Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Menopause is when you have your final period.
- There are different ways to manage menopausal symptoms, depending on their severity.
On this page
What is menopause?
Menopause is when you have your final period. In Australia, the average age for women to reach menopause is 51 to 52. As you approach menopause, your reproductive hormones drop, which can cause a range of physical and emotional symptoms.
There are different ways to manage menopausal symptoms, depending on their severity.
Menopausal symptoms
Menopause is different for everyone. Some women have no symptoms at all, while others have symptoms that interfere with their daily life.
Symptoms of menopause may include:
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- aches and pains
- low mood
- sleep problems
- headaches or migraines
- difficulty concentrating.
You may also experience:
- vaginal dryness
- urinary problems
- reduced sex drive (libido)
- painful sex.
Managing menopausal symptoms
There are many ways to manage menopausal symptoms. It may take time to find the right approach.
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)
Menopausal symptoms are caused by a drop in hormone levels, mainly oestrogen. MHT replaces these hormones. It’s an effective and safe way to reduce symptoms and may also reduce the risk of developing conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
If you’re thinking about taking MHT, talk to your doctor. Note that MHT is not suitable for everyone, for example, if you are older than 60 or have hormone-dependent cancer.
Non-hormonal medicines
Some women cannot use MHT. Others don’t want to use MHT and prefer to try non-hormonal prescription medicines instead. While these are usually recommended for other health conditions, they may be prescribed for hot flushes and sweating. Non-hormonal medicines include:
- certain antidepressants
- gabapentin (epilepsy medication)
- clonidine (used to treat migraine and blood pressure)
- oxybutynin (used to treat overactive bladder symptoms).
Your doctor can give you more information.
Menopause and natural therapies
Natural therapies are part of a broad range of complementary medicine and therapies (CMT).
Sometimes herbs are used to manage symptoms of menopause. There is some research supporting the use of black cohosh and red clover extract. Other herbs commonly used for insomnia, anxiety and fatigue include lemon balm, valerian and passionflower. While these herbs may be commonly used, more research is needed to understand how effective and safe they are for managing menopausal symptoms.
Make sure you seek advice from a qualified and experienced women’s health practitioner, such as an herbalist, naturopath or Chinese medicine practitioner, before using complementary therapies. And always tell your doctor if you are taking complementary medicines.
Other therapies that have been shown to reduce hot flushes and sweating include hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You can also try mindfulness and acupuncture to help with symptoms.
Healthy lifestyle
It’s important to look after yourself at this stage of your life, as reduced hormone levels during menopause can have long-term effects on your body.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help you manage symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of developing health conditions. You can look after your physical health, for example:
- eat a healthy diet
- achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- do regular physical activity
- develop good sleep habits
- reduce or stop drinking alcohol
- quit smoking and other drugs.
It’s also important to look after your emotional health. For example:
- take time to do things you enjoy
- be kind to yourself
- talk to your partner, close friends or family about how you feel
- practise relaxation techniques
- work with a therapist.
When to see your doctor
See your doctor if your menopausal symptoms are affecting your quality of life. It’s important to seek accurate and reliable information before you start any treatment.
More information
For more detailed information, related resources, articles and podcasts, visit: jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause
Where to get help
- Your GP (doctor)
- Naturopath, herbalist or complementary health practitioner
- Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Tel. 1800 JEAN HAILES (532 642)
- National Herbalists Association of Australia Tel. (02) 9797 2244
- Australian Natural Therapists Association Tel. 1800 817 577
- Australasian Menopause Society
- Quitline
- Dietitians Australia
- Roberts H, Hickey M. Managing the menopause: An update. Maturitas. 2016;86:53-58. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.01.007
- The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022 Jul 1;29(7):767-794. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002028. PMID: 35797481
- Complementary medicine options for menopausal symptoms, 2018, Australian Menopause Society.
- Complementary medicines, 2017, NHMRC, Australian Government.