Recent research from University College London (UCL) hints that menopause symptoms such as low mood and anxiety could be effectively tackled with mindfulness, group therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The analysis included 30 studies and involved around 3500 women from 14 different countries.
The menopause, a natural stage of life for women, usually happens between 45 and 55 years of age. During this period, the level of female hormones, oestrogen or progestogen or both, in the body decrease leading to symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, and mood changes. Currently, for a lot of women, hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is used to manage these symptoms. HRT replaces the missing hormones in the form of tablets, creams, or other means.
Draft guidelines from NHS suggest offering CBT alongside or even instead of HRT. It is believed that this could give a broader range of choices to doctors and patients. CBT, group counseling, marital support and health promotion coaching are some of the psychosocial therapies that can help manage menopause. These therapies could help women to cope with menopause through behavioural patterns, coping strategies and relaxation techniques.
CBT stands out as the most cost-effective and quick-option among these therapies. The UCL research highlighted that women who underwent CBT or mindfulness therapies showed significant improvements in anxiety and depression. Improvements were also noted in sleep and memory.
The research also hinted at the cycle between physical and psychological symptoms. For example, hot flushes were seen to cause anxiety, which in turn led to even more hot flushes. Other issues, such as lack of sleep due to menopause, could lead to depression. CBT can break these cycles by helping women think differently and practice new ways of handling situations.
The studies also found that talking therapies helped women feel more confident, and have a better quality of life despite menopause symptoms. Ultimately, this research tells us that menopause is not just a physical condition that needs to be treated with medication. With a bit of support and a change in perspective, women can turn this stage of life into a more positive experience.
Vocabulary List:
- Menopause (noun): The natural stage in a woman's life when menstruation stops, typically occurring between 45 and 55 years of age.
- Mindfulness (noun): The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
- Anxiety (noun): A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (noun): A type of psychotherapy that aims to help individuals manage their problems by changing how they think and act.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (noun): A treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause by replacing hormones that are at lower levels.
- Psychosocial (adjective): Relating to the interrelation of social factors and individual thought and behavior.
