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It’s a natural process that signals the end of fertility. But for many women menopause means so much more. Most of it negative in nature. This phase in life comes with it’s own array of symptoms, that women often grin and bare. But experts in the field say it’s time for all of us to tweak our thinking. Maria Hayes reports.
It’s a key indicator your getting old. life on the downhill slide. your mental capacity starts to decline… and your sex life is over. all statements known as the myths of menopause…
Dr. Wendy Wolfman is Director of the Mount Sinai Menopause Clinic in Toronto. She says the average age of onset is 51… an age when women still have productive lives, careers and abilities. about one per cent of the population is under the age of 40 when menopause strikes. despite the varying ages, 70 to 80-per cent experience similar symptoms: “The association of the loss of vitality, loss of appearance. There’s a whole issue with respect to sexuality. There’s a connotation that’s been applied to menopause which really I think is unfair. The typical symptoms would be changes in their menstrual cycle, vasomotor symptoms would be hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, new mood change.”
The degree ranges from mild to severe; better described as bearable to devestating. And a new survey shows almost 40% of women never discuss the issues with their doctor: “I think women underestimate the impact of these symptoms on their general life. And they feel it’s not a serious health issue, and therefore they shouldn’t discuss it with their doctor, or they feel this is something I just have to put up with.”
But Wolfman says there are options. Over the counter medications and products can be effective. And the pendulum is once again swinging in favour of hormone therapy. The 2002 women’s health initiative that turned people away from hormone replacement has been re-evaluated: “Women who took hormone replacement therapy had very, very few serious risks. Actually the women who took estrogen alone had 30% less mortality and fewer breast cancers than the women who took nothing.”
Available treatments can quickly improve your quality of life. selecting your best choice requires a face to face with your doctor: “This is an individual prescription. It’s not the same for every woman. And it is still a bit of an art. Not an exact science.”
For more information including the latest research, Dr. Wendy Wolfman recommends a website developed by the North American menopause society.
