Menopause is a natural stage of a woman’s life, and yet many women dread this inevitability. The transition itself can be a long process and the journey is different for every woman. Many people tend to think of stereotypical changes when they hear the word menopause, and envisage hot flushes and mood fluctuations. However, as well as these common symptoms, there are so many other physical, mental, emotional and social changes that take place too. And understanding why these changes are taking place is the first step to banishing the fear and taking back control of your life and self.
WELCOME
WELCOME TO YOUR mindful MENOPAUSE • Learn how you can take control of your experience of menopause with mindful tips, handy resources and interactive tools
Barriers to mindfulness • There may be reasons why approaching menopause mindfully can be more difficult for some women
FIGHT the fear • Knowledge and understanding can help you to learn that menopause is not something to be afraid of
Menopause in other cultures • While menopause is a universal experience, attitudes towards it do vary greatly
FEARS & Solutions • FILL IN THE PROMPTS BELOW WITH YOUR BIGGEST WORRIES REGARDING MENOPAUSE, THEN WRITE DOWN ONE WAY YOU CAN SOLVE THAT WORRY, PUTTING YOU BACK IN CONTROL
What is MENOPAUSE? • We explain what's actually happening inside your body to help you understand menopause better
Meet the expert
Understanding menopause • Dr Laura Flexer shares her thoughts on menopause and the difficulties women face in accepting and managing this phase of life
Symptom CHECKER • GREENE CLIMACTERIC SCALE (GCS). DR LAURA FLEXER AND HER TEAM SEND OUT A VERSION OF THIS BEFORE SEEING PATIENTS IN THEIR CLINIC
MENOPAUSE symptoms • There are many possible menopause symptoms, and you might experience all, some or none of them
Be body aware • Not everything is down to menopause, so don't be afraid to speak up about symptoms if you're worried
CHANGES TO YOUR periods • During perimenopause your periods may become irregular or change in other ways. We explain what's going on
Other causes of irregular periods • Menopause isn't the only reason you might experience irregular periods so it pays to be body aware
Hormonal contraception • You won't know for sure when you reach menopause if you're on hormonal contraception
PERIOD Tracker • Here is an example of how to use the period tracker
Hot & Cold flushes • As your hormone levels drop, so too does your body's ability to accurately control its temperature
Phytoestrogens
MY HOT FLUSH triggers
STRUGGLING with Sleep • Sleep can become increasingly difficult during menopause, but being aware of your sleep patterns can help
SLEEP tracker • TRACK YOUR SLEEP FOR A WHOLE MONTH BY SHADING IN THE SQUARES, THEN TRACK IT AGAIN FOR A SECOND MONTH ONCE YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO YOUR ROUTINE TO SEE IF YOU NOTICE ANY IMPROVEMENTS
Sex & vaginal health • Menopause can cause many intimate issues, including both emotional and physical symptoms
Monitoring your genital health • Menopause specialist and GP Dr Laura Flexer gives us her top tips for looking after your vagina and vulva
Tips for talking to a doctor • It can be difficult to bring up concerns with your genital health or sex life with a doctor, but they can help
Menopause podcasts • Listen to some of these podcasts for discussions on every aspect of menopause, including vaginal health and sex
HOW I FEEL about sex • ANSWER THESE PROMPTS TO EXPLORE YOUR CURRENT FEELINGS AROUND SEX AND DESIRE, WHICH CAN HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND ANY IMPACT MENOPAUSE IS HAVING
Symptom checker • HOW IS YOUR VAGINAL AND URINARY HEALTH RIGHT...