Quick links: Menopause support and resources

Menopause support

Menopause is a natural stage of life when a woman's periods stop and she can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months. The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause. During this time, hormone levels change and can cause a range of symptoms.

You can find out more about menopause on the NHS website.

Symptoms of menopause

Women can have different symptoms during menopause. Common symptoms include:

Hot flushes: A sudden feeling of warmth that can spread through the body and cause sweating.
Night sweats: Hot flushes during the night that can disturb sleep.
Changes in mood: Feeling low, worried or easily annoyed.
Sleep problems: Finding it hard to get to sleep or stay asleep.
Changes in weight: Putting on weight or noticing changes in body shape.
Dry skin: Skin may feel drier than usual.

Not everyone has the same symptoms. Some women have a few symptoms, while others have more.

Managing your menopause symptoms

There are things that can help you manage menopause symptoms:

Eat a healthy, balanced diet: Try to include fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and foods that contain protein.
Keep active: Activities such as walking, swimming or yoga can help you stay healthy and improve wellbeing.
Get enough sleep: Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day and make your bedroom comfortable for sleep.
Speak to a healthcare professional: Treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other medicines may help with symptoms. A healthcare professional can talk through the options with you.

What helps can vary from person to person. If symptoms are affecting your daily life, support and treatment are available.

Emotional wellbeing

Menopause can affect emotional wellbeing as well as physical health. Some things that may help include:

Talk to family and friends: Sharing how you feel with people you trust can help you feel supported.
Join a support group: Talking to others who are going through similar experiences can help you share advice and feel less alone.
Speak to a healthcare professional: If emotional changes are affecting your daily life, support is available. They can talk to you about different types of help.

Everyone's experience of menopause is different. It is important to ask for support if you need it.

Long-term health after Menopause

After menopause, the risk of some health conditions can increase, including:

Osteoporosis: A condition that causes bones to become weaker and more likely to break.
Heart disease: The risk of heart and circulation problems can increase after menopause.

There are things you can do to help look after your health:

Attend regular health appointments: Regular check-ups can help spot any health concerns early.
Live a healthy lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet, staying active, not smoking and drinking less alcohol can help reduce health risks.

Looking after your health can help you stay well and maintain your wellbeing as you get older.

Support and further resources

There are many places where you can find information and support about menopause:

The British Menopause Society (BMS) provides information, practical resources and videos about menopause and its symptoms. Visit The BMS website to learn more.
The NHS website offers advice on menopause, including symptoms, treatments and things you can do to help manage symptoms. Read more on the NHS website.
Menopause Support has created a booklet called Understanding Menopause, which explains menopause and offers advice on managing symptoms. For more information, visit the Menopause Support website.

These resources can help you learn more about menopause and find the support that is right for you.