Management

If a woman experiences menopause before the age of 40 years she is considered to have had an early or premature menopause. Managing early menopause requires attention to both emotional and physical aspects of your life.

Emotional wellbeing

Along with the physical changes that occur during menopause, women who experience this change early in life may also experience changes in mood and emotional wellbeing.

The issues a woman may face include:

  • Grief, depressed feelings and sadness
  • Loss of self esteem and control and a sense of helplessness
  • Concern about how her partner will see her in terms of appearance, femininity, sexuality and sensuality
  • Potential issues concerning fertility, adjustment to childlessness, reduced family size and loss of reproductive capacity
  • Feeling old before her time and out of harmony with her own age group

    For more see Emotional Wellbeing

    Therapies 

    Hormone replacement therapy

    Hormone replacement may reduce many of the unpleasant effects of symptoms of the menopause. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hormone replacement with your doctor. Moderate to high doses of oestrogen should be prescribed and testosterone therapy should be included. This includes the combined oral contraceptive pill.

    For more see Hormone Therapy

    Other Therapies

    Other therapies such as 'natural' herb and plant medications can be of benefit to some women. It is important to remember that these medications can have unpleasant side effects in some women, as can prescribed western medications. For long term guidance and balance it is important to see a registered naturopath. These therapies are weak in the strength compared to hormone therapy and therefore may not be effective treatment for symptoms.

    Natural therapies can often be taken in conjunction with hormone replacement. Note that it is important to let both your doctor and naturopath know exactly what each has prescribed. 

    For more see Other Therapies.

    Lifestyle

    Lifestyle changes and controlling physical symptoms will often improve general wellbeing. and unpleasant symptoms of early menopause may be reduced.

    There are many benefits to moderating your alcohol consumption and if you smoke, quitting. 

    For more see Lifestyle

    Nutrition

    Eat a healthy diet with a wide variety of food.

    For more see Nutrition

    Physical Activity

    Advantages of regular physical activity include maintaining heart health, bone health as well as providing a feeling of relaxation and well being. 

    This helps us to cope better with stress in our everyday lives.

    For more see Physical Activity

    Health Checks

    • 2 yearly Pap tests (see your doctor or women's health nurse)
    • Have regular breast and cardiovascular (blood pressure, heart) checks by your doctor
    • Have a mammogram every 2 years if you are over 50 years of age
      (a free service from BreastScreen)
    • Regular checks with your doctor should include tests for cholesterol, lipids, calcium, vitamin D, thyroid, glucose, and bone density. (But this will depend on the cause of the early menopause.)

    For more see Health Issues

    Content updated June 8, 2010

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