Menopause How it affects our lives and dealing with it

Menopause Relationships SurveyA survey of 673 women who completed an internet questionnaire placed on the Natural Health Advisory Service websites about how

the menopause influences personal relationships.

Who completed the survey?The survey was completed by over 1,000 women in 2004. 637 women were defined as menopausal. The remainder would be defined as perimenopausal. The study group was defined as not having had a period in 6 months.

166 women in the sample were taking HRT at the time of the survey. 186 said they had taken HRT in the past.

Age of Respondents Age ranged between 30 and 70 years with an average of 49 years

Last period varied from being within one month or as long ago as 40 years with a median of 24 months. 100 women had not had a period for over 10 years.

202 women had had a hysterectomy and the age range at hysterectomy was from 23 to 60 years. 132 women had had a total hysterectomy with loss of the ovaries.

484 had had a natural menopause and 21 reached the menopause as a result of medical treatment.

Summary of Findings Over 51 per cent of women in the survey couldn’t reach orgasm

55% of the sample had a dry vagina and 40% said HRT didn’t help with vaginal dryness

59% saw total loss of libido. 45% were moderate to severe

Of the 166 currently taking HRT, 105 women saw no benefit to their loss of libido

36% said they suffered from painful intercourse

Summary of Findings (cont)

Over two-thirds of the sample said that the menopause put a strain on their relationship.

37% said their relationships were moderately to severely under strain.

Symptom Number of Women Average Duration Severely affected of SymptomHot Flushes 122 18.5 months Night Sweats 116 17.2 months Fatigue 126 16.5 months Mood Swings 114 15.4 months Insomnia 123 14.6 months Loss of Libido 147 13.5 months Depression 73 12.4 months Vaginal Dryness 87 11.8 months Painful Intercourse 52 7.0 months

Symptoms of the Menopause and their Duration

Duration of Use of HRTDuration on HRT No. of

WomenLess than 1 year 731-2 years 732-3 years 263-4 years 254-5 years 355-10 years 77More than 10 years

43Total 352

Symptom Response to HRTSymptom Fully Partially No Benefit Worsened Responded Responded Painful Intercourse 218 60 61 7 Urinary Problems 209 60 62 15 Vaginal Dryness 187 79 73 7 Night Sweats 171 122 46 7 Hot Flushes 168 136 36 6 Insomnia 163 89 74 20 Depression 161 79 81 25 Loss of Libido 154 73 105 14 Mood Swings 139 102 80 25 Fatigue 125 106 95 20

Menopausal symptoms were rated as placing a strain upon the person’s relationship with their partner as follows:

Breakdown of 16 women )Relationship ) A Total of

) 85 women (13%)Severely 69 women )

Moderately 168 women

Slightly 168 women

Not at all 216 women

Strain on Relationships

Strain on Relationships (cont) Number of

WomenPercentage

Loss of libido putting strain on relationship

241 38 of total 637

Partner is understanding 402 63 of total 637

Partner feels woman doesn't care as much

121 19 of total 637

Strain on Relationships (cont)

Amongst HRT users:-

HRT had no effect on relationship 198 56 of 352 HRT users

HRT improved relationship 123 35 of 352 HRT users

HRT worsened relationship 25 7 of 352 HRT users

HRT made no difference to libido 199 57 of 352 HRT users

HRT improved libido 105 30 of 352 HRT users

HRT reduced libido 42 12 of 352 HRT users

No. of Women

Percentage

Strain on Relationships (cont)Amongst those who didn't use HRT nor any natural treatment:- No. of

Women

Percentage

Menopausal symptoms impinged greatly on relationship

166 57 of 292 non HRT/non treatment women

Menopausal symptoms impinged moderately on relationship

44 15 of 292 non HRT/non treatment women

Menopausal symptoms impinged mildly on relationship

46 16 of 292 non HRT/non treatment women

Menopausal symptoms had no effect at all

36 12 of 292 non HRT/non treatment women

As Hormone Replacement Therapy is no longer regarded as suitable for long-term use, and in the absence of adequate education for doctors on alternative treatment for the menopause, it is more important than ever that women learn how to manage their menopause symptoms with a scientifically based natural approach in order that they can once again enjoy their relationships.

The Natural Health Advisory Service Menopause Programme, which is outlined in the books ‘Beat Menopause Naturally’ and The Natural Menopause Plan, has been shown to address these symptoms successfully.

Relationship Survey Conclusion

Conducted by the Natural Health Advisory Service Increasing numbers of women have questioned the merits of taking HRT in the long term and have been actively seeking alternative solutions to control their symptoms of the menopause. The Menopause Management Survey was conducted to determine the percentage of women who had chosen or been advised to discontinue their HRT, the sources of the information and guidance they received and which approaches they felt most helpful. The Survey was placed on our websites during the Spring of 2004. Replies from 1,084 of the women who completed the survey were included in the analysis.

