Menopause Event - London
Updated: Feb 21
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the first Menopause in Aesthetics event in London and it was a fantastic experience! I was amazed by the amount of information I learned about managing the various symptoms of menopause.
One key takeaway was that many women who experience menopause may initially seek help for specific symptoms, such as anxiety or feelings of not being able to cope, and may be prescribed anti-depressants. However, it's important to consider that these symptoms may be related to hormonal changes rather than depression, and to have the appropriate tests done.
I also learned about the numerous symptoms of menopause, including:
Changes in the menstrual cycle
Hot Flushes
Mood Swings
Sleep Disturbances
Sexual Dysfunction
Joint Stiffness
Hair Loss
Weight Changes
Brain Fog
Heart Palpitations
Digestive Issues
Metabolic Changes
Dizziness
Leaky Bladder
Skin Changes
Wanting to kill your husband and feelings of wanting to separate as ‘I can do this on my own’ were also up there on the list! – so I am normal then!
One shocking fact that emerged is that there is a big disparity in menopause training in medical schools.
41% of UK universities do not have mandatory menopause education on the curriculum.
Another disappointing fact is that it takes on average, 3 visits to the doctor before menopause is thought of as a possibility for the symptoms that one is experiencing.
Therefore, we are going to have to educate ourselves about the changes we may experience during menopause and ensure that our health needs are met.
More education is needed about the changes we may experience during menopause, including the physical and psychological symptoms. It's also important for practitioners to consider hormonal imbalances earlier as a potential cause of symptoms when evaluating patients.
This is a can be a difficult stage of a women life and it’s important that work together with healthcare practitioner to normalise the menopause and find a way to make this time as easy as possible.
In my mind, menopause only happened to old ladies and its only now that I understand that there are many reasons why someone may experience early menopause e.g cancer, hysterectomy, medication, and genetic reasons.
One of the nurse attendees I spoke to in her early forties, said that during covid, she went back on the ward in full PPE and was overcome by a hot flush and thought she was going to die! She had no idea that it was a perimenopausal flush as she had not considered that she was of age to be perimenopausal.
Another lady recently spoke of her dismay when the career she had worked for all her adult life, suddenly ended when she entered her peri-menopausal stage as the sudden onset of anxiety, made her working life intolerable.
How many other women’s careers have been quietly eroded by menopause? Symptoms that we have been silently battling with, wondering if we are going mad?
If we could recognise the beginnings of perimenopause by it innocuous symptoms, understand that it begins to happen as early as 40 upwards we can take some steps to manage ourselves in a healthier way.
Here are a few of the good things that we can do ourselves.
Eating a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and sugar and high in fruits, vegetables, and protein.
Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or swimming.
Engaging in weight-bearing exercises to improve balance and mobility.
Receiving lymphatic massages to improve circulation and reduce brain fog.
Drinking plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body.
Considering alternative treatments such as intravenous (IV) nutrition, NAD-1, Ashwagandha, CBD oil, fish oils, and kelp, but only under the guidance of a doctor and after having blood work done to determine specific deficiencies.
Ladies, its time to stand together, speak about peri menopause to our younger counterparts, banish the taboos and educate, educate, educate.
Let's not wait for help, let's take action and help ourselves during this important life stage.
Bronwen x