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It's easy to forget, or put them off, but making time once every year or two for these quick health checks could save your life. See the list here...
Management
Management
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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 information see Emotional Wellbeing
Hormones and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Due to long term effects of oestrogen deficiency, the risks of developing osteoporosis or heart disease are considerably higher than for women reaching menopause at the expected age. For this reason, it is of extreme importance that advice is sought from your doctor. Treatment is usually long-term hormone replacement, with the risks particularly of breast cancer not increasing until after 50.
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.
The combined oral contraceptive pill is often prescribed for women with early menopause. It is an oestrogen and progestin combination which gives a regular cycle and symptom relief.
For more information see Hormones and HRT
Other (complementary) herapies
Various other therapies, such as complementary therapy, may be of benefit to some women during menopause. They are often not strong enough for women who have gone through early or premature menopause.
When using herb and plant medications, it is important that you treat them like medicines and that you consult a trained health practitioner before beginning treatment.
Like all medicines, it is possible that some natural therapies may have unpleasant side effects in some women. While this may only be a rare occurrence, it is a good reason to seek the advice of a trained naturopath for long-term guidance and balance through the menopausal years.
Some natural therapies may interact with certain prescription medications, e.g. St John's Wort; therefore it is important to let both your doctor and naturopath know exactly what each has prescribed.
For more information 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 information see the Lifestyle or Healthy living sections on our Managing Menopause website.
Nutrition
Eat a healthy diet with a wide variety of food.
For more information see the Nutrition section on our Managing Menopause website
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 information see the Physical activity section on our Managing Menopause website
Health checks
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2 yearly Pap tests (see your doctor or women's health nurse)
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Have regular breast and cardiovascular (blood pressure, heart) checks by your doctor
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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 information go to Health checks or see the Health Issues on our Managing Menopause website.
Content updated June 8, 2010
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