FAQ Page

Our most commonly asked faq. Menopause is a perfectly normal and natural part of a woman’s life. It signifies a time of change, when your ovaries no longer release an egg every month – and menstruation eventually stops – marking the end of your reproductive phase.

Menopause is a transition period, and can last anything from a few years up to 10 or more years. Every woman’s experience is unique: the start date, symptoms experienced, and duration vary greatly from one woman to another.

Read more about menopause here

Most women are in their mid-40’s when they enter perimenopause – the period of change leading up to menopause. And the average age of reaching menopause is 51. However, there are many factors that can impact when you start perimenopause and when you are likely to reach menopause. Some medical conditions or cancers, a hysterectomy, smoking or genetics can lead to an earlier start to perimenopause or menopause.

Every woman’s journey is different. That’s why it’s so important to talk about menopause! By understanding the menopause journey, being equipped to recognise the tell-tale signs of perimenopause, and having access to support, women can make this transition an empowering one. Continue reading for another faq.

Menopause is a gradual process that happens over a number of years. There are three stages to the menopause journey:

• Perimenopause. This is the time leading up to your final period. It can last anything from 4 years or more, with changes happening gradually over time – increasing in intensity towards the end, where your hormone fluctuations increase, and many women report more (and more severe) symptoms. Because menopause remains a taboo subject, most women go through perimenopause not understanding what is happening to them – leading to confusion, fear, anger and frustration.
• Menopause. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months. At this stage, your ovaries stop releasing eggs and
• Postmenopause. This is the rest of your life – after you have reached menopause. Thankfully most symptoms usually ease – or stop completely. However, due to the hormone changes in your body, you may be at risk for other health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Continue reading for another faq.

For more information on the stages of menopause, read here.

During your menopause journey, your body will undergo a number of changes – especially in the levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones. The changes in these hormone don’t only impact your fertility, but can have a range of effects on other hormones, chemicals and functions within your body. This may cause you to experience a wide range of menopause-related symptoms.

The most common symptoms that South African women have told us they experience include: hot flashes, irregular periods, night sweats, mood changes, weight gain, or vaginal dryness.

Once in menopause – and post-menopause – the symptoms may continue for up to five years, although most women report the symptoms to start to ease during this time.

Read more about the most common symptoms South African women have experienced during menopause. Continue reading for another faq.

The most common way of diagnosing menopause is based on the symptoms that you may be experiencing – especially after the age of 45 years.

Because your hormone levels can fluctuate significantly during perimenopause, blood tests may be inconclusive. However, your doctor can test your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level to see if you are near menopause. FSH is a produced by the pituitary gland in the brain – FSH levels can fluctuate during perimenopause, and rise dramatically as your ovaries start to shut down as you get closer to menopause.

The only way to know you are definitely reached menopause – and are starting your postmenopausal years – is when you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months.

There are a number of factors during menopause that can affect your sex life. With the changes to your hormones during menopause, it is normal to experience any number of symptoms that can impact your sex drive (libido) and how you experience sex. Direct factors such as vaginal dryness can make sex an uncomfortable or even painful experience. For most women, this can be sorted out with the right vaginal moisturisers or lubricants – but if that doesn’t help, then please speak to your healthcare provider for further support.

There are also a number of indirect factors that can impact your sex life during menopause. Common menopause symptoms that affect your mood (such as increased anxiety, depression, mood swings or irritability) can impact how you feel about sex during this time. The good news is that there are ways to ease the impact of these symptoms – read up about some of the practical things you can do to manage under Menopause 101.

Lower levels of oestrogen in post-menopause can lead to bone loss in women. This can lead to weaker bones that are more prone to injury over time.

To keep your bones health during and after menopause, it is important to eat a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, and do regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking or strength training.

Oestrogen is one of the natural mechanisms women have to protect them from heart problems. As oestrogen levels drop after menopause, women lose this natural protection – and along with the normal aging process, become more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.

Other factors such as weight gain or poor lifestyle habits (e.g. smoking, heavy drinking, inactivity) can also impact your heart health. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have specific concerns.

Many women experience increased periods of insomnia during perimenopause and menopause.

There are a multitude of factors that can impact the quality and quantity of sleep that we get. This can include increases in normal daily stresses of mid-life such as busy careers, juggling home and work, caring for children and aging parents, medical conditions etc. There are also lifestyle factors that can impact your sleep quality such as obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, and caffeine.

The good news is that there are things you can do to try and ease the severity of your insomnia and return to better sleep. For more information, read about Insomnia and ways to ease it here.

During perimenopause, hormone changes can – and eventually will – impact your normal menstrual cycle. Changes that you can expect during the perimenopause phase include:

• Longer or shorter periods than you would normally have
• Increased or decreased number of days between your periods
• Heavier or lighter bleeding during your period
• Skip some months entirely (remember, if your menstrual cycle has stopped for a full 12 months, you are likely to have reached menopause)

If you experience any of the following, this may be abnormal, and you should see your healthcare provider:

• bleeding or spotting between periods
• bleeding or spotting after sex
• heavy bleeding during your period
• bleeding that is heavier or lasts for more days than usual
• bleeding after menopause

Menopause is a natural process and there isn’t any specific medical intervention needed.

However, many women may find that they need – or prefer to take – hormone replacement therapy, or other prescription medications, to help them ease some of the symptoms they may experience. You will need to see a doctor to decide if you need prescription medication, and what the right one for you may be.

In addition to medication to help you cope with menopause-related symptoms, it is always a good idea to get regular check-ups and do preventative screening tests to ensure you stay in good health – even when you are post-menopause. Regular screening tests such as pelvic exams, pap smears, breast exams, and mammograms are all strongly advised to ensure you stay in good health. Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider to see what you may need, and how often, to ensure you look after yourself.

HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. There are mixed views on HRT, and many women are concerned about the potential risks associated with HRT that have being widely publicised in the media.

The truth is that there are risks with almost any medication. And it is really important that your specific circumstances, history, and needs, are properly evaluated by a medical professional to assess what is right for you.

For many women, HRT is really helpful and can make managing the journey through menopause more manageable. It can transform how you feel, and can also have long-term health benefits by reducing the risk of osteoporosis, fractures and heart disease.
It’s essential that HRT is tailored to suit you by an experienced doctor, as each woman’s needs are unique. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help you to reduce the risks and reap the maximum benefit from HRT.

For some women, HRT may seem like the first and most obvious choice in dealing with symptoms related to menopause. While others may view HRT as a last resort, when all other options have been explored and not worked for them.

There is a growing body of scientific research that suggests HRT is not as risky as initially thought – and that many women can safely use HRT to manage their menopause symptoms.

However you feel about HRT, it is worthwhile considering alternatives to managing your menopause symptoms – before resorting to medication. This could include lifestyle adjustments to how you dress, your diet or exercise regime; including beneficial supplements that target specific symptoms; wellness practices such as mindfulness, mediation or yoga; and mental health support such as a life coach, menopause coach or therapist.

It can take up to three months for HRT to become effective, though many will experience an improvement in their symptoms before this time.

It’s important to discuss your medical history with your doctor before thinking about starting HRT. This should include your family medical history.

There are some medical conditions that could mean HRT is too risky for you such as high blood pressure, liver disease, after certain (but not all) cancers, medical conditions where the risk of blood clotting is very high, or where you have abnormal vaginal bleeding. Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider to determine whether HRT may be a viable option for you.