Menopause is a big change in a woman's life. It marks the end of her childbearing years. Every woman goes through it, but many don't know much about it. Let's look at what menopause is, how doctors should help, and why some women aren't getting the support they need.
Understanding Menopause: It's More Than Just Hot Flushes
Menopause officially starts when a woman hasn't had a period for 12 months in a row. But the journey to menopause, called perimenopause, can start years earlier. During this time, women may have different symptoms because their hormone levels are changing.
Common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Mood swings, feeling irritable or anxious
- Trouble sleeping
- Dry vagina and discomfort
- Less interest in sex
- Weight gain and slower metabolism
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Less full breasts
- Feeling very tired
- Foggy thinking
- Achy joints
It's important to know that every woman's experience is different. Some may have an easy time, while others may find it really hard. Also, while hot flushes are common, not everyone gets them, especially younger women.
What Your Doctor Should Do to Help
Your doctor should be a trusted helper as you go through menopause. They should:
- Give you correct information about what to expect
- Do regular check-ups to see how your body is changing
- Talk about different ways to treat symptoms, including both regular medicine and natural options
- Offer emotional support
- Send you to specialists if needed
But many women say their doctors don't help enough with menopause symptoms. This can make women feel frustrated and alone during a tough time.
Why Some Doctors Aren't Helping Enough
There are several reasons why some doctors may not give enough support during menopause:
- Not Enough Training: Many medical schools don't teach much about menopause. A study found that 41% of medical schools don't require students to learn about it, even though it affects half of all people.
- Old Information: Doctors who don't keep learning may give outdated advice.
- Not Enough Time: Short doctor visits make it hard to talk about all the complex issues of menopause.
- Gender Bias: Some studies show that doctors may not take women's health concerns as seriously.
- Focusing on Symptoms, Not Causes: Many doctors try to treat symptoms without looking at what's causing them.
- Not Recognising Menopause: Some doctors may not recognise that certain symptoms are due to menopause. They may only identify it when more noticeable signs, such as hot flushes, occur.
Signs Your Doctor Isn't Helping Enough
You might need better support if your doctor:
- Dismisses or downplays your symptoms
- Only offers pills without talking about lifestyle changes or natural options
- Doesn't do the right hormone tests
- Doesn't explain the good and bad points of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Ignores your emotional and mental health concerns
- Refuses to talk about other types of treatments
- Tells you to "Google" your symptoms instead of giving professional advice
New Ways to Manage Menopause
More and more women are looking for a whole-body approach to managing menopause. This new way combines the best of regular medicine with natural therapies and lifestyle changes.
- Balancing Hormones: Using tests and looking at symptoms to check hormone levels.
- Eating Right: Changing diet to support hormone balance and overall health.
- Exercise: Suggesting the right kind of physical activity to keep bones strong, heart healthy, and mood good.
- Managing Stress: Looking at how stress affects menopause symptoms and overall well-being.
- Herbal Medicine: Considering herbs like black cohosh, red clover, and dong quai to help with symptoms.
- Supplements: Suggesting vitamins and minerals to support bone health, heart health, and hormone balance.
- Mind-Body Techniques: Using practices like meditation, yoga, or tai chi to manage stress and feel better overall.
How Naturopaths Can Help
Naturopaths often know a lot about menopause care. They usually:
- Spend More Time: They often have longer appointments to talk about all your concerns.
- Look at the Whole Person: They consider not just physical symptoms, but also emotional, mental, and lifestyle factors.
- Make Personal Plans: They create individual treatment plans that may include diet changes, herbs, and lifestyle changes.
- Focus on Root Causes: They try to fix what's causing the problem, not just treat symptoms.
- Work with Other Doctors: Many naturopaths work with GPs and specialists to provide complete care.
Interestingly, naturopaths often seem to know more about female hormones and menopause than some medical doctors. But they're not always recognised by the medical community. This raises questions about how doctors are trained.
Growing Awareness and Ongoing Problems in Menopause Care
In the last five years, more people have become aware of menopause. This has led to more women getting treatments, whether HRT or natural options. But there's still a long way to go. Many doctors, even female ones, still don't understand menopause well enough. Some are even scared to prescribe treatments for it.
A recent survey of GPs in the UK found:
- 77.5% said they need better training on menopause in medical school and GP training.
- 52% said they don't get enough support to help women with menopause symptoms.
This means that GPs who want to learn more about menopause often have to do it on their own time and money.
Taking Control of Your Menopause Journey
While having good doctors is important, you can also do a lot to manage your menopause. Here are some steps you can take:
- Learn More: Find out about menopause from trusted sources. Knowledge helps you speak up for your health.
- Keep Track of Symptoms: Write down your symptoms, how often they happen, and how bad they are. This helps when talking to your doctor.
- Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about different treatments, side effects, and other options.
- Get Another Opinion: If you feel your doctor isn't listening, see another one.
- Try Natural Therapies: Look into natural treatments that might help your symptoms.
- Take Care of Yourself: Focus on eating well, exercising, managing stress, and getting good sleep to support your health.
- Talk to Others: Join support groups or online communities to share experiences with other women going through menopause.
The Future of Menopause Care: Closing the Gap
As more people realise how important good menopause care is, things are starting to change. Some good developments include:
- Better Medical Education: Some medical schools are starting to teach more about menopause.
- Special Menopause Clinics: More hospitals are setting up clinics just for menopause care.
- Including Natural Therapies: More doctors are seeing the value of combining natural treatments with regular medicine.
- Women Speaking Up: More women are talking about their menopause experiences, pushing for better care and support.
- More Research: Scientists are doing more studies on menopause, leading to better understanding and treatment options.
But there's still a big gap to close. In over 200 years of medical school training, menopause hasn't been a standard part of what doctors learn. This is surprising, given how much it affects women's health.
HRT vs. Natural Options
Even though many women prefer to try natural options first, there's a big push for HRT in the medical community. This focus on medicine overlooks what many women want. Doctors need to learn not just what drug companies recommend, but also how each woman wants to manage her menopause.
Some medical schools are starting to teach more about menopause.
Working Together for Better Menopause Care
Menopause is a natural and important part of life. It deserves good, caring support. While there are still problems with how doctors handle menopause, more people are seeing the need to improve.
As a woman going through menopause, you have the right to be heard, supported, and empowered in your health decisions. By learning about menopause, speaking up for your needs, and finding doctors who look at your whole health, you can get the support you need.
Remember, menopause isn't just an ending, it's also a beginning. It's a time of change and new possibilities. With the right support and resources, you can get through this time and come out stronger.
Whether you're just starting to notice changes or you're well into menopause, it's never too late to take control of your health. Your menopause experience is unique, and your care should be too. Don't settle for less than complete, caring support that looks at all parts of your well-being during this important time in your life.
