March International Women’s Day – Places and Faces Magazine
International Women’s Day falls each year on March 8th. By celebrating achievements and highlighting ongoing injustices, its aim is to inspire and unite women globally. Among its missions is an aim to close the gender health gap, assist women in making informed decisions about their health and to raise awareness and accelerate action on health matters across a woman’s entire lifespan.
The IWD mission resonates strongly with the team at Norfolk Menopause. Made up of five doctors – three GPs and two gynaecologists – with specialist menopause training and a wealth of women’s health expertise, the Norfolk Menopause team understands just how difficult mid-life can be for women.
It’s why they chose to set up a practice that provides women with individualised, evidence-based treatment combining hormonal management with non-hormonal support. They offer private clinic appointments and also run frequent menopause-awareness and training sessions.
Women are often great at looking after others but not so good when it comes to their own health. We often push things to the back of our minds when it comes to worries or concerns we may have.
One of the key messages of International Women’s Day is that knowledge is power and that includes coping with menopause. There is a diverse range of literature available on the topic, but it is also important to broach concerns with a qualified health professional, whether that is a GP or a gynaecologist.
Dr Emily Cary, of Norfolk Menopause, says: “Many women are still caught unawares by perimenopause and the physical and psychological symptoms that start years earlier than they anticipated, perhaps when menopause is not even on their radar.”
“Often women will think only of hot flushes when it comes to menopause” continues Mr Paul Simpson, “but there are myriad other symptoms that women may experience, including headaches, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, skin changes, breast tenderness and more.”
Dr Susanne Ahlund is keen to stress that help is at hand and that women don’t need to suffer in silence. “While HRT can be transformational,” she says, “it is not a one-size fits all approach and needs to be carefully tailored to get the best results. The long appointment times we can offer at Norfolk Menopause allow us to really get to know our patients and combine HRT, where indicated, with non-hormonal approaches and some life-coaching. This is particularly useful as low self-esteem is something that often accompanies this time of life, even in women who were previously very confident.”
If you are experiencing menopause or perimenopause symptoms then these tips from Norfolk Menopause may help:
Prioritise self-care
“Mid-life women are often amazing at prioritising everyone and everything else in their lives,” says Dr Hannah Healy, a GP with Norfolk Menopause. “They often just don’t realise how little attention they give themselves. Self-care does not just mean spending money or pampering, it can encompass looking after your physical health (movement, nutrition and sleep), taking care of your mental health and thinking about your emotional health.”
Be kind to yourself
“Women are almost invariably incredibly tough on themselves and lack the compassion they would show others in the same situation,” says Dr Emily Cary. “Try to notice when your inner voice is being critical or harsh, and replace those thoughts with kinder, more supportive words. Ask yourself, would I say this to a friend? If not, then it’s a sign that it’s time to change the narrative.”
Accept change and embrace it
“Midlife can be a great time try new things,” says Mr Tim Duncan, a gynaecologist at Norfolk Menopause. “Take up a new hobby, travel to places you’ve always wanted to visit, or learn something you’ve never had the time for. This can be something tiny to start with, but it might lead on to bigger things.”
To learn more or book at appointment go to www.nofollkmenopause.co.uk
Dr. Emily Cary is a GP specialising in women’s health and menopause care. Certified by the British Menopause Society, she provides personalised treatment plans, including guidance on hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Cary is dedicated to helping women through every stage of the menopause journey.
