– Health writer Liz Earle

Why the big silence? Embrace it. Talk about it

We talk openly about pregnancy and birth but when it comes to this equally important phase in our lives there is an audible silence.

Like most women, I had no real concept of what the menopause would be like until I started my own journey. I found it baffling there was so little information available. The perimenopause, the time of transition to the menopause, usually starts from our mid-40s onwards. Symptoms can include itchy skin, weight gain, hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, water retention, poor memory, dry eyes and aching joints. More unexpected ones are tinnitus, gum disease and an intolerance of alcohol and caffeine.

The only symptom I really had was a lack of sleep but since topping up my oestrogen levels I have had so much more energy. Hormone replacement therapy tops up what the body is naturally lacking as we age. For most women, the benefits outweigh the often exaggerated risks.

That’s not to say all women can take it, so it’s important to discuss your own needs with your GP.

Gels and patches have been shown to be the safest form and contain oestrogen derived from wild yam. There’s also increasing evidence that quick and easy exercises, such as walking or yoga, really help. Phytoestrogens, oestrogen-like compounds that occur naturally in plants, can also help ease many menopausal symptoms.

Foods rich in phytoestrogens include soya milk, linseeds, tofu, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb and green beans.

I want women to embrace the menopause as simply another phase in our lives which is natural and liberating.

The more we can talk about this, at home and in the workplace, the better women’s lives will be – both now and for future generations.