Are You
Menopausal?

Find out more about symptoms and treatment options available, access helpful resources and more.

Are You
Menopausal?

Find out more about symptoms and treatment options available, access helpful resources and more.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause defines the time when a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end and is marked by the end of her menstrual periods. This is also known as ‘the change of life’. The symptoms which many women suffer from menopause are primarily a result of oestrogen deficiency.1

They may be short-term (like hot flushes and night sweats) or long-term (like osteoporosis), psychological, general or more localised.1-3 Whatever their nature, doctors now seem to agree that menopausal symptoms justify treatment.3-5

Menopausal Symptoms

VASOMOTOR1,2
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
WEIGHT3,6
- Weight gain
BONE3,6
- Bone loss
- Risk for Osteoporosis
GENITOURINARY1,2
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness and itching
- Painful intercourse
SKIN & HAIR6
- Skin dryness and
thinning of scalp hair
- Excessive hair
growth on the face
MOOD1,2
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
Menopausal
symptoms
can be both
physical and
psychological
in nature.1
HEART4,5
- Higher risk of heart disease

The Menopause Guidebook

Our Menopause Guidebook is a comprehensive, valuable and educational resource for women. Inside you’ll find information regarding important topics such as menopause symptoms, sexuality, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, treatment options, medical conditions (such as osteoporosis and cancer), and advice for healthy living.

Menopause Guidebook

Treatment Options

Pharmaceutical MHT (Menopause Hormone Therapy) products usually contain hormones synthetically manufactured to be chemical duplicates of hormones produced by women’s own ovaries. These products are well-tested and have been approved by the pharmaceutical regulatory bodies such as our own Medicines Control Council or the FDA in the USA.3,6

Speak to your doctor about which type of MHT will be best suited to you. Different types of MHT products are available (e.g. tablets, skin patches and gels). All pharmaceutical hormone therapy choices effectively relieve the symptoms of menopause.1,3

Taking your medical history, type of symptoms and personal preferences into account, your doctor will advise you on which type of MHT will benefit you the most.

Patches allow for a high concentration of active ingredient, embedded in microscopic pockets, to move through the skin surface in a continuous manner, resulting in sustained delivery of the active ingredients to the body.20

Patches effectively relieve menopausal symptoms and protect against bone loss, yet offer lower hormone doses vs. tablets.21,22 Technological advances in the way that patches are designed and hormones are delivered allow for smaller patches that are discreet and cosmetically acceptable.20 Patches tend to stick quite well and allergic reactions are rare.20,22 In a clinical trial, < 1 % of patches came loose or were lost, while 78 % of women experienced no redness, and > 95 % of women experienced no itchiness.20

Should you need more information on Menopause Hormone Therapy patches, speak to your doctor.

Patch

Different kinds of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) tablets are available for the management of menopausal symptoms. Your doctor will help you choose the most appropriate option taking into account whether you still have a uterus or not, and whether you are perimenopausal or postmenopausal. Some women may still have menstrual bleeding when starting MHT.

It is important not to mistake MHT tablets for birth control tablets. Menopause Hormone Therapy does not provide protection against pregnancy.6,19

Should you need more information on Menopause Hormone Therapy tablets, please speak to your doctor.

Tablet

Oestrogen gel is another option used to relieve symptoms of menopause. It is applied as a thin layer on the arm from shoulder to wrist, once a day, at the same time every day.23

With hormones applied to the skin, care should be taken to avoid inadvertent transfer to children and animals.24 The area of application should not be touched for 1 hour after application. This also applies to applications of creams e.g. sunscreens.23

Should you require more information on oestrogen gel, speak to your doctor.

Gel

Frequently Asked Questions

Access frequently asked questions and answers about the symptoms of menopause and the treatment options available.

Menopause defines the time when a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end and is marked by the end of her menstrual periods. This is also known as ‘the change of life’. The symptoms which many women suffer from menopause are primarily a result of oestrogen deficiency.1

They may be short-term (like hot flushes and night sweats) or long-term (like osteoporosis), psychological, general or more localised.1-3 Whatever their nature, doctors now seem to agree that menopausal symptoms justify treatment.3-5
Speak to your doctor about which type of MHT will be best suited to you. Different types of MHT products are available (e.g. tablets, skin patches and gels). All pharmaceutical hormone therapy choices effectively relieve the symptoms of menopause.1,3

Taking your medical history, type of symptoms and personal preferences into account, your doctor will advise you on which type of MHT will benefit you the most.

One of the biggest concerns of women considering Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is the potential increased risk of breast cancer.9 Long-term clinical studies have suggested an increased risk of breast cancer while on Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT).9 However, the risks are relatively small and only became apparent after 5 years or more of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT).10

The most recent consensus statements from local and international experts support this view, stating that women should rest assured that the possible increased risks of breast cancer associated with Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) are small and are similar to the increased risks associated with common lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption.10

Breast cancer risk in women taking Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) 3,5,10

Media usually reports on the relative risk of breast cancer in regard to Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT), without reporting on the absolute risk.9 The table reports absolute increased risk, which is less than 0.1 % per year.10

Step 1 – Looking:

Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here’s what you should look for:
  • Breasts that are their usual size, shape and colour
  • Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:
  • Dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin
  • A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
  • Redness, soreness, rash or swelling

Step 2:

Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3:

While you are at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4 – Lying down:

Next, feel your breasts while you are lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a small circular motion to examine the entire breast from top to bottom, from side to side, from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Step 5 – Shower:

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Examine the entire breast, using the same hand movements as described in Step 4.

Women often gain weight in their 40’s and 50’s, and they tend to attribute this weight gain to menopause. Although menopause may play a role, weight gain seems to mainly relate to aging and changes in lifestyle. Factors identified that have an influence on weight gain during menopause include a decrease in exercise, and an increase in food and alcohol consumption.6

As one grows older, muscle mass tends to decrease, while fat mass tends to increase. The distribution of fat also changes from the known pear-shape, with fat distribution around the hips and thighs, to an apple shape, where fat distribution is more around the abdomen and waist area. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease.6
Despite a decline in fertility during perimenopause, and even if a few months have passed without a period, women are not totally protected from an unplanned pregnancy until menopause has been confirmed after 12 consecutive months without periods.6
A pap test aims at detecting cervical cancer, which can be present without any symptoms. It is recommended that all South African women should initiate cervical screening at the age of 25 years (earliest). Thereafter, a 3-yearly pap test to look for abnormal cells is recommended, up to the age of 65 years (or up to a hysterectomy). A test, which is not yet widely available or widely used, is called an HPV screening-test. This test looks for certain types of the Human Papilloma virus, which may cause cervical cancer. These HPV-tests only need to be done every 5 years.14