EGA Institute for
Women’s Health

Menopause resources

Basic information about menopause and suggested further reading, from Professor Joyce Harper.

Evidence-based leaflets, videos and guidance from the leading menopause societies, gathered together by topic.

Jump to a topic

What is menopause?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Lifestyle
HRT
CBT & non-hormonal
Postmenopause
Podcast episodes

Professor Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at UCL

Every woman is different

Understanding your menopause

The menopause is different for every woman. We are all individual and will have very different experiences. Some women have told me they have ‘sailed through it’ and others said that it has had a hugely negative impact on their lives. What is important is to understand what menopause is, the symptoms, the treatments and what life can be like postmenopause. I can help you with this through the many public seminars that I give and also a 1:1 education and coaching session. I am not a medical doctor and I will recommend you visit one if needed.

You can also find a lot of information in my latest book – Your Joyful Years. I interviewed 50 thriving women over 50 and shared their wisdom on how to be healthy and happy as we age. It is available on Amazon.

Book a 1:1 session

Your Joyful Years

UCL research

InTune: the UK menopause education and support programme

Along with Dr Shema Tariq, I am part of a team at University College London who are developing InTune, the UK menopause education and support programme. This is made up of two parts – Be prepared for menopause for everyone, but especially women before the age of 40, and Be supported through menopause, for women who are experiencing symptoms. You can read about our work in these two papers:

Where to find reliable information

The societies I recommend

The main societies that I would recommend for evidence-based information on menopause are the International Menopause Society (IMS), British Menopause Society/Women’s Health Concern (referred to as BMS below for ease), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). I have included the main links to their web sites where you will find their information leaflets and videos. I have separated these out by topic.

01Menopause resources

General – what is menopause?

Menopause is defined as when you have gone for 12 months without a period. After that, you are postmenopausal. The time leading up to menopause, when your hormones begin to fluctuate and you may notice changes in your periods and other symptoms, is called perimenopause. Perimenopause continues until you reach that 12-month mark.

Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age around 51. Symptoms of perimenopause can begin up to 10 years before periods stop, so it’s common to notice changes in your late 30s. This is normal and not too young, which is why it’s important that women under 40 are educated about menopause.

Websites and guidelines

Leaflets to download

02Menopause resources

Menopause symptoms and effects on quality of life

You will see that the societies below have slightly different lists of perimenopause symptoms. This is a very controversial area and we do not yet have a definitive list of perimenopause symptoms. Basically symptoms fall into 4 main categories:

Changes in your periodsHeavier, lighter, closer together, further apart, more painful
Vasomotor symptomsHot flushes, cold flushes, night sweats
Genitourinary changesChanges to your vulva and vaginal tissues, especially becoming dry and the tissues becoming thin
Psychological symptomsThis is a growing list – depression, low mood, anger, irritability, brain fog, anxiety, the list goes on

If you have done one of my questionnaires – you will be presented with a very long list! You might be able to manage some symptoms yourself, or you may need support – either from a coach or a medical specialist. It is important not to suffer in silence and to get help for any issue that is affecting your quality of life.

Videos

Smiling midlife woman outdoors in the sunshine

Leaflets to download

IMS factsheet · PDFMenopause symptoms

03Menopause resources

Diagnosis

The British Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society do not recommend having a menopause test if you are over age 45. Instead, diagnosis is usually based on your age, symptoms and changes in bleeding pattern.

The test that some doctors may offer is a measure of a hormone called FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) but this fluctuates too much during the perimenopause. Many women told me they got a normal result when they were definitely in perimenopause. Also the level of FSH has no relationship to symptom severity.

When an FSH test can be useful is if someone is younger than 45 and so early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency is suspected (especially under 40), because the diagnosis and follow-up have additional implications. In those situations, serial FSH testing may be recommended as part of the assessment.

Leaflets to download

BMS leaflet · PDFWhat is the menopause?

04Menopause resources

Treatments

There are many treatments for specific perimenopause symptoms. Lifestyle changes, HRT, CBT and non-hormonal treatments are all covered below.

Leaflets to download

RCOG patient information · PDFTreating symptoms of the menopause

05Menopause resources

Lifestyle

No matter if a woman takes medication or not, the NICE menopause guideline (NG23) and its summaries explicitly say that diet and lifestyle advice should be offered – especially smoking cessation, weight loss, alcohol reduction and increasing exercise – as part of menopause care. Looking after our five pillars of health will reduce the risk of chronic health conditions and help us age well:

Exercise
Nutrition
Sleep
Mental health
Friendships and community

I have explained all of these in my latest book – Your Joyful Years – and also explored ways to improve our happiness which I think is essential if we are going to thrive at this stage of our lives. Self-care is not selfish.

Watch and read

Midlife woman swimming in the sea on a sunny day

Leaflets to download

06Menopause resources

Hormone replacement therapy

There has been a lot of controversy about HRT. It certainly is life changing for some women. But not all women will need it. If you want to try it, you need to see a health professional who really understands how to administer HRT as there are different ways to take it and sometimes the doses need to be altered to get the best results. Not all women get on with HRT and in some it does not resolve all the symptoms. And some women cannot take it because of underlying health conditions.

HRT does not prevent dementia, but it can help with osteoporosis. The Royal Osteoporosis Society have a risk checker that should be used to determine if you are at increased risk, which you can discuss with your doctor.

Tools, videos and guides

Woman talking with her healthcare provider about menopause treatment

Leaflets to download

07Menopause resources

CBT, non-hormonal and complementary therapies

Cognitive behaviour therapy

CBT is really well received by those that try it. It is a form of talking therapy widely used to treat anxiety and depression. According to the NICE guidelines, CBT is also recommended for managing perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Research indicates that CBT can be effective in alleviating these symptoms.