Let’s talk about menopause. Defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation and reproductive capability, it is an inevitable consequence of growing older and ultimately affects almost every woman.1 Yet, while menopause is a natural stage of life, it’s often not spoken about and, in my opinion, education is lacking. The consequences of the menopause can be absolutely devastating – one in four women will experience debilitating symptoms that can last up to 15 years.2
With the population now living longer, healthier lives, women can spend up to one third to half of their lives in the peri and post-menopausal period. The average age of onset in the UK occurs at 51, with variations between race, ethnicity, demographic and lifestyle, and those at onset of the perimenopause is 47.5 years.3,4 The average duration of vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes) also vary between ethnicities but can last…
