The Menopause

In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 52.

In this article:

What is the menopause?

Diagnosis

Advice & Support

Symptoms

Treatment

Causes

How Chemist Online can help

What is the menopause?
A natural part of the ageing process, the menopause is a phase which indicates the end of your reproductive years. Think of it as your last menstrual period, where your periods gradually become less frequent until they stop altogether.

If you reach the menopause stage before the age of 45, this is known as early menopause. However, this is relatively uncommon.

Symptoms
Symptoms of the menopause include:

Periods becoming less frequent until complete cessation of them

Changes to the vagina and genital skin, where these areas become drier and thinner

Aches and pains in joints

Hot flushes

Sweats

Headaches

Weight gain

Disturbed sleep

Reduced libido

Irritability

Depression

Anxiety

Also, during or as a result of the menopause, many women develop depressive illness, as well as the aforementioned mood disorders. Please see contact details for the Depression Alliance at the Advice & Support section at the foot of this article.

Causes
As we have seen, the menopause is a natural stage in the ageing process. However, some things can cause an early menopause, such as:

Having a genetic predisposition (i.e. there is a history of early menopause in your family – the propensity to you having an early menopause is passed down from a previous generation, therefore)

Surgery to the ovaries (note: with age, your ovaries produce less oestrogen and stop producing eggs. Early menopause can occur as a result of your ovaries having been removed for some reason)

Radiotherapy or chemotherapy – as part of treatment for cancer (particularly if the radiotherapy has been used in the pelvic area)

Hysterectomy – removal of the uterus

Diagnosis
Most women are able to ‘self-diagnose’ there menopause by being aware of their symptoms and what this indicates as they reach their early 50s. However, if you would prefer a confirmed diagnosis (or suspect that you may be going through an early menopause), make an appointment with your GP. After taking your medical history, he or she will ask you about your symptoms, and may carry out some hormone blood tests to establish whether your menopause is early or whether you are going through the menopause as a natural stage of the ageing process.

Treatment
As you reach the menopause, one treatment option is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This actively boosts hormone levels (i.e. the hormones that are reduced as a result of the onset of the menopause) and is prescribed in various forms, such tablets, gels, patches and implants. HRT offers relief from many of the symptoms of the menopause (hot flushes, sweating, etc.), but also carries some risks such as the possibly of developing some cancers and also stroke and cardiovascular disease.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy which can help ease the aches and pains of joints, and also headaches, such as: Anadin Paracetamol Tablets which provide fast, effective relief, and Nurofen Caplets which contain a powerful amount of ibuprofen to treat various different types of pain and bring you comforting relief when you need it most.

Also, to help you sleep, we can also offer you a selection of sleeping aids, such as Kalms Sleep Tablets and Natrasleep Tablets.


www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
Women’s Health Concern
4-6 Eton Place
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 2QA
Tel: 01628 478 473
Website: www.womens-health-concern.org

Menopause Matters
Website: www.menopausematters.co.uk

Depression Alliance
212 Spitfire Studios
63–71 Collier Street
London
N1 9BE
Tel: 0845 123 23 20
Website: www.depressionalliance.org
E-mail: information@depressionalliance.org


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.


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Keywords: Medicines, Health, Beauty

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