Reflexology and the menopause

Reflexology can be extremely beneficial before, during and after the
Menopause. Helps normalise the hormone levels and reduce some of the
inconvenient symtoms.

The Menopause needn't be a burden but a new lease of life. Here's an Extract
from "Life Style Extra", 1st February 2006.

"Women's Lives Better After Menopause"


LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - Women's lives change for the better once they are
past the menopause, a survey shows.

Whispered about in dark corners women fear it is going to be the end of
their vital life as a sexy, feminine, woman.

But a study of 2,000 women with an average age of 52 found it isn't half as
bad as women think it's going to be - and their life afterwards is better
than ever before.

The first major menopause survey by Health Plus magazine shows the menopause
for most women is "not as bad as they thought it would be".  Two thirds say
it was okay - and the years after are the "best-ever".

Women who have been through "the change" say the post-menopause years are
"golden" and imbued with a wonderful sense of freedom (79%).

Post-menopause 72% of women think they are "just as attractive as before",
82% feel "as feminine as before", eight out of 10 say they now have an
overwhelming "sense of freedom" (79%) and six out of 10 women say they feel
"better than ever before" (61%).  They also feel an average of 10 years
younger than their real age.

Colette Harris, editor of Healthe Plus, said:  "Women see characters in TV
shows like Desperate Housewives and Sex In The City hitting 45 or 50 and
still having fun and realise they can be like them as well.

The old saying of "finished at fifty" is an outdated idea.

"But what is amazing is 91% of women said their husband or partner don't
know what the menopause is.  So she will be snapping at him and they won't
realise what is going on".

An overwhelming 86% of women approaching the menopause dread it - and are
particularly worried they will "start ageing quickly" and fear the
"side-effects".

They feel isolated, embarrassed and unable to talk about what they're going
through - especially as 91% reckon their man doesn't even know what the
menopause is.

And they're terrified to mention the M word to their employers for fear of
being viewed as "past it" and become a victim of ageism in our youth
obsessed workplace.

Seven out of 10 menopausal women work either full or part-time (72%) and
they say the menopause is "totally taboo in the workplace"- despite the fact
eight out of 10 women say their symptoms "affect them at work" (78%).

More than nine out of 10 say they "couldn't discuss the menopause with their
boss" (93%) and 73% say they can't even discuss their symptoms with "work
colleagues".

Many women also reach crisis point in their relationship during the
menopause and a quarter of relationships are badly affected during this time
with one in 10 breaking-up altogether.

They are also so deeply worried and confused about HRT that 73% say they
"wouldn't recommend it to their own daughters' despite the fact that 80% of
those who take it say it "works".

Once viewed by women as the wonder-cure for menopausal symptoms they now
fear the publicised side-effects of breast cancer, heart disease and weight
gain.

They desperately want more advice from their GPs about complementary
therapies - in fact 73% of women call for "natural alternatives to be made
available on the NHS".

Colette Harris, editor of Health Plus, said:  "The menopause is the last
great taboo.  Every woman will go through it but no one discusses it openly
- unless it's to make a joke about hot flushes.

As a result women coming up to the menopause are terrified by the multitude
of scary rumours and misconceptions which are far worse than the actual
event itself.

Even though most women go through it between 45 and 55 you don't see the 
likes of Madonna, Lulu, Kim Cattrell, Annie Lennox, Lorraine Kelly and Carol
Vorderman "giving up", putting on their housecoats and slippers and retiring
from public life.

"It's about time myths about menopause were well and truly shattered.