Menopause marks the end of our reproductive years and is diagnosed when someone has gone 12 months without a period. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 but it can be earlier or later. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the average age is 51. 2/13 #MenstrualHealthAwareness #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Menopause can also be medically induced, for example by surgical removal of the ovaries or being on chemotherapy to treat cancer. 3/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Before menopause is perimenopause, which literally means “approaching menopause”. That’s when oestrogen levels start to go a bit haywire and menstrual cycles become more erratic. 4/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Periods can become lighter or heavier and cycles longer or shorter. Perimenopause typically starts when people are in their forties, but it can start earlier.  5/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Along with the period changes, other symptoms of #menopause / #perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, persistent sadness, mood changes, brain fog, heart palpitations, weight changes, low libido, and vaginal dryness. And these can last for YEARS! 6/13

It's important to acknowledge that people can have very different experiences with different combinations of symptoms. Some people breeze through this time without much fuss, while others can be debilitated by it. 7/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Most of us will be able to take hormone therapy (usually just called HRT for hormone replacement therapy or MHT for menopause hormone therapy), to help relieve many of the symptoms. 8/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

I started experiencing #perimenopause about two years ago. But it wasn't what I thought it was going to be like. I didn't have hot flashes or night sweats. My main symptom was feeling utterly desolate all the time. I was also anxious, sleeping badly, and put on 5 kg in a matter of weeks. 9/13

Back then, I'd been experiencing threats and harassment from my pandemic communication work for over four years and had recently spent three weeks in the employment court battling my employer over their lack of support. So I had plenty to be anxious and depressed about. 10/13

But I'd also read @[email protected]'s fantastic book Menopause Manifesto. So I wondered, could it be perimenopause? 11/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld

A Mirena and oestrogen patch prescription later and it was like someone had flicked a switch. The depression and anxiety lifted almost immediately. I felt like me again. I'm so glad I didn't leave it any longer to get help. 12/13 #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth #PeriodFriendlyWorld