Menopause is a natural and normal part of ageing, and is responsible for a range of unpleasant symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog and vaginal dryness.
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Menopause is the stage in life where your menstrual cycle (periods) stop. Medically, menopause is confirmed once you’ve not had a period for at least 12 months in a row, including any spotting. However, it’s common for women to start treatments that may alter their bleeding pattern before this. For this reason, we more often refer to the perimenopause - the years when the ovaries are running out of eggs, so the cycle is more erratic and symptoms of the menopause may become bothersome.
Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 – in the UK, the average age is 51.
Although there are stages around the menopause (perimenopause and postmenopause), which can last for several years, menopause itself is defined as the absence of periods for 12 consecutive months.
While everyone who menstruates (has periods) will go through menopause, the symptoms you experience can vary widely from person to person, not only in which ones you have, but also in their severity.
The most defining sign of menopause is the end of your periods – you may first notice that your periods become more and more irregular, and you may have a shorter cycle preceding a longer and/or unpredictable cycle.
Other common symptoms you might experience include:
Menopause is not a disease or a disorder, but a normal part of ageing. It happens when your levels of oestrogen and other hormones naturally begin to drop as you get older due to your egg supply diminishing.
While age is the most common causal factor for menopause, it can also be brought on as a result of certain surgeries and medical treatments, like bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries), hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and chemotherapy. Early menopause can also run in families.
Menopause can sometimes be diagnosed based on a combination of your age and reported symptoms, but diagnostic tests can also be done to confirm menopause.
Our menopause service begins with an assessment of your symptoms, and our menopause diagnostic package includes a consultation with one of our specialists as well as diagnostic tests, including blood analysis and an ultrasound.
The symptoms of menopause can be distressing, and your body will be going through changes that can feel overwhelming. Our consultants are experienced in caring for women going through the menopause transition and have a warm, supportive approach throughout every patient’s diagnosis and treatment.
Menopause is a natural stage of life that every woman will go through at some point. There’s no way to prevent it from happening, and there is also no way to delay when it begins. Unfortunately, there’s also no way to control how long you will experience symptoms, but treatments can help decrease their severity.
After menopause, your risk of developing certain medical conditions increases. This is why it’s important to seek treatment and attend regular check-ups to monitor your overall health and wellbeing.
Possible complications of menopause include:
Menopause can have a significant impact on your health, physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you need support or advice, please get in touch to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
Our menopause specialists provide personalised treatment plans and also referrals to specialists in other areas of medicine if required, to make sure you receive the treatment and care you need to live healthily and happily through menopause and beyond.
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is the most common medical treatment for menopause. It can be prescribed to you in the form of tablets, skin patches, a topical gel or spray, implants and the IUS (intrauterine system, or coil).
Deciding whether to use HRT is a complex decision, but many menopause symptoms can be reduced, with the potential to improve your day-to-day quality of life and long-term health.
HRT is considered to be safe and effective, but like any treatment, it does have its pros and cons. There are also specific risk factors, as well as your personal or family medical history, that must be taken into consideration. An individualised approach is key to a successful menopausal transition.
Your Welbeck consultant will discuss your options with you, and together you will agree upon the best treatment option for you.
Healthy habits, including regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet and practising meditation, can help reduce the severity of some symptoms.
Many women also find complementary therapies and natural remedies, such as aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture and certain supplements, to be helpful.
At Welbeck, our women’s health specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Brain fog and forgetfulness are very common in menopause. This is due to a reduction in oestrogen and testosterone, which both play an important role in cognition and memory. When the levels of these hormones fall, not only can it cause memory loss and brain fog, but also reduce brain energy levels, which can trigger other symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats too.
The cause of early menopause is unclear in 90% of women. However, certain risk factors can increase the risk of early or premature menopause, including a family history of early or premature menopause, starting your period at a young age, smoking and being underweight. Certain medical or surgical treatments and health conditions can also result in early or premature menopause. These include bilateral oophorectomy, hysterectomy, cancer treatments, chromosome abnormalities and some treatments for endometriosis.
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We have brought together a group of leading gynaecologists and breast specialists to form our Women’s Health team. With over 200 years of combined experience, these expert clinicians are the best in their field and are all focused on delivering the very best patient care.