Every woman will go through the menopause, but despite being such a universal experience there are a lot of myths and misunderstanding out there about this important life stage. Read on to sort out the myths from the facts:

Myth: All women have unpleasant symptoms around the menopause.

Fact: A minority of women have difficulties. A large US survey reported 66 percent of women managing the menopause easily. The majority of women have one, or a small number, of menopause related symptoms. Five to 15 percent notice no symptoms at all.

 

Myth: Middle aged spread goes hand in hand with the menopause.

Fact: A number of pesky factors – such as a slowing metabolism, stress and decreasing oestrogen levels – all seem to increase the likelihood of weight gain with the menopause. But, although it is harder to stay in shape, it is not impossible. Regular exercise, stress management and a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, soya, nuts, seeds and legumes will help you stay in shape – and in some cases feel fitter and slimmer than ever before. (If you are struggling with extra weight around your waist then see my ‘Fat around the Middle’ book.)

 

Myth: Every woman gets hot flushes with the menopause.

Fact: Up to two thirds of women get hot flushes and these range in severity from mild to intense. This means that up to a third of women have no hot flushes. And as only about 20 per cent of women ask their GP for help, this indicates that many women who get hot flushes are not troubled by them.

 

Myth: Many women get depressed and moody because of the menopause.

Fact: There are many problems that often coincide with the years around the menopause: troublesome teens, elderly parents and work overload; and all these can cause stress and depression. Although women with a history of depression were more likely to report mood swings and hot flushes, researchers have found that menopause symptoms do not cause depression.

 

Myth: Menopause means your best years are behind you.

Fact: In past centuries, age inevitably meant ailments – but medical advances have changed all that. In fact, 21^st century women who exercise every day, eat healthily and keep stress levels under control, can enjoy their life in a way previously thought possible only for young people. In some ways you could say that there are a number of bonuses with the menopause, including freedom from menstruation and contraception.  Don’t forget – you can now live 30 to 50 years past the menopause. 

 

Myth: Loss of libido is common around menopause.

Fact: As they enter the prime of their life, many women gain a new sense of self and feel sexier than ever before. While it is true that declining levels of oestrogen around the menopause can cause a dry vagina, making intercourse less pleasurable, it is important to understand that many other factors can cause a loss of libido. Common factors include too much alcohol, poor diet, stress, fatigue, illness and medical conditions. Some of these common factors can be worked on to great effect with healthy diet and lifestyle changes – and a determined effort to put love making higher on your list of priorities. Kegel exercises can help strengthen your pelvic muscles and make sex more enjoyable and motherwort tincture, or 1 -3 tablespoons daily of flaxseed oil taken orally, can increase vaginal lubrication within a month of use. You can also use a natural lubricant (not the chemical based ones you buy from the chemist), the one I would recommend is an organic lubricant called Yes (see the Resources Page).

 

Myth: If your periods started early, your menopause will be late.

Fact: This is another old wives tale as research into the age of menopause has found no strong connection. What has been established though is that the menopause may occur several years earlier if you smoke. The average age of the menopause is 51, and women who don’t smoke will be in the age range 48-55 when they go through the menopause. It is even thought that smoking can cause not just a few years difference, but can cause premature menopause where a women goes through the menopause before the age of 40.

 

Myth: There is no alternative to HRT.

Fact: You do not have to take HRT at the menopause to combat the hot flushes and night sweats that are associated with fluctuating levels of oestrogen. In fact, it is preferable to take oestrogens, which occur naturally in plants, to supplement declining oestrogen levels after the menopause. Include more phytoestrogens in your diet in the form of soya products, whole grains and legumes. Eating healthily, managing stress and exercising regularly can keep the symptoms and risks of menopause at bay, naturally. You can also add in some herbs, like black cohosh, agnus castus and dong quai, if the symptoms are bothering you (see Black Cohosh Plus on the Resources Page).  Remember this is only a transition, so the symptoms do not last forever – and the sooner you do something about them the easier this stage in your life will be. 

Tai Chi could be the answer. Researchers at UCLA (USA) analysed the sleep quality of adults aged from 59 to 86 who were suffering with sleep problems, and gave them a programme of tai chi chih – a westernised version of the ancient Chinese practise. After 25 weeks 63% of this group experienced a significant improvement in sleep quality.

Q: For the past two years I suffered from agonisingly heavy periods. My doctor has suggested a hysterectomy, should I go ahead with it?

A: A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which a woman’s womb and sometimes her ovaries are removed. Every year thousands of women undergo hysterectomies and the most common cause for this is heavy periods, but in my opinion the too-frequent removal of a fundamental part of a woman’s body is nothing short of scandalous. Of course, there are times when this surgery is necessary, e.g. cancer, but with other problems it is better to see whether there are other ways of managing the problem.

 

Doctors are trained to offer their patients solutions and a hysterectomy is an immediate solution to the problem of heavy periods, whereas less invasive treatments may take longer to be effective. It may well turn out that you do need a hysterectomy for legitimate medical reasons, but before you make this big decision I strongly urge you to investigate other options. The only time I feel a hysterectomy should be an option is if you have cancer and your life is at stake. In all other instances (including heavy periods, and fibroids – another common reason for a hysterectomy) ask yourself the following questions before you consider a hysterectomy:

• Do I really need this procedure?
• Are the symptoms affecting the quality of my life to the extent that I can’t do the things I want to do?
• Have I tried all the alternative medical treatments?
• Have I tried the natural approach?
• Am I planning to start a family or to have more children?
• Am I ready to deal with the symptoms of sudden early menopause?

A hysterectomy is not an easy option. It’s major surgery that requires a lengthy stay in hospital, incisions, general anaesthesia and painful days and weeks after. It can also trigger sudden and unexpected physical, sexual and psychological changes; and if the ovaries are also removed a woman will have to deal overnight with the symptoms of early menopause. Not to mention the irreversible fact that she will no longer be able to have children. And, even if you do not have your ovaries removed, a hysterectomy may still cause a woman to have an early menopause. Many women just want to have the surgery but they don’t take into account the hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, forgetfulness, headaches, muscle and joint pain and other symptoms of menopause that may result. Women who undergo hysterectomy can also experience urinary incontinence, as well as deepening of the voice and weight gain. All these physical changes are the result of declining oestrogen levels.

 

About 20 per cent of hysterectomies are for heavy bleeding, but in my opinion a hysterectomy should never be considered as a treatment for this condition as natural therapies can be highly effective – as can a less invasive procedure called endometrial ablation, in which the lining of the womb is removed but the womb is left intact.

 

In next month’s issue there’s a feature on natural ways to treat heavy periods so be sure to read that. In the meantime avoid coffee and alcohol, which can increase menstrual flow, and make sure you eat plenty of hormone-balancing phytoestrogens (found in soya, legumes and wholegrains) and essential fatty acids (found in oily fish, nuts and flaxseeds), which increase the amount of beneficial prostaglandins that can reduce blood flow. You also need to cut down on red meat and dairy produce because a diet rich in saturated fat can encourage the production of excess oestrogen, which increases menstrual flow.

 

Remember, a hysterectomy is often an overkill solution to problems that have other viable treatment options; so if your doctor has recommended it to you and you don’t feel right about it, ask what your alternatives are and if need be get a second, third or even a fourth opinion. Take all the time you need to make the decision. In the great majority of cases, especially when heavy periods are the case, there is no rush.