All women will go through menopause. It’s when periods stop, and it usually happens between the ages of 45 to 55 years, although about 1 in 10 women can go through menopause at younger ages. Many women notice changes in the pattern of their periods for a year or two before they completely stop. Women may notice changes in their bodies around the time of menopause, and each woman’s experience will be different due to traditions, culture, health, and the passage of time.

Some body changes include muscle and joint pains, suddenly feeling hot and sweating, dryness in the vagina which can cause sex to be painful, trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, and changes in mood. These are usually temporary symptoms, and many women can manage these without treatment. Not everything about menopause is bad. A good thing is not having periods anymore or worrying about getting pregnant unintentionally. Some women, as they get older, become more self-confident and find they have more time for themselves.

There are things you can do to feel better during menopause. You can eat healthy food, get more exercise, learn relaxation practices, join a community group or visit friends
take classes, get a job or enjoy time at work. Many women don’t need medical help to manage menopause. But if you’re bothered by symptoms or body changes or worried about your health, talk to your doctor. To find out more about menopause or women’s health in general, visit jeanhailes.org.au.

We thank all collaborators that contributed to the development, production, translation, promotion and dissemination of these videos.

CRE WaND expert panel (content creation and script development): Dr Mridula Bandyopadhyay, Dr Karin Hammarberg, Professor Jane Fisher, Professor Martha Hickey and Dr Karin Stanzel

Media production company: Punchy Media

Research translation and dissemination partner: Jean Hailes for Women’s Health

Funding partners: Victorian Government – Department of Health, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)