Menopause
Menopause
Menopause comes from the Greek words “men,” meaning month, and “pausos,” meaning stop or cessation.
Menopause is officially diagnosed as the day when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual bleed/period, so can only be determined retrospectively. Menopause is primarily caused by the natural decline of ovarian function until eggs are no longer released. Therefore it marks the end of menstrual cycles and child-bearing years. The time leading up to this day is termed peri-menopause and anytime afterwards is considered post-menopause.
In the UK, the average age of natural menopause is reported as 51 years. However, this can be considerably earlier for some due to impact of certain medical conditions (which can cause early menopause before the age of 45 and premature menopause before the age of 40) and in cases of surgical menopause caused by medical procedures such as oophorectomy and/or hysterectomy, or some cancer treatments. Ethnicity is also a factor with some groups (e.g. African Caribbean, South Asian) having a lower average age of natural menopause.
Menopause Treatment
At Lifespan Psychology, we approach the menopause (often referred to as “the change”) as a key bio-psycho-social- cultural life transition. By this we mean the interactions between:
- Hormone levels, medical conditions (biological),
- changes in our cognitive processing, emotions, beliefs and behaviours (psychological)
- and shifts in our social and intimate relationships and roles (social-cultural).
Individual experiences vary wildly; for some it is the absolute worst phase of their lives, for others it was barely a thing. Recognised challenges include hot flushes and night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, brain fog and reduced libido. However there are further less recognised menopause symptoms that can additionally affect wellbeing and important relationships (try this validated questionnaire)*.
Whilst perimenopause can be the most turbulent time for some, unfortunately issues can last into postmenopausal years too. HRT is not always the answer for several reasons.
If you are struggling with menopause-related distress, please know that you are not alone and we can help here at Lifespan, regardless of your gender status.
Did you know that CBT is a NICE recommended intervention menopause-related distress caused by hot flushes/night sweats and mood changes (NICE, 2024)?
Our approach to working with menopause -related distress includes an initial psychological assessment of your specific challenges and what menopause means to you, identification of your issues that will most benefit from psychological intervention, leading to an evidence-based CBT intervention plan which takes place over weekly or fortnightly sessions.
Menopause Resources
Explore downloadable resources that empower you to grow, cope, and create positive change in your life.
