Dear readers,

J.M., a 52-year-old woman from Shortwood, Kingston 8, recently noticed she sweats more than usual and feels hotter than usual. She does not experience 'hot flashes'. She has not seen her menses for the past two months. J.M. asks Lifeline if this is the menopause (change of life) and can she stop practising birth control. She also asks LIFELINE what can she do about the heat she is experiencing.

Menopause (change of life) occurs at the end of a female's reproductive period. This event is marked by the cessation of menstruation, which is a natural occurrence. Most females will experience the menopause at some time between 45 and 60 years of age. During this time the female hormonal production declines and there are irregularities in the monthly cycle.

Other factors

Menopause can also occur earlier in life if the uterus and ovaries are surgically removed due to illness or due to radiation treatment to the pelvic area as a part of cancer treatment. The eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), as well as intense prolonged physical activity can also result in menopause. Before the menopause actually occurs, there is a period of about five years called the 'premenopause'. It is during this time that the ovaries become less active with a gradual decline in the production of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. The monthly periods also become irregular. Eventually the production of oestrogen by the ovaries falls to a critical low and the menstrual cycles cease permanently. Missing one or two periods is not conclusive of the menopause although the person may well be premenopausal. Usually a woman is considered to be menopausal if she has been without menstruation for one year and blood investigations reveal very low levels of oestrogen (female hormone) and very high levels of follicle stimulating hormone. J.M. should not stop practising her birth control methods just yet, or she could find herself pregnant! The menopause is an individual experience for each woman. Some women barely notice the cessation of the menses. It causes no significant change to how they function. Other women may experience mild to severe symptoms. Up to 80 per cent of women experience hot flashes. When these episodes occur, the woman feels very hot and may sweat profusely. Light skinned women may also flush red. Other commonly experienced symptoms include:

When symptoms associated with menopause are moderate to severe hormonal replacemnt therapy may be prescribed by the physician. This method can be taken as tablets, injections or skin patches. HRT relieves hot flashes, low energy levels, insomnia and depression. It also reduces the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. However, women who have a history of liver disease, breast cancer, uterine cancer and deep vein thrombosis are not recommended for this therapy. The daily ingestion of plant phyto oestrogens helps to relieve hot flashes. One such preparation is Evening Primrose. Increasing the content of Soya products in the daily diet also helps to ease the way to menopause women with hot flashes are advised to drink at least two glasses of Soya milk daily. Natural products containing phyto oestrogens include apples, cabbage, oats, olives, paw paw, pumpkins, red peas, rice and yam. If you suffer from hot flashes you should increase your intake of green vegetables and fruits as already mentioned and add Evening Primrose or another product with plant phyto oestrogen's as a daily supplement. Calcium and vitamin D supplement will also aid in the protection of the bones from osteoporosis. J.M. could practice some of these recommended measures to help her 'heat'. However, it is always good at these key times in life to see a physician for a thorough check up.