Is It The Menopause Or Something Else?

The menopause – it's something that every woman dreads after hearing about the experience from our mothers, older relatives and friends.  The topic has become more mainstream in recent years and is now regularly discussed on talk shows and in the news as people campaign for better awareness of menopause and how it affects women.  As something that half the population will experience we think it's vital to keep the conversation going and remove the stigma associated with menopause.

Menopause hits us at a time of life when we may already feel a bit invisible and ignored, and this can really compound the mental health implications of experiencing the changes in mood, libido, and cognitive function that are part and parcel of this changing stage of life.  We know that many of our friends were relieved to find out that what they were experiencing was “just” menopause and not something more sinister; understanding what was happening explained some of the difficulties they were facing and gave them the tools to manage life as their bodies change.

The symptoms of menopause are wide ranging and can often be mistaken for something else, like cancer, auto-immune disorders and other long term health conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.  You won't be surprised to learn that one of the most common symptoms is fatigue and exhaustion and this stems from the reduced production of hormones such as oestrogen (which influences levels of testosterone and cortisol, both of which naturally augment energy levels).  Aches and pains can also present, which leads some women to worry they are developing arthritis or cancer.  Mood swings, reduced libido and a reduced tolerance for daily stress are also a concern and can affect other people in the household, while other physical symptoms like night sweats, poor sleep, hot flushes (or as we prefer to call them, power surges!), weight gain and vaginal dryness also affect most women during menopause.

Menopause can't be diagnosed with a blood test, but this can rule out other conditions.  It is worth asking your GP for a blood test to be sure that what you're experiencing is menopause and not something else.  You can ask for a second opinion, or a referral to a specialist if you're not happy with what your GP says.  You will probably be offered HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and it is definitely worth educating yourself about what HRT entails and how it has changed in recent years. 

Once you know for sure that you're experiencing perimenopause or menopause you can address your symptoms using a wide range of strategies, medications and supplements or non-medical products and we know this can be overwhelming.  It's this plethora of choice that led us to develop our shakes, combining several nutrients and herbal ingredients that are proven to help women cope with menopause into one convenient and tasty shake.

Remember, you're not alone in dealing with menopause and it will happen to every woman at some stage in her life.  If you haven't spoken about it with your friends, why not be the first to bring it up?  We can guarantee they'll be relieved that someone started the conversation, and the support of your closest friends who are also experiencing the same thing will be invaluable as you navigate this tricky stage in life. You can also find support and advice at our community page on our website where you can share your experiences with others in a friendly, informal way.