07/10/2024
Menopause is diagnosed when women’s periods stop for a year and usually occurs in women at age 40-50.
Physiological reason for the change is the ovaries natural reduction in producing female hormones, this change happens initially slowly throughout the so called perimenopausal period and can last from months up to many years, during this change women’s periods can become heavy & irregular ,until the periods stop.
Symptoms of menopause can last 6-8 years & the natural physiological changes can cause the following symptoms in patients
Hot flushes, headaches, irritability, anxiety & mood disturbances, insomnia, joint pains, back ache, muscle pain & Weight gain amongst other symptoms.
All above symptoms can in combination lead to unusual tiredness & depressive feelings
Lifestyle changes such as good healthy diet & regular exercise will reduce the severity of symptoms and is recommended as a holistic approach to combat these natural hormonal changes.
HRT is usually the first line of treatment that is recommended & will alleviate some of the above named symptoms like hot flushes but not all the symptoms are helped with HRT Contraindications to Hormone Replacement Therapy includes but is not limited to personal or family history of breast &endometrial cancer & thrombosis (DVT&PE)
Medicinal cannabis can have a positive role in providing symptom relief
Medicinal cannabis can provide alternative symptom relief by interacting with the natural Endocannabinoid system of the patients, either in combination with HRT & lifestyle changes or when HRT is contraindicated or not preferred.
Treatment with Medicinal cannabis is a safe alternative & has been shown to reduce many of the menopausal related symptoms.
