By Mrs Jagjeet Singh (Mrs J)

In this issue of Berita Menopos, I had the privilege of interviewing Joyce, a mother of two teenage daughters, who is courageously preparing herself for menopause.

Joyce first became aware of menopause in her 30s when her mother (who’s now in her 80s and loves cycling), a somewhat pleasant lady, suddenly became moody and withdrawn. “When my colleagues started going through the same experiences, I learnt that it was caused by hormonal changes in the body as they approached menopause,” recalled the tall and slender lady in her late forties.

Well-informed and articulate, Joyce is aware of the latest drugs and cures associated with menopause. “Today’s women are so lucky – we talk about menopause; there are so many articles on the internet and in the papers on this once ‘taboo’ topic and we are kept up-to-date about the changes that we’ll undergo one day. During our parents and grandparents’ time, there was hardly any literature o n menopause and women didn’t know what was happening to them. them. No one spoke about it!”

Yes, Joyce, today we talk about menopause openly and we have a society too. We even have a day put aside for menopause in October every year called World Menopause Day!

She shared, “I found it scary at first when my friends in their fifties confided how they had heavy bleeding and several other problems caused by their hormonal changes. I was ignorant initially but as I listened more, I became determined to read as much as I could about this difficult phase of a woman’s life so that I would be prepared for it … which I know I will experience soon.”

“I know I will be on the same journey. I have became more hopeful and confident now that I know the symptoms and look at role models like you, Mrs J,” she added.

Ever ready to learn more, Joyce also asked me many questions about my own experiences with menopause. One thing I often emphasize when people ask about my experiences is that every experience is different.

One thing to remember is that it doesn’t happen at a fixed age or last for a fixed duration. Most women experience menopause at around 52 but the symptoms could begin even earlier, in the 40s. It can present with a variety of different symptoms, both physical and emotional.

Menopause can be an unsettling time in a woman’s life but no woman in today’s era should suffer this change in silence because today there are remedies out there to make this new journey through life more enjoyable and less painful.

Currently, Joyce is already preparing herself by eating a proper diet and taking health supplements, as she believes eating healthily and having healthy eating habits will prepare her to face some of the challenges in her later years. She hopes her regular exercises such as brisk morning walks as well as swimming will help to minimize the hormonal changes such as the hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, depression, tiredness, lack of energy
and others.

“I’m prepared to go on HRT if the doctor says I can. I also know I have to go for regular medical check-ups. Now that there are so many good remedies in the market to choose from, I’m sure there’ll be one that suits me.

“You just have to be positive! If necessary, you can even go for a drip once a year that will look after your bones if you have poor bone density. I read about that in the last issue of Berita Menopos. I am aware of the benefits of HRT and the consequences but with the advancements in science and medicine, I am brave enough to give it a try one day. They say you must take HRT just when your period is stopping and not many years after that. I’ve read a lot about it, so that I will know what to expect with the doctor’s recommendation,” Joyce added confidently.

She also shared some of the shocking things that happened to her friends that could have been avoided if they had known of HRT and other remedies for menopause.

“I’ve always been interested in medical-related topics even when I was in my twenties. Twenty years ago when some family friends turned 50 and faced problems with heavy bleeding, it was a common practice for doctors to recommend Dilation & Curettage* (D&C). I believe not only the public was ignorant then but even doctors themselves were unsure about options such as Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Some say you get breast cancer and so discourage you from taking HRT and other remedies because they think it is unsafe. But now I know that HRT is safe for some and it will give you a better quality of life if it is managed well. But you cannot take it without a doctor’s supervision.”

As we ended the discussion and interview, Joyce said that it was all about looking and feeling good as one grew in years. “Many of my friends who are not on HRT have developed wrinkles and have aged faster compared to those who are on HRT. Those are the fearful ones — who listened to the horror stories instead of the facts.

“I don’t want that happening to me. I want to know the latest medical information to prepare myself for a better quality of life when I reach menopause. I will go for the necessary tests and be disciplined in my lifestyle choices. My sisters are also my role models. I also believe husbands must be well-informed on menopause because if they aren’t, they won’t know if their wives are suffering in silence,” she concluded.