Ten Tips for coping with the menopause, by Dr Bronwyn Stuckey.

1. Deal with short term symptoms.
   

2. Plan for long term health.
   

3. Become knowledgeable on the facts about women's health.
   For instance did you know that heart disease is a much bigger killer of women than breast cancer? that lung cancer has now surpassed breast cancer as a cause of death in women? that oestrogen loss negatively affects not only bone density but the heart, the vagina, the teeth, the skin, the colon, the arteries and cholesterol levels? and that middle-aged spread can be minimised by oestrogen?
   

4. Do an audit of your health.
   Include diet, exercise, blood pressure, bone density and cholesterol as the minimum. Have regular health check-ups. Don't smoke - you can't get away with it at menopause.
   

5. Get the facts on Hormone Replacement Therapy from a well qualified medical practitioner and don't believe eveything you read in the paper.
   For example, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been found to be associated with a 16% decrease in the risk of death from breast cancer - people who do get breast cancer associated with HRT have a higher percentage of more favourable or less aggressive breast cancers than non-oestrogen users.
   

5. Osteoporosis is a serious disorder.
   1 in 2 people die within a year of breaking a hip - look after your bones by exercising, having a high calcium diet and taking HRT.
   

6. Taking HRT can bring many benefits.
   Choose between pills and patches when selecting it. There are advantages in both forms. Implants are also available particularly for those who get migraine or have had a hysterectomy. Take progesterone in your HRT if you have a uterus.
   

7. Take care of your physical health, your emotional health and your relationship health.
   The balanced emotions which are possible through HRT can help in all these areas.
   

8. Work out sexuality differences at menopause.
   The physiological changes may make your male partner want to go quicker and you may want to go slower!
   

9. If you wish to reduce your cardio-vascular disease risks as you age, you may benefit from being on HRT for life.
   

Further information:

She can be contacted on Phone: +61 8 9346 2008.

Read how other women coped with the menopause and midlife in the powerful NEW! book by Rachel Green, "Midlife and Happiness".

Best wishes,
Rachel Green
PO Box 344, Kelmscott, Western Australia 6991.
Phone: +61 8 9390 1188. Fax +61 8 9390 1199
E-mail: