Login Register Access Settings

Menopause

Menopause icon


The menopause

Sometimes called ‘the change’, the menopause is when you stop having periods because your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs.



Perimenopause

This is the time leading up to your last period and for one year after your last period. Women can experience ‘menopausal’ symptoms during this time that may improve with treatment.

Menopause can feel different for everyone. You may have a number of symptoms or none.


Common symptoms include:

  • A change in the normal pattern of your periods, for example, they become irregular
  • Changes to your mood, like low mood, anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem
  • Problems with memory or concentration (brain fog)
  • Hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest, which can make you dizzy
  • Difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day
  • Palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more noticeable
  • Headaches and migraines that are worse than usual
  • Muscle aches and joint pains
  • Changed body shape and weight gain
  • Skin changes, including dry and itchy skin
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Sensitive teeth, painful gums or other mouth problems


There are lots of things you can do to improve your health around menopause.



More information:




Early menopause

This is when menopause starts when you are under 45-years old. It is sometimes called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). See your GP if you think you have early menopause symptoms.




Bone health

Women lose bone density in the first few years after the menopause. This means that bones are more likely to fracture.



Resources in other languages:

Back button