Menopause
If you have periods, menopause will affect you at some point during your life. Here, we explain more about menopause and perimenopause and how menopause coaching can help you.
What do menopause coaches do?
Going through menopause is a time of transition, change, and uncertainty for many people. A menopause coach can help you to understand menopause and menopausal symptoms better. They can provide support and help you feel more empowered to embrace change.
Menopause coaching can help you to rebuild your confidence and self-esteem. They can also help you discover new methods of coping with anxiety and stress, and understand any career-related changes you may want to make.
A menopause coach can use their experience and expertise to help guide you towards new coping strategies, resources, and ways of thinking about menopause and related symptoms. Working with a coach can help you learn to embrace this new life stage with energy and positivity.
What is menopause?
Menopause usually happens between ages 45-55 but can happen earlier. Menopause can happen naturally as you age. It can also happen after surgery (e.g. having your ovaries or uterus removed), cancer treatment, or due to genetic reasons.
Perimenopause (or pre-menopause) typically refers to the time before menopause. You might experience symptoms of menopause for a short time or several years. For many, perimenopause lasts for between four to eight years. You are considered to have reached menopause by the time you have not had a period for a year.
How can coaching help with menopause?
Perimenopause and menopause are often times of uncertainty, transition, and change. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Your body is going through many physical changes and experiencing emotional symptoms as well.
Menopause often happens at a time in our lives when there are other big, stressful things happening. For example, big changes at home as the family grows up or moves out, more support is needed for ageing parents, and careers reach a point with more responsibilities. This can lead to you feeling overwhelmed or unable to open up about how much symptoms may be affecting you.
A menopause coach can tailor their help to your individual situation, symptoms and needs. Some help they could offer can include:
Managing stress during menopause
A menopause coach can provide space and time for reflection and contemplation. Together with a coach, you can identify what’s causing you to feel stressed, learn new ways to help manage these feelings, and find a way forward. A menopause coach can also help remind you to practise self-compassion and kindness.
Well-being for menopause
A menopause coach can make suggestions to help improve your sleep hygiene. Positive, relaxing sleep routines can help to improve sleep quality and may help you to get a better night’s rest. They may also be able to provide suggestions to help promote relaxation and ways you can build wellness into your routine.
Talking through work/life balance and career-related issues
Many women report a negative impact on their work and/or career due to menopause symptoms. Working with a coach to talk about your career can be a big help.
Over our lives, what we want from work, the skills needed, and how we want our careers to look, change. Having time and a professional to speak with about how happy you are in your career – or if it might be time to make changes – can be a huge help. A coach can help you redefine career goals, focus on healthy work/life balance, and address feelings of being ‘stuck’ or frustrated with your career.
Improve your self-esteem and confidence
Loss of confidence and lower self-esteem can be common experiences during menopause. Menopause coaching can help you rebuild your confidence and self-esteem, unlearn unhelpful habits, and help you to better understand yourself, what you want from life, and what actions you need to take to meet your goals.
It’s never too late to start working with a coach for perimenopause or menopause.
How can menopause affect you?
Signs and symptoms of menopause can vary from person to person. You may experience a few, some, or many during perimenopause. Over time, the symptoms you experience may change. For some people, these symptoms can have a big impact on their day-to-day life, relationships, or career. Others may feel less affected.
Signs to look out for can include:
- changes to your periods (patterns changing or becoming irregular)
- low mood or mood swings
- trouble concentrating or remembering things (brain fog)
- feelings of anxiety or low self-esteem
- hot flushes or night sweats
- trouble sleeping
- reduced sex drive, discomfort during sex, or vaginal pain, itching or dryness
worse than usual headaches or migraines - palpitations, muscle aches or joint pains
- changes in body shape or weight gain
- sensitive teeth, painful gums, or other mouth problems
It’s important to speak with your GP if you think you may be going through menopause. Symptoms can change over time and may become more challenging to deal with. Finding support and advice can be reassuring, helping you to feel prepared.
If you’re using certain types of contraception, it can mean that you may not know you’ve reached menopause.
Treatment for menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the main treatment given for menopause and perimenopause symptoms. This uses oestrogen to replace your body’s naturally lowering levels, through using patches, gel, sprays, tablets, or implants. If you have a uterus, you are also given progesterone (together, called combined HRT) to protect your womb lining from the effects of oestrogen.
HRT can help relieve most menopause symptoms in a few weeks to a few months.
There are other treatment options available for different menopause symptoms. Some people find cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with symptoms including low mood and anxiety. Discover more about how menopause counselling can help.
Working with a hypnotherapist can help with some symptoms. These include reducing hot flashes, managing night sweats, and finding new ways to manage stress. Find out more about how hypnotherapy can help with menopause symptoms.
Menopause can have a significant impact on your self-esteem and self-confidence. Many women also say that menopause negatively affects their careers.
According to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 67% of working women aged 40-60 who have experienced menopausal symptoms say they have had a mostly negative impact at work. 79% feel less able to concentrate, 68% feel more stressed, and 49% feel less patient with clients and colleagues.
A 2021 report revealed that a quarter of women have considered giving up work due to menopause symptoms. 2022 survey results undertaken by not-for-profit company Newson Health Research and Education revealed that 99% of respondents said menopause or perimenopause symptoms have led to a negative impact on their careers.
There are several different support options available to help you manage the impact menopause can have on you. Working with a coach can help you tackle and manage many menopause-related symptoms and feel more able to handle new challenges you may face.
Further resources
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