What is the menopause?
We are born with our lifetime’s worth of eggs and follicles in our ovaries; they are used over our lifetime and reduce in number with age until (a) we have none left, (b) we stop ovulating and (c) stop having periods. The average age of menopause is 51 in the UK.
The menopause is a diagnosis made 1 year after your last period.
What affects the onset of menopause?
- A family history of early menopause
- Smoking
- Early onset of periods
- Alcohol and drugs can cause earlier menopause
- Race can have an impact on menopause. Hispanic and African-Caribbean women may have earlier menopause than that of Japanese and Chinese women who appear to have a later menopause, in general
- Gynaecological surgery can cause a surgical menopause. Hysterectomy with oophorectomy (removal of womb and ovaries) will lead to an instant surgical menopause.
MYTH: It is a natural part of ageing we have to push through and live with
No, the menopause is actually a hormone deficiency and can be addressed.
Key facts
- In the 1900’s the age of menopause was 45 years old and life expectancy was 45 years old. In 2020, the average age of menopause is 51, but life expectancy is 82. More than 30% of a woman’s life is postmenopausal.
- One third of the UK population is over the age of 50.
- 80% of women have moderate to severe physical menopause symptoms and suffer from them on average for five years; 30% of women suffer for 10 years; and 35% of women have no physical symptoms.
- 50% of women and 20% of men will sustain osteoporotic bone fractures in their lifetime.
What next?
Book an appointment with us at the Hormone Health Clinic and we can provide advice and support on what you may need and what would be suitable for you. We will send you a medical history questionnaire, a symptom survey and then book an up to hour long appointment to discuss all this with you and outline your choices.
We can also prescribe your HRT on a private prescription if needed. Once the HRT dose is right we can also discuss adding in testosterone if it would be beneficial to you.
