WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE

This is the English version of the first of a series of notes I have prepared for Somali Women in the UK and around the world in which I give advice on how you can recognise and manage the symptoms of menopause.

Menopause is the time of a woman’s life when she stops having monthly periods, her ovaries stop producing eggs, and therefore she can no longer have babies.

The menopause affects all women at some point in their lives. For most it happens sometime between their early 40s and mid 50s, and symptoms can be very variable.

The changes to the way your body works during these times can result in medical conditions, both physical and emotional. It is very important to recognise these changes, why they are happening, and most importantly what we can do about them.

I must emphasise that I am not a doctor and you should consult your GP for specialist medical advice on the menopause as you would any other medical condition. I have provided a link to the NHS menopause advice elsewhere on this website.

The main symptoms of menopause can include:

• Hot flushes
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Dizziness
• Memory issues
• Headaches
• Depression
• Breast tenderness
• Loss of bone density
• Insomnia

Although it is important to remember that it will be different for everybody, you may suffer from any or all of these symptoms, and the severity will vary greatly from one woman to another.

My other notes and videos discuss some of these symptoms in more detail and give advice on what you can do to manage them, based on my own experiences.