FAQs

What is Menopause?

Menopause literally means the last period: for most women this event is between 45 and 55. Technically, a woman is peri-menopausal when she is near menopausal age and while her periods are irregular, and post-menopausal once she has gone 12 months without a period. However, the technical perspective on Menopause is of little use for most women when it hits. And it can be very unhelpful for others to speculate on what a woman should be experiencing, based on the facts about her periods!

Why the New Zealand Menopause Institute?

New Zealand Menopause Institute specialises in helping women control the symptoms that can be so distressing. Our service also focuses on alleviating symptoms safely, and for most women that means using the shortest possible course of bio-identical hormones, at the lowest possible dose, tailored just for them. Email your enquiry now Or dial 0800 menopause

What causes Menopause?

During a woman’s fertile years, the hormone cycle is normally fairly regular: most women have a period every 28 or 29 days – although this is a complex process and can vary enormously. Towards the end of a woman’s menstruating years, the production of her reproductive hormones lessens, then ceases altogether.

Why don’t men have Menopause?

Although sometimes referred to as 'male menopause' or 'andropause', the decline of hormone levels is men is much more gradual than in women. The average man’s testosterone levels peak at around 30 years of age, then gradually decrease at the rate of around 1% or 2% per year. For some men it is much more sudden than this, in which case they may suffer fatigue, irritability, mood swings, etc. This usually responds well to treatment.

How common is a complicated menopause?

Very common! Symptoms vary from one woman to another, and depend on things like diet, exercise, family history and current dynamics, overall health, etc, etc. A small number of women enjoy a trouble-free transition from having periods to not having periods, and can enjoy the good things about being post-menopausal.

Is there anything good about menopause?

Many women welcome the end of their periods – no longer having to worry about contraception, pads and/or tampons every few weeks. And for many women it’s a transition into their seniority, where they may feel more in control of life, or they may feel more respected by their colleagues and/or family. In many cultures the transition from fertile woman-hood is welcomed and celebrated: crones and kuia can be admired and adored as fonts of knowledge and wisdom about life, relationship, community, and family.

Surely some women don’t suffer during Menopause?

Some women experience the 'ideal' menopause: their periods simply take longer to arrive for a while, and then they stop. For such women, the only significant ongoing risk is osteoporosis: this can be managed by a diet high in calcium and plenty of load-bearing exercise, such as walking.

What are the chances of a cure?

Our commitment is to alleviating symptoms with the smallest possible dose, to relieve symptoms without side effects: there is no 'cure' as such - and menopause is not a disease.

How safe is the treatment?

The use of naturally-occurring oestrogens means that a woman’s body recognises the hormone at a molecular level as identical to hers, meaning that there is virtually no risk of side effects. There are many advocates and practitioners, and plenty of research has been done on natural hrt. However, while indications are that close management of symptoms using individualised doses of natural hormones can significantly reduce and minimise the risks, there are no guarantees that using hormones is without any risk. Indeed, there are virtually no treatments for any condition without some degree of risk.