Wise Womanhood
Female humans are unique in the animal world in that they can continue living many years after fertility. It is natural that women pass through this mid-life transition into permanent infertility. A woman who is over 50 years and has not had a period for twelve months is technically post-menopausal. Upon entry into this new life-stage, many can experience serenity and a renewed enjoyment of life.
Menopause is known for its decline in fertility and cessation of menstrual periods. It is a finite time, during which a woman’s ovaries cease to function on a regular basis and eventually stop their production of the hormone oestrogen. This causes menopausal symptoms, which do not affect some women, but can be severely unpleasant – even painful – for others. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Physical symptoms:
- irregular bleeding – hot flushes – night sweats – reduced skin elasticity – acne – urinary incontinence – vaginal dryness – osteoporosis – breast tenderness – fatigue – weight changes
- Emotional symptoms:
- anxiety – irritability – fuzzy thinking – low libido – memory loss
Self-awareness
When a woman charts her menstrual cycle, she can record her physical and emotional symptoms of menopause against her natural fertility symptoms. In this way, she would be able to:
- understand the changes in her body
- monitor her declining fertility
- enjoy her increasing infertility with her partner without pregnancy concerns
- detect and confirm ovulation
- accurately predict her next menstruation
- communicate with her partner about her body changes by using her charts
- forewarn herself of possible pathologies
- dialogue confidently with doctors about her condition
Fertility awareness enables a couple to face the challenges of menopause together and reassures them that they are not pregnant.
Perimenopause Management
It is not obligatory for a woman to use Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) when she reaches menopause. Some women prefer to try natural alternatives and life-style changes to manage the symptoms of menopause. For those who choose this route, NFP charting:
- provides factual evidence for doctors and / or counsellors
- documents her reaction to different health treatments
- primes her family and friends to support her during her menopausal years
