Break the silence
Hot flushes
- Hot flushes are the hallmark symptoms of the menopause, affecting the majority of women to some degree. Flushes can continue for several years.
- They can be triggered by external factors, such as alcohol, caffeine, and hot foods or beverages. They may also be stimulated by emotional upsets.
- They tend to be more pronounced at night when night sweats can be so severe that sleep is disrupted. Some women have to change their night-clothes and even their sheets as they may wake up drenched in sweat.
Break the silence with your doctor
You should feel able to talk to your doctor about any aspects of menopause that trouble you. He or she can offer invaluable advice and treatment where appropriate. The areas that women may find difficult to discuss often concern vaginal symptoms (especially if these are causing sexual problems) and urinary problems.
There is no need to feel embarrassed about discussing these problems with doctors or nurses. They are there to help and know that these are very common problems. They can talk you through the options for restoring vaginal health and lubrication and resolving urinary problems.
Declining levels of female hormones (oestrogens) are responsible for many of the unpleasant symptoms of the menopause – such as hot flushes. Declining oestrogen levels also impact on the vagina and the urinary system. Doctors call these changes 'urogenital atrophy' but what they amount to is that the vagina loses some of its elasticity, its lining becomes thinner and the vagina feels dryer. These changes can make intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Changes to the bladder and urethra may make urination more frequent or result in incontinence (involuntary loss of urine).
Vaginal symptoms are not necessarily confined to sexual intercourse, they may cause discomfort at other times. If you feel more comfortable discussing these problems in a non-sexual context rather than discussing sexual issues that’s fine.
Many women find it easier to discuss these subjects with a female doctor or with a nurse (in countries where practice nurses help with consultations). Your doctor or nurse will explain how vaginal treatments work and how to apply treatment. The menopause can also cause urinary problems and these are discussed below.
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