The Big M: a survival guide

To make matters more confusing, our experience of the menopause will be different as not all women will have the same symptoms; some will sail through with little or no physical effects, while others will be almost completely incapacitated – and no one really understands why! Some women will require medicines to help them through, while others can manage on a few supplements and a balanced diet.

As we all know by now, symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, tension, depression, poor concentration, fatigue, joint aches, loss of libido, skin disorders and anxiety, In fact, symptoms can appear up to 10 years before you go through the true menopause – a daunting prospect for those of us in their mid-40s already experiencing unpredictable monthly cycles.

Often the best place to start when you are trying to establish what will happen to you in the change of life is to ask friends and family for their advice and experiences. However, this may not help much and may even add to your anxiety if you have talked to older women in your family and have been told that they “went slightly bonkers” when they were going through the change! Not something to look forward to… And not at all encouraging…

Which is why we would love to hear your experiences of the menopause – have you been through it already and can offer others support, or are you experiencing the first symptoms and need advice and information – add a comment below, or email sue@riskcollective.com – tell us the name of a book that helped you, a website that gave you invaluable advice or the supplements you took that got you through – this is the first in a series on ongoing articles about the menopause and how to survive it!

Quick facts and figures

1. The menopause is the end of mentruation, when the ovaries cease producing eggs and lessen production of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

2. The average age of menopause is around 51, but it could start as early as your 30s or as late as your 60s.

3. Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months.

4. Premature menopause is experienced before the age of 45 and affects around 15% of the population.

5. If you smoke you are more likely to reach menopause earlier than a non-smoker.

6. You are more at risk of developing osteoporosis and heart disease after menopause.

Tags: Self improvement & wellbeing, Sex & Relationships, The Big M