MENOPAUSE - A NEW CHAPTER IN WOMENS HEALTH

Understand your body. Support your health. Reconnect with yourself

Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life, but that doesn't mean its always an easy one.

For some women, the changes are relatively straight forward. for others the experience can feel overwhelming, affecting sleep, mood, energy, confidence, relationships, and the way they feel in their own bodies.

And somewhere amongst the hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog and endless responsibilities, it can be easy to lose sight of yourself.

Menopause is about more than the end of your reproductive years.

Its an important time to take stock of your health, understand what is happening within your body, and consider what it is you need to support yourself for the years ahead.

At A Positive Touch, I believe in looking at the bigger picture.

With my background in nursing, reproductive health, reflexology, Reiki and Nutritional and Naturopathic studies, I take an individualised whole person approach to women's health.

Because looking after yourself through menopause isn't simply about managing symptoms. Its about supporting your health for the next chapter of your life.

^{What is menopause - and what isn't it ?}

Menopause is a natural biological transition associated with changes in ovarian function and declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone.

It is officially reached when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, where there is no explanation for the absence of periods average time to experience this is 4 years, however it can last from 1 - 12 years for some women

It generally starts around 40 - 50 years of age, with average age in the UK being 51.

Menopause isn't one day, one event, or one set of symptoms

PERI-MENOPAUSE

This is the transition leading up to menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate, menstrual cycles may become irregular and symptoms can begin, sometimes years before your final period.

DIAGNOSIS OF PERI-MENOPAUSE - Over 45 years of age: Symptoms and irregular periods

Under 45 years: Blood test to check FSH (follicle stimulating hormone.

MENOPAUSE

The point at which you have reached 12 consecutive months without a period.

POST- MENOPAUSE

The stage of life following menopause. Some symptoms may settle, while others can continue. It is also an important time to pay attention to your long term health, including bone and cardiovascular health.

Menopause isn't an illness, a deficiency of womanhood, or something that every woman will experience in the same way, because we are all different, with different stories, different lives, and different pictures of health.

Menopause isn't something you simply have to endure either.

There are many options available, including medical treatments, lifestyle, and natural approaches too. Every woman deserves to understand her options, and make fully informed decisions about her health.

WHEN MENOPAUSE GOES RIGHT, AND WHEN IT DOESN'T

There isn't one correct way to experience menopause, for some women it's a relatively gentle transition. Periods gradually change, symptoms are manageable and life continues without too much disruption.

For others the experience can be quite different

Fluctuating and declining hormones can affect multiple systems throughout the body, including temperature regulation, sleep, mood, sexual and urinary health, bone metabolism, and body composition

^{You might notice:}

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Changes in sleep and energy
• Anxiety, irritability or low mood
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Changes in weight and body composition
• Joint and muscle discomfort
• Changes in libido
• Vaginal or urinary issues
• Changes is menstrual pattern
• Dry skin
• Thinning hair

This list is not exhaustive. Sometimes the symptoms are the most visible part of a much bigger picture.

This is where I believe we need to look beyond menopause itself.

What is happening with your nutrition? Are you getting enough protein? How is your gut health? Are you sleeping well? Are you moving your body?, What is happening with your stress levels? Are you making time for yourself?

These things don't explain every menopause symptom but they are part of preventative care, they are just some of the things that matter to your health throughout midlife and beyond.

MENOPAUSE IS ABOUT MORE THAN HORMONES

As oestrogen levels change, so do the levels of many other hormones. Its worth paying attention to your overall health, other aspects like :

HEART HEALTH

Cardiovascular health deserves attention during midlife

Changes in hormones can coincide with changes in blood pressure, body composition and metabolic health. It is a good time to look at your overall cardiovascular risk, understand your family history, keep active, and nourish and hydrate your body. Your heart deserves looking after now, not when something goes wrong.

BONE HEALTH

Menopause is an important time for bone health. As levels of oestrogen decline bone loss can accelerate, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fracture. Strength training, weight bearing exercise, adequate protein, and the correct balance of nutrients, alongside assessment of individual risk all have an important role in supporting healthy bones.

Strong bones can help you to maintain independence as you age.

GUT HEALTH

Your digestive system does far more than process food.

It is involved in nutrient absorption, immune function, mood and communication with so many other body systems throughout your body. Midlife is a good time to look at your digestive health, fibre intake, dietary intake, hydration, along with bowel habits and what they are telling you

MIND HEALTH

Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, stress, and the demands of everyday life can all influence how you feel emotionally and mentally.

Brain fog, anxiety, low mood and changes in confidence can be difficult to navigate,

Please talk to someone if you feel like this, I promise you, you are not alone. Your mental wellbeing matters just as much as your physical health.

Rest, connection, boundaries, meaningful activities, and asking for support when you need it are all an important part of looking after yourself.

SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH. IT IS HEALTHCARE !

For years, many women have become very good at looking after everyone else.

Families, children, partners, parents, work, households, and all the little things that keep life moving.

somewhere along the way, looking after ourselves can slip to the bottom of the list.

Menopause can be the point at which your body starts asking you to pay attention. The symptoms you have are the body's way of communicating with you.

Perhaps you are no longer able to push through the way you once did. Perhaps your sleep isn't what it was, perhaps the stress you have carried for years is starting to have an impact.

Maybe its time to stop and ask yourself honestly:

• Am I actually looking after myself?
• What does my body need right now?
• Which habits are supporting me, and which ones are draining me?
• Where do I need to make changes?
• What have I been putting off for myself?

Sometimes self-care is about getting enough sleep, eating properly, moving your body regularly, saying "no", asking for help, or simply giving yourself permission to stop.

And sometimes its booking in for that hour or so, that belongs to no one but you, and allowing your nervous system to rest!

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE?

Perhaps this is the most important question of all.

Menopause can be a time of reflection, reassessment and change.

Your priorities may be shifting, your children may be growing up, your caring responsibilities may have changed. You may be looking at your work, relationships, friendships and the things that bring you joy.

• You might be asking yourself questions you haven't had the time or space to consider before, such as:
• Who am I now?
• What do I want from the next 10, 20 or 30 years?
• What do I want to change?
• What makes me feel alive, healthy and fulfilled?
• And perhaps for the first time in a long time, what do I actually want for myself?

You don't have to have all the answers, but you absolutely do deserve the time and space to explore the questions.

Menopause isn't an ending, it can be the beginning of a very different chapter

HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU AT A POSITIVE TOUCH REFLEXOLOGY & WELLNESS?

My approach brings together different aspects of women's health and wellbeing. You can choose the support that feels right for you.

your health starts at a cellular level

Every tissue, organ and system in your body is made up of cells. It is how you are made up, you are literally a big bag of trillions of cells.

Your cells are constantly working : producing energy, repairing, renewing, and maintaining the processes that keep you alive and well.

They need the right conditions and resources to carry out that work.

This is one of the foundations of my naturopathic approach to health.

Rather than looking at individual symptoms in isolation, I am interested in the environment in which your cells (YOU) are living and working.