Menopause Management Survey

Age of Respondents

Average age was 50 years

Average age of women on HRT for more than 5 years was 55 years

Summary of Findings 34% of the sample had stopped taking HRT50% had chosen not to take HRT only 14% were still currently using HRTInterestingly 19% of those taking HRT had been prescribed it by their doctors for reasons other than menopause symptoms.39% of the HRT users had been taking HRT for more than 5 years there was a clear correlation between the duration of treatment and the difficult in coming off HRT. 71% had opted to abruptly stop taking HRT.

HRT Use Past and Present Currently taking HRT 148 women (14%) Taken HRT in the past 365 women (34%) Never taken HRT 554 women (50%)No answer 27 women (2.5%)  

513 women which amounts to 48% had taken HRT

Reasons for HRT being prescribedMenopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats or vaginal dryness) 295 women (58%)

Menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis 79 women (15%)

Prevention of osteoporosis 46 women (9%)

Treatment of proven osteoporosis 6 women (1%)

Urinary problems 5 women (1%)

Other reasons 98 women (19%)

Duration of Treatment with HRT

Up to one year 131 women (26%) One to three years 105 women (21%)Three to five years 75 women (15%)More than five years 201 women (39%)

Percentage of 512 HRT users

Side Effects of Hormonal Replacement Therapy

“Weight gain” 326 women (64%)Breast tenderness 236 women (46%)Fatigue 197 women (38%)Aches and pains 181 women (35%)Anxiety 177 women (35%)Headaches, not migraine 155 women (35%)PMS or other cyclical 155 women (30%)Mental confusion 108 women (21%)Other problems 44 women (9%)Venous thrombosis 22 women (4%)Breast cancer 12 women (2%)

Age of those with possible side-effects of HRT

Venous Thrombosis Avg Age 57.5 yrs Range 45-60 yrs

Breast Cancer Avg Age 53.5 yrs Range 43-74 yrs

Return of symptoms from coming off HRTThose who came off Abruptly(293) Gradually (119)

Increased hot flushes and night sweats 62% 74%

Return of other menopausal symptoms 45% 41%

Other health difficulties 19% 15%

Overall Experience of HRT

Very beneficial 33% Beneficial 17%

Neutral 26%Moderately negative 13%Very negative 10%

Alternatives to HRTSources of advice for alternatives to HRT

Through an article or advice in the media 33%Through the internet 29%From a self-help book 26%From a friend 15%From a doctor 15%From an alternative practitioner 9%From a practice nurse 4%From other sources 6%

Usage and Experience of Alternative Therapies

% TRIED

NO HELP SOME HELP

VERY HELPFUL

Multi-vitamins 44% 36% 57% 8%

Herbal Remedies 38% 23% 60% 17%

Vitamin E 27% 35% 57% 8%

Isoflavone-rich Supplements 26% 21% 59% 20%

Mineral Supplements 26% 30% 60% 10%

Yoga 18% 19% 59% 22%

Homeopathy 12% 29% 57% 14%

Dong Quai 12% 48% 41% 11%

Ginseng 11% 47% 46% 8%

Reflexology 7% 30% 50% 20%

Acupuncture 5% 36% 47% 16%

Alternative Treatment Self Rated Outcome of Users

Summary of Survey ResultsWomen are often left to fend for themselves as their GPs are not educated about the alternatives to HRT

There is tremendous confusion amongst women about how best to manage their menopause and consequently unnecessary suffering

Relationship SurveySummary of Findings

Over 51 per cent of women in the survey couldn’t reach orgasm

55% of the sample had a dry vagina and 40% said HRT didn’t help with vaginal dryness

Summary of Findings (cont)59% saw total loss of libido. 45% were moderate to severe

Of the 166 currently taking HRT, 105 women saw no benefit to their loss of libido

36% said they suffered from painful intercourse

Is it working?• Women received advice and information about

alternatives to HRT from:• the media (33%)• the internet (29%)• self-help books (26%)• a friend (15%)

• compared to a doctor (15%), an alternative practitioner (9%) or a practice nurse (4%).

Is it working?• Of those who received advice from their doctor or

practice nurse:• only 10% were given advice on vitamins and minerals• 9% given advice about diet• 9% herbal medicine• 7% calcium/supplements• 6% isoflavone supplements.

When it comes to their health do women have enough information?

The medical profession is letting women down in providing information on the menopause. Both doctors and practice nurses are poor sources of advice on alternative therapies to HRT. Doctors also had scant advice on diet and supplements. In some cases doctors even prescribed HRT for symptoms other than those of the menopause, according to study results.

Women unaware of the necessity to wean off HRT

Women are unaware of the necessity to gradually wean themselves off HRT, like any drug. They leave themselves open to depression and a sudden onslaught of menopausal symptoms. Also the longer the drug is taken the more difficult it is to wean off.

HRT and weight gain

One of the biggest side effects of taking HRT is weight gain, yet it does not feature on the side effects list issued by manufacturers. 64% of the study cited weight gain as the largest side effect of taking the drug. In NHAS experience women gain on average 18 – 21 lbs in the first year on HRT.

Women turn away from hormone therapy to alternative treatments

Increasingly women are looking at alternative therapies to relieve the symptoms of the menopause. The media, the Internet and self-help books are the top three women turn to in a bid to find information on alternative therapies.