Menopause Information
What is menopause?
- A normal phase of life that officially begins 12 months after the last menstrual period
- Drop in the hormones estrogen and progesterone
- Average of 7 years of symptoms
- Occurs at average age of 52 in Canada
Symptoms
- Hot flashes/Night Sweats
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood changes or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Vaginal dryness
- Sexual issues (low libido, painful intercourse)
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Medical treatment options
Hormone therapy
It’s safe! It reduces your risk of heart disease by half and prevents and treats osteoporosis. The risks of stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer are very small (less than 1% each)
Estrogen and progesterone
- Daily pill
- Daily gel
- Weekly or twice weekly patch
- IUD
Vaginal estrogen or other hormones
- Pill
- Cream
- Ring
Non-hormonal therapies
- Antidepressants (daily pill)
- Other (clonidine, gabapentin, oxybutynin) (daily pill)
Non-medical treatment options
- Layered clothing
- Regular exercise (150 minutes per week)
- Decrease alcohol
- Decrease caffeine
- Mindfulness
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy
- Vaginal moisturizers
- Sleep hygiene (same bedtime every night, bedroom only for sleep and intimacy, limit screen time before bed)
Menopause in the Workplace
25 percent of CAF women* are within the perimenopausal/menopausal demographic
To support colleagues/staff:
- Talk openly about menopause in the workplace
- Where possible, a relaxed dress code allows members to adjust layers for personal comfort
- Ensure access to washrooms, cold drinking water, temperature-regulated workspaces and/or fans when possible
*includes two-spirit, transgender, and gender diverse persons with ovaries and/or who have undergone gender affirming hormone therapy