Are you looking for reliable and friendly menopause advice?

Do you remember when you were a young teenager?  Puberty was like a badge of honour and you talked endlessly with your friends about period pains and what was going on with your body.  And then later when you were pregnant you talked with all your women friends about all the intimate details of your pregnancy.

So what happened when you started to approach menopause?  Was it still ok to talk to your friends about this new stage?  Or was it suddenly a bit embarrassing? 

Hot Women, Cool Solutions

It was certainly my experience that it was much more difficult to talk to women friends about anything to do with menopause.  Maybe that’s because it is seen as a sign of ageing and is viewed in a negative way despite all the positive aspects.  

That’s why I decided to write a book that would be like having a knowledgeable friend.  Someone who can help you discover useful information plus tips on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.  Even better, someone who can give you easy to follow mind/body techniques that will help you to get back in control of your symptoms.

‘Hot Women, Cool Solutions™: How to control menopause symptoms using mind/body techniques’ can be your new best friend and it will cost you less than having lunch with one of your women friends!  

Each chapter answers commonly asked questions about menopause including:

• How can I stay cool and sleep better?
• How do I control my weight?
• How do I keep my 'mojo'?

The book comes with access to bonus gifts including The Menopause Workbook, The Stay Cool Hypnotic Recording and the Mindful Weight Loss Hypnotic Recording.

What are you waiting for – go and meet your new friend! www.hotwomencoolsolutions.com

Spare a thought for men...

 ...on World Menopause Awareness Day.  I'm not talking about men who are the innocent (or not so innocent) victims of their female partner's mood swings!  I’m talking about the men who experience symptoms of the male menopause which is called ‘andropause’.

It’s easy to joke about this stage in men’s lives and talk about older men buying motorbikes or fast cars or developing new and unusual hobbies.  But some men experience frequent and intense symptoms similar to those experienced by women including hot flushes, mood swings, depression, low libido and erectile dysfunction.

So what’s going on?  Well, as men enter their 40s and move into their 50s and 60s, the balance of their reproductive hormones starts to change.  Levels of testosterone, which is important for a healthy heart and healthy bones, start to fall.  The balance of oestrogen and progesterone changes and this can lead to weight gain and aggressive behaviour.   The hormone DHEA (dihydroepiandrosterone) gives both men and women a sense of vitality, energy, drive and motivation.  Production of this hormone declines over time which can lead to a lack of stamina and wellbeing.

Most men will pass though the andropause with minimal symptoms.  But men who are experiencing these symptoms in a way that is impacting on their lives and relationships should seek medical advice.  There are medications that can help with individual symptoms including hormone replacement therapies.

Lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, improving diet, and exercising, will help to control symptoms.

There is a range of complementary therapies that can help to mitigate symptoms and support men’s health through this period.  Hypnotherapy has been shown to be particularly effective in helping women who experience hot flushes, particularly when hypnosis includes visualisation of cool images. 

Hypnotherapy techniques can also be used to help with weight control, sleep issues, mood swings and to manage stress.  Men can be taught self-hypnosis so that they can take control of their symptoms.  Hypnosis recordings can also be very effective.

You can find more advice at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause/pages/introduction.aspx

The Time of Your Life

October 18^th is World Menopause Awareness Day – a day designed to increase awareness of the issues women face during the years spanning the menopause.  Menopause is a subject that many women find it difficult to talk about openly so it is helpful to have a day when experts and medical professionals can give publicity to advances that are being made in the treatment and management of menopause symptoms.

Menopause is not an illness, it’s a natural phase, like puberty, that every woman goes through.   Like puberty, some women pass through it with minimal symptoms but others experience intense and frequent symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, weight gain, migraines and depression. 

For women who find the impact of menopausal symptoms on their health, their work and their relationships is unacceptable they may seek medical assistance through hormone replacement therapy or anti-depressants but these can have unpleasant side effects.  There are also potential health risks in taking these medications.

There is a range of complementary therapies that can help to mitigate symptoms and support women’s health through this period.  Among these, hypnotherapy has been shown to be particularly effective in helping women who experience hot flushes, particularly when hypnosis includes visualisation of cool images. 

Hypnotherapy techniques can also be used to help with weight control, sleep issues, mood swings and to manage stress and they are free of side effects.  Women can be taught self-hypnosis so that they can take control of their symptoms.  Hypnosis recordings can also be very effective.

The important thing for any woman considering her options for managing menopause symptoms is to be well-informed about the risks and benefits of the treatments available.  You can find more advice at http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Menopause/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Vicky and the Taboo Subject Part 2

So, in a plot twist in the Archers, it turns out that Vicky's missed period is not the first sign of menopause.  She's pregnant.  This is a surprise to both Vicky and her husband Mike and will no doubt give the script writers plenty to play with.

Many women experience irregular periods in the stage leading up to the menopause (that is the time when periods stop completely).  During this stage it is possible to get pregnant even if you are taking Hormone Therapy.  As a general guideline, women should wait for two clear years after their last period before stopping contraception.

If you are over 45 and taking the Pill for contraception, it may mask the early signs of the menopause and you may not be aware that your natural hormone levels are depleting.  If you are in a new relationship, it is best to use a barrier method such as condoms because of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.  There are also a range of intrauterine devices (IUDs) or coils that you can consider.  There is a coil which releases progesterone directly into the womb and this can help if you are experiencing heavy bleeds.

Vicky and the 'Taboo Subject'

Vicky Tucker - Actress Rachel Atkins

Well done to Vicky Tucker in The Archers for raising the issue of menopause.  In recent years The Archers has dealt with many controversial issues including rape, abortion and drug abuse but women talking about menopause issues is a bit of a taboo.  

In fairness it was only a short conversation between two female characters, Vicky and Lynda.  Vicky was concerned that entering the menopause and starting to have symptoms might be a bit of a turn-off for her new husband who normally looks at her like ‘a boy in a sweetie shop’!  Lynda, not normally the sexiest of characters, reassured her that she and her husband still enjoy a very fulfilling sex life.

This short conversation provoked over 200 messages on the BBC Archers blog.  They ranged from being disgusted that the subject had been raised to serious comments about the nature of menopause.   But why is menopause still such a provocative subject?

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life that can be compared with puberty.  It begins naturally between the ages of 45 to 55 and may last 15 – 20 years.  Menopause that occurs before the age of 40 is called ‘premature menopause’ or ‘premature ovarian failure’.   Menopause can also be precipitated by illnesses and medical interventions.

Some women think that if they take HRT they will not have to go through menopause but they are only delaying it.  At some time you have to stop taking HRT and at that stage you may get symptoms.

A significant percentage of women will pass through the menopause with minimal symptoms.  There are a number of factors that affect the nature of the menopausal experience.   Genetics is one factor and the experience of female relatives can give an indication of the timing and symptoms.  More important to having a good menopause experience are diet and lifestyle.  It’s never too early to start eating well, exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle in preparation for a better menopause.

And if you are having symptoms that concern you, you may want to consult your doctor.  You might also want to talk to your best female friend.