
Written by May Chen Mei Fei, Pharmacist
What is menopause?
- When a woman is unable to get pregnant naturally and stops having periods
- Normally occurs between 45 and 55 years of age. In Malaysia, the median age was 58 years old

Symptoms
- Last around 4 years after your last period and can begin months or even years before your periods stop
- Hot flushes- sudden sensation of heat in the upper body which may start in the face, neck, or chest and progress upward or downward
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Difficult to sleep
- Anxiety
- Reduced sex drive
- Memory problem
- Concentration problem
- Palpitations
- Joint stiffness and pains
- Reduced muscle mass
- Urinary tract infections
- Osteoporosis – which bone strength and density decrease

Treatments
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly. If you have strong and fit body, it can reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis and improve some menopausal symptoms
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – tablets, gel, skin patches and implants replacing oestrogen. Thus relieve menopausal symptoms
- Helps balance the your body’s hormone levels by providing supplemental estrogen and a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone
- HRT is not advisable for those who have had certain types of breast cancer or are at high risk of getting breast cancer or other medical conditions
- Vaginal oestrogen creams, lubricants or moisturisers for vaginal dryness
- For hot flushes, you can wear light clothing, keep your bedroom cool at night, take a cool shower or use a fan
- Try to reduce your stress levels
- Avoid spicy food, caffeine, smoking and alcohol that can triggers anxiety
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – a type of talking therapy that able to improve anxiety and low mood
- Practise good sleeping habits and getting enough of rest
- Joining club member, volunteering, or taking up a new hobby
Reference
- Abdullah, Bahiyah & Moize, B. & Ismail, B.A. & Zamri, M. & Nasir, N.F.M.. (2017). Prevalence of menopausal symptoms, its effect to quality of life among Malaysian women and their treatment seeking behaviour. Medical Journal of Malaysia. 72. 94-99.
- Brazier, Y. (n.d.). Menopause: Symptoms, causes, and treatments. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155651.php
- (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2018, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/