Menopause

Video: Menopause

Menopause affects all women around their fifties. It is not a disease; rather, it is a normal part of life. Dr Joe Kosterich talks about the causes, symptoms and treatments of menopause.

Watch the video Menopause.

Menopause

Menopause is the term used when women permanently stop having menstrual periods. It can be diagnosed after one year with no periods following the final menstrual period (FMP). Menopause may occur naturally, or may occur due to chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.

For more information, see Menopause.

Animation: Menopause

During a woman's reproductive years, hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate in an ongoing cycle to prepare a woman's body for menstruation, conception and pregnancy. When this repetitive release of hormones diminishes, menopause begins.

View the animation Menopause.

Hot flushes

Hot flushes (also known as hot flashes, or night sweats if they occur at night) are the vasomotor symptom of menopause. They are the number one complaint of women in the perimenopausal and post-menopausal period.

For more information, see Hot Flushes in Menopause.

Mood swings

Mood changes can occur during and after menopause. They can take mild forms such as feeling irritated and upset, or more severe forms such as rapid temper changes and aggression. There are a few theories about what causes mood changes in menopause.

For more information, see Mood Swings in Menopause.

Sexual changes

While many symptoms of menopause are temporary (e.g. hot flushes) changes to sexual function that occur at menopause are typically permanent. Sexual feelings change in the peri-menopausal period and persist post-menopause due to hormonal changes.

For more information, see Sexual Changes in Menopause.

Tips for a great sex life after menopause

There are some strategies that can help women overcome negative factors influencing their sexual function. Keeping a healthy body and mind,and engaging in regular, varied sexual activity are some important aspects of maintaining sexual function after menopause.

For more information, see Tips for a Great Sex Life after Menopause.

Husband's guide to great sex after menopause

While the symptoms of menopause are natural, they can cause significant distress for menopausal women and their partners, and can disrupt the couple's sex life. Men play an important role in keeping up a great sex life during and after their partner's menopause, and there are specific steps they can take to improve their sex life.

For more information, see Husband's Guide to Great Sex after Menopause.

Video: Menopause and breast cancer

Professor Christobel Saunders talks about managing menopause symptoms after breast cancer.

Watch the video Menopause and Breast Cancer.

More information

Osteoporosis

For more information on osteoporosis, including its effect on bones and the importance of nutrition and dairy, as well as some useful videos and tools, see Osteoporosis.

Sleep

For more information about sleep, including how much is good for you, tips for getting more sleep, and sleep disorders, as well as some useful videos, see Sleep.

Heart health

For more information on keeping your heart healthy, including information on how the heart works, the effect of cholesterol and eating for heart health, as well as some useful videos and tools, see Heart Health.