‘My hormones went off a cliff – and I’m not going to be ashamed’. An estimated 13 million women in the UK are living with menopause. So why are so many enduring the turmoil of its symptoms without help and support? It’s about time that changed. Portrait by Suki Dhanda.
We are witnessing a tipping point: the rise of Menopause Power: a growing activist movement which will change the Change in the same way that Period Power fought period poverty and stigma. On social media, on podcasts and in newspapers, there’s a huge menopause conversation, as confrontational as it is celebratory. I’ve just...
Osteoporotic fractures are a common problem worldwide and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Calcium is a major component of the skeleton and traditionally calcium supplements have been considered an integral part of Osteoporosis management. Furthermore, most studies of osteoporosis therapies have been performed with the use of concurrent calcium supplements. In recent years, the role of calcium supplements has been controversial, particularly whether they lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Calcium Supplements
Key points
The recommended daily...
Menopause (the natural ending of periods that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55) can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become thin (less dense) and may fracture easily.
The drop in oestrogen levels that occurs around the time of menopause results in increased bone loss. It is estimated that, on average, women lose up to 10 per cent of their bone mass in the first five years after menopause. To reduce your risk of osteoporosis, eat a diet rich in calcium and do regular weight-bearing exercise. These lifestyle habits are best started younger...
As menopause approaches, a lot of women experience fogginess and forgetfulness. Researchers in Australia are now investigating why.
Nearly two-thirds of women experience brain fog as a symptom of menopause. It may involve difficulty remembering words or names, struggling to concentrate, or the common scenario of walking into a room for a particular reason but then completely forgetting what that reason was.
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
Menopause is the stage of life when your menstrual periods stop. It occurs when your ovaries are no longer producing eggs.
WHEN DOES MENOPAUSE USUALLY OCCUR?
Natural menopause can occur at different ages but is usually between 45 and 55. Premature menopause occurs when your periods stop before the age of 40. This may happen naturally or from medical treatments affecting your ovaries, such as surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, resulting in early menopause.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING MENOPAUSE?
Natural menopause has three phases:
Perimenopause
This is the time from the...
Ever heard “low testosterone” blamed for low mood, brain fog and loss of vitality? Despite all evidence to the contrary, social media influencers are increasingly promoting testosterone therapy as an elixir for women experiencing troubling symptoms of menopause.
In a series of documentaries and social media posts about menopause in 2021 and 2022, British TV presenter Davina McCall promoted the use of testosterone therapy in addition to standard menopausal hormone therapy. The “Davina effect” has helped fuel a ten-fold increase in prescribing of testosterone for women in the United Kingdom since...
