To celebrate International Women’s Day The Menopause Exchange is giving each new member a back issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter in addition to a current issue until 31 March 2010.
See the ‘Join Us’ page for membership details.
Norma Goldman BPharm. MRPharmS. MSc. (Health Promotion) – founder of The Menopause Exchange
Does life begin at 50? Well, it certainly did for me. When I reached 51, the average age of the menopause, I changed direction and achieved new goals. Read the rest of this entry »
Edited by Norma Goldman
http://www.hammersmithpress.co.uk/
£12.99 ISBN: 978-1-905140-24-4
The Menopause – ask the experts has been compiled and written by the founder and director of The Menopause Exchange, pharmacist Norma Goldman. Members of The Menopause Exchange have benefited from the expertise of its unique Ask the Experts panel for many years. The panel is currently made up of 11 members: consultants and doctors specialising in gynaecology, the menopause and sexual and reproductive health, pharmacists, a senior nurse specialist in the menopause, dietitians and a menopause counsellor and psychotherapist. Now Norma Goldman has chosen the questions answered by the Ask the Experts panel that cover the key issues. She has put them into book form, so that other women can benefit from them too. The Menopause – ask the experts is an extensive practical guide to the menopause and its management, using real-life questions from women going through the menopause. It includes chapters on different menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes and night sweats, bladder and vaginal changes, joint problems and emotional symptoms), osteoporosis, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), complementary therapies, nutrition and women’s health issues (e.g. breast cancer, hysterectomy and fibroids). Each chapter has a general introduction followed by the Ask the Experts questions and answers in an easy to read format. The information has been updated to reflect the latest guidelines, recommendations and medical opinions. An appendix discusses HRT and the risk of breast cancer, looking at the main research studies in this area. There’s also a glossary, index and useful help list of organisations and charities at the back of the book.
Whether you are going through the menopause or supporting someone who is, here is a truly authoritative source of facts and advice to see you through.
The following questions and answers have been taken from ‘The Menopause – ask the experts’ book.
Which alternative remedies work best for mood swings and anxiety?
Remember HALT: do not get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Self-help is essential. Remember to do plenty of exercise, ideally 20-30 minutes a day but the more the better. Do not forget to get out in the daylight for at least an hour in each day and eat well. Taking warm to hot baths with aromatherapy oils for 20 minutes can also help as can learning relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga. Any alternative medicine must be discussed with your health professionals and if you want to go down the alternative route it may be a good idea to see an appropriately trained and qualified CAM practitioner. Two registers to look at include the International Register of Consultant Herbalists and Homeopaths, http://www.irch.org/, and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, http://www.nimh.org.uk/. St John’s Wort has been beneficial but one needs to be careful about interaction with other drugs that you may be on. If self-help has not worked it is important to go to discuss it with your medical doctor because drug therapy may be required.
I am 54 and going through the menopause. My main problem is bladder leakage when I sneeze or laugh and also when I’m at my aerobics class. It’s really putting me off going to the class. Are bladder problems caused by the menopause and what advice can you give me?
This is a very common problem, although the menopause itself may not be the direct cause. As you get older, the muscles in your pelvic floor become more lax, especially if you have had children. This results in a weakening in the muscles used to hold in urine and on exercise a small amount of urine leaks. It may also leak when pressure on the muscles is raised, by coughing or sneezing. If the problem is mild it can be helped by increasing the strength of the pelvic floor, through pelvic floor exercises. Ask your practice nurse for details. For more severe leakage, you may need an assessment. Possible treatments include medication or surgery. In any case, it is not a problem you simply have to put up with, so seek help.
My wife seems to be going through the menopause. She has hot flushes at least once a day and is often irritable. I have tried to bring up the subject but she just passes it off. How can I speak to her about her symptoms and urge her to seek help?
This needs diplomacy as well as compassion! Maybe you could say that you have noticed how uncomfortable the flushes are and would she like you to go with her to seek help? Or you could say that you have been reading about the menopause and wonder if she could tell you more about it. This might lead her into a more open discussion. Explain that you need to know more about it, to understand how she is feeling. Are there ‘triggers’ for her flushes or irritability? If you can identify these, you may be able to prepare for them and perhaps most of all, you can reassure her of your support. If she has a well-woman appointment soon, suggest she mentions it then.
My doctor says that I have to take progesterone as well as oestrogen in my HRT. Why is this?
