin months or even years before your periods stop and last around 4 years after your last period, although some women experience them for much longer.
If you suffer from vaginal atrophy (dryness) the most common symptom is dry vaginal walls, but you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Dryness
- Itching
- Burning
- Irritation
- Irritated vaginal tissue
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Discomfort during urination
- Discomfort during activities
It is common to get one or more of these symptoms during different periods of your lifetime as estrogen production is subject to change. The most common occurrence is during menopause, but you may also experience symptoms during periods of high stress, while breastfeeding or during a medical treatment.
Problems linked with vaginal atrophy (dryness) impact quality of life negatively. However, there is a solution.