Menopause: Signs, Symptoms & Support in York, Manchester & online

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural, biological transition which all women go through as a normal part of the female aging process. As you age, your body’s hormone levels will reduce, causing your periods to stop. Menopause signifies the end of your menstrual cycles – you reach this when you have not had a period for 12 months.

All women’s bodies are unique meaning that the age you begin menopause is not set, but it usually occurs in women at the ages of 45 to 55. If you believe you are starting menopause before the age of 45, you should discuss this with your GP.

Menopause can cause some uncomfortable symptoms as your body adjusts to the transition. It is normal to also experience perimenopause, where you start having symptoms before your periods have stopped.

 

Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause and perimenopause may cause physical and emotional symptoms during the menopausal transition but these will feel different for everyone. Symptoms may vary in intensity, and you may have many or none. Symptoms can change over time and can last months, or years.

Physical symptoms of menopause may include:

Irregular periods

Vaginal dryness

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Reduced libido

Discomfort during sex

Hot flushes

Chills

Night sweats

Headaches

Heart palpitations

Difficulty sleeping

Slowed metabolism

Change in body shape

Weight gain

Muscle and joint pain

Thinning hair

Dry skin

Brain fog and problems concentrating.

 

You may also experience some emotional symptoms, such as:

Low mood

Anxiety

Low self-esteem

Irritability.

 

How to deal with Menopause

You can adopt lifestyle changes to help you manage and might improve menopause and perimenopause symptoms. Ensuring you have a healthy, balanced diet, keeping regular eating and sleep routines, looking after your mental wellbeing, and exercising regularly will all help to naturally balance your hormones. A diet rich in Protein, Calcium and Vitamin D is also recommended to keep your bones and muscles healthy during menopause.

If you feel comfortable you might find it helpful to be honest with those around you about how you are feeling. Remember that menopause is a difficult, but natural part of life and it is okay if you need a little extra support.

 

How we can help with Menopause

If you are unsure if you have started your menopausal transition or your symptoms are becoming debilitating, then you can speak to your GP who can advise you on best treatments for you.

Whilst it is normal to experience symptoms of menopause, if your symptoms are severely impacting your daily life, causing you distress and do not ease through exploring ways to help manage them, it may be time to seek professional help.

Our team of expert therapists can offer you a range of specialist psychological therapies to suit your needs. Our starting point for therapy is to offer an individual consultation to think with you about your worries or concerns and identify the approach to therapy that is most likely to help.

As an independent therapy service, we are delighted to be able to provide a highly personalised approach, informed by clinical research and best practice, professional expertise, and your own preferences.

We understand that seeking therapy can be daunting and that taking the first step can be challenging. We have a team of trained experts who can work with you to design a bespoke and flexible treatment that works best for you, which is available at our clinics in York, Manchester and online.

Please get in touch using the form below to find out more about how we can help.