WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?  Menopause is the stage of life when your periods stop. It occurs when your ovaries are no longer producing eggs and is a natural life event. Menopause has three phases:  Perimenopause: this is the time from the first onset of any symptoms to 12 months after your last menstrual period and can vary in length but is usually around 4 to 6 years. Menopause: the last menstrual period. Post-menopause: from 12 months after your last period. WHEN DOES MENOPAUSE USUALLY OCCUR? Natural menopause can occur at different ages, but periods usually stop between 45 and 55. Premature...

‘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.

Find out how menopause may affect your life and what the Canberra Menopause Centre can do for you. Based at SHFPACT, The Canberra Menopause Centre is a dedicated service for those seeking information, support and medical management of menopause symptoms.