Menopause is world wide not only what we are shown in the media. Based on how is it portrayed in the media - is it any wonder the perception of menopause happens to only a certain group - representation matters. Cortés YI, Marginean V. Key factors in menopause health disparities and inequities: Beyond race and ethnicity. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research. 2022;26:100389. doi:10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100389 Green R, Polotsky AJ, Wildman RP, et al. Menopausal Symptoms Within a Hispanic Cohort: SWAN, the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Women’s Health . February 2012.

Menopause can have a direct impact on your mental and emotional health. According to one small study, up to two-thirds of people going through perimenopause experience memory problems and have a harder time focusing. HRT helps balance sex hormone levels to alleviate VMS like hot flashes and night sweats. It can also help improve brain fog, osteoporosis, joint pain, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. SWAN participants with higher levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that has been related to life stresses and adversity, had more fractures than women with lower levels of C-reactive protein. Some complementary and alternative therapies can also interact with other medicines and cause side effects.A GP can prescribe oestrogen treatments you can insert into your vagina, as a tablet, cream or ring. This can also improve any urinary symptoms caused by menopause and perimenopause, like discomfort when you pee. Karen Arthur - has also spoken widely on menopause, including appearing in front of the Women and Equalities Committee. She's currently looking for survey respondents for new research into public knowledge of and attitude towards HRT and other menopause treatment. It is important for women to be educated on the menopause transition and menopause and to have awareness of their body and the changes that are happening

Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063 The investigation and management of irregular bleeding differ by menopausal status, underlying risk factors, and use of hormonal therapies. For women not taking hormone therapy, all postmenopausal bleeding is abnormal and requires diagnostic investigation. In perimenopause, longer or shorter menstruation, increased or mildly decreased intermenstrual length, and long periods of amenorrhea are all common and unconcerning. 170 Frequent, heavy, prolonged, and intermenstrual bleeding are abnormal and warrant diagnostic investigation. 171The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness. The main medicine treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.

For women at high risk of breast cancer, NAMS and ISSWSH recommend non-hormonal treatments first line. If these are ineffective, discussion of potential risks versus benefits between the patient and oncologist are warranted. 162Paramsothy P, Harlow SD, Nan B, et al. Duration of the Menopausal Transition Is Longer in Women With Young Age at Onset: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Menopause . February 2017. Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell joins Nuala McGovern in an exclusive interview for the BBC. He'll be discussing a new report inspecting the work undertaken and progress made by the Probation Service over the last 5 years to protect victims and reduce domestic abuse by those on probation. Shifren JL, et al. (2014). The North American Menopause Society Recommendations for Clinical Care of Midlife Women. I didn’t realise I was going through menopause at all. I thought because I was in university, I was stressed, but I knew something wasn’t right with my body,” Adelay told The Voice. HRT is a safe and effective treatment for most going through menopause and perimenopause. Your GP will discuss any risks with you.

El Khoudary SR, et al. (2020). Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: Implications for timing of early prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. No one is entirely sure for the reasons behind this disparity in menopause experiences, but researchers believe it all has to do with a specific type of wear and tear on the body, something called “allostatic load,” says Karlamangla. The body is constantly trying to maintain homeostasis, keeping its physiological parameters tightly regulated — your blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose level, and more. But when faced with challenges or adversity, these systems temporarily go outside that normal operating range: Your heart rate and blood pressure go up. “It goes outside the usual resting state to react to stimuli — a normal and healthy allostatic response. The long-term negative consequence of responding too often is allostatic load; the stress response systems get worn down. The changes from your hormones around perimenopause and menopause can affect how your stomach and bowels work, leading to some uncomfortable symptoms.There are other treatments if you cannot, or choose not to, have HRT. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)