If you have not had a hysterectomy, it is essential that you do not take oestrogen therapy on its own, but use a combined oestrogen/progestogen form of HRT. This is because oestrogen causes the uterine (womb) lining to thicken if used on its own. If allowed to develop for a long period of time, this could eventually be harmful to your uterus. The progestogen will prevent this from happening. It does not matter if you use monthly or continuous HRT, the progestogen is still important. Of course, if you have had a hysterectomy, this problem need not concern you!
To buy The Menopause – ask the experts, visit http://www.hammersmithpress.co.uk /
The following is included in The Menopause Exchange’s latest newsletter – issue 43 (Winter 2009/10)
Walking is great exercise. It helps prevent weight gain and boosts energy levels promoting a feeling of general well being. Regular exercise is also important in reducing the risk of a number of diseases including breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colon cancer and osteoporosis.
… and diabetes prevention
A new study funded by Diabetes UK has found that using a pedometer as part of a structured education programme could reduce the chances of type 2 diabetes by more than 50% in those at risk of developing the condition. The Prediabetes Risk Education and Physical Activity Recommendation and Encouragement (PREPARE) programme offers a three-hour group education session about prediabetes and the role of a healthy lifestyle in preventing type 2 diabetes.
For the study, a control group was given a brief information leaflet, another group took part in the education session and another was given both the education session and a pedometer. The pedometer group was helped to set personalised ‘steps-per-day’ targets, aimed at achieving at least 30 minutes of walking activity each day. All groups were followed up after three, six and 12 months. Blood glucose levels, which were tested after participants ingested a standardised amount of sugar, were reduced by 15 per cent in the pedometer group after a year compared to the control group.
… and breast cancer awareness
Breast Cancer Campaign is urging people to walk a step for everyone who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK this year while raising money for research into the disease. The aim is to do 46,000 steps in 46 hours. You can do the STEP ON IT challenge on your own, with family, friends or colleagues or even walking the dog. Simply ask your loved ones to sponsor you on your walking challenge.
Sign up for a free pedometer, hints and tips on how to count your steps and sponsorship forms. To request a STEP ON IT fundraising pack, or for more information, please call the Events team on 020 7749 4126 or visit www.friendshipwalks.co.uk/steponit
By Gaynor Bussell, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant
(This article was included in a newsletter published by The Menopause Exchange)
Vitamins are chemicals needed to carry out vital body processes. Your body can’t create vitamins, so the vitamins need to come from the food and drink you consume. Read the rest of this entry »
By pharmacist and writer Pamela Mason
(This article was included in a newsletter published by The Menopause Exchange)
If you and your doctor have decided that HRT is the best option for you, there are two main things you both need to consider. The first is which is the best combination of oestrogen and progestogen for you to use (see Part 1 of this article in issue 39 of The Menopause Exchange). The second to consider is which form of HRT is most suitable for you. Read the rest of this entry »
The following ‘Ask the Experts’ questions were sent in to The Menopause Exchange by our members and the answers were provided by our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel.
Read the rest of this entry »
Are you interested in non-medical treatments for menopausal symptoms (hot flushes and/or night sweats)?
The Department of Psychology (Guy’s), Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, is currently recruiting participants for two research studies to find out if non-medical treatments can reduce menopausal symptoms. Evidence from their previous work suggests that treatments based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) may help women to manage and reduce their symptoms, and may have additional benefits to mood and health-related quality of life. The team at Kings College would like to invite you to participate in these studies: The first is for women who have menopausal symptoms following breast cancer treatment (MENOS 1) and the second is for well women who are seeking non-medical treatment for menopausal symptoms (MENOS2).
If you live within travelling distance of London, are having troublesome hot flushes and/or night sweats and would like to find out more about these studies, please contact:
MENOS 1: Eleanor.mann@kcl.ac.uk or melanie.smith@kcl.ac.uk or phone 0207 188 9559
MENOS 2: Beverley.ayers@kcl.ac.uk or phone 020 7188 9558 or 077 223 28638
By Dr Jean Hodson, a GP in Stratford Upon Avon
(This article was included in a newsletter published by The Menopause Exchange)
Cystitis and thrush can affect women of all ages, including those around the menopause. Many menopausal women have symptoms affecting their bladder and vagina due to the reduction in oestrogen levels that occurs at this time. The symptoms of oestrogen deficiency may overlap with those of cystitis or thrush and confuse the diagnosis. It’s therefore important to clarify the cause of any genitourinary symptoms in order to prescribe appropriate effective treatments. Read the rest of this entry »
These book reviews are taken from The Menopause Exchange newsletter – Issue 42 (Autumn 2009). Read the rest of this entry »
