It’s time to change the way we view the menopause
Lack of hormones behind many patients’ anxiety
Think about the menopause and the symptoms that spring to mind are hot flushes, nights sweats and irregular periods. But according to a new study, thousands of women are unaware that declining hormones in their 40s and 50s could also be behind symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
The research, carried out by menopause campaign group Pausitivity, also found GPS are often not connecting these psychological symptoms with “the change” leading to misdiagnosis.
Now campaigners are calling for greater awareness of the full range of health issues of menopause.
It typically occurs around the age of 51 and usually starts with perimenopausal symptoms from early 40s.
Menopause is when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month, resulting in the end of the menstrual cycle and, therefore, reproduction.
At the same time, hormones including oestrogen and progesterone, made by the ovaries are reduced.
The survey asked women aged between 40 and 55 about their experiences prior to the diagnosis of menopause.
The women were questioned both about the symptoms they presented to their GP and those that led to the diagnosis. Results showed that hot flushes were the most knownabout symptom (20%), followed by night sweats (16%), mood changes (11%) and vaginal dryness (9%).
However, when asked the symptoms they discussed with their GP prior to a diagnosis, emotional and psychological problems came out top. These included depression and anxiety (13%), sleep problems (12%) and mood changes (11%).
Despite this, the issues the women felt were key to their diagnosis were hot flushes (17%), night sweats (14%), irregular periods (14%), sleep problems (10%), mood changes (10%) and depression and anxiety (9%).
In addition, almost 60% of women reported they had to wait more than a year for diagnosis of menopause after their first visit to their GP.
Elizabeth Carr-ellis, one of the founders of Pausitivity, believes the survey is concerning.
She said: “We’ve heard many times of women who say they don’t feel right during their menopause years, but to see psychological and emotional symptoms take the top three spots is still eye-opening.
“Everyone knows about hot flushes and irregular periods, but this shows that women are going through many other symptoms without realising it.
“The fact that the majority of women suffer more than a year before some sort of diagnosis, despite being of classic perimenopause or menopause age, shows that women and GPS are failing to join the dots in a woman’s medical history.”
Pausitivity, is the driving force of a campaign to distribute #Knowyourmenopause posters, so that greater numbers understand that menopause is more than hot flushes.
The poster details more than a dozen symptoms, such as headaches, tiredness, palpitations, joint pains, sleeplessness, loss of libido, as well as anxiety and depression.
Elizabeth said:“our survey also revealed the vast majority of women had to do their own research, through the internet, menopause groups or books, to discover the symptoms of menopause.”
A growing number of menopause groups and cafes, as well as TV programmes such as those led by journalist Kirsty Wark and presenter Mariella Frostrup, have also helped to spread awareness recently.
Helen Kemp is a trustee of the new Scottish charity, Menopause Cafe, of which Wark is the patron.
She agrees that, in her experience, many women do not know the full range of menopause symptoms.
Helen, 48, of Bridge of Cally, Perth & Kinross, said:“i don’t think women realise they are of perimenopausal age in the first place.
“For example, I had a hysterectomy at 40 but I was not aware of the many symptoms and didn’t realise I would have an early menopause.
“In addition, the women I hear from do not then think to link issues such as depression and anxiety to the decline in their hormones.
“It’s through campaigns like Pausitivity and a growing number of menopause cafes, as well as TV programmes, that greater awareness of the many symptoms can be better known.”
The Scottish Government also supports the growing bid to raise awareness of menopause issues.
A government spokesperson said: “Society needs to better understand the symptoms that women face, how menopause can impact lives and what health services, employers and families can do to support women.
“As part of the Women’s Health Plan we will focus on improving services, including increasing the understanding and knowledge of women, families, healthcare professionals including GPS and employers